Germination without a dome cover

15 years ago

I usually plant two 72 cell trays at a time on my two heat mats and dome them(standard plastic dome tray kit). As soon as I see them hooking I remove them from the mat, load them on the grow shelf, and then load the next two trays on the heat mat and dome them. I sold out of plants last year at a very quick pace and am wanting to start 8 trays at a time this season. The thing is I have never tried to grow my peppers without a dome cover and am wondering if anybody has any experience in trying this and what the results were. I will place all the trays directly under the lights on the grow shelf, using the lights for heat. If I put the dome on under the lights they will cook within a very short period of time. So do any of you start your seeds without a dome or have you ever tried it? I would like to hear the results from experienced growers if you have. I am willing to take a germination rate loss because revenue would out weigh the lower rates. I have way to much to lose to just try it and see what happens. Many thanks.

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Comments (6)

greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
15 years ago
I've never used a dome cover.
I just put saran wrap over the top of my trays, and set them under the lights.
Once I see a little bit of green showing, I remove the plastic to keep the moisture
from ever touching the seedlings.

Josh
shoontok
15 years ago
Yep i use saran wrap on my trays also to keep moisture in. If yer using the lights as the primary heat source and not the heat mats, you might have to adjust the distance between trays and light to acquire the desired temp you are looking for.

I dont know what kind of lights you are using but generally flourescents dont produce much heat and the flats could be really close to that type of light.

Jim
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wayright
15 years ago
What kind of light are you using that would cook a plant with the dome on?
I am a strange bird but I do not use light until my plants pop
Then again I go against the grain on most advice you will get :)
pepperfanman
Original Author
15 years ago
Good thing about forums. I had completely forgot about saran wrap. I used it a few times when I first started growing. Wayright, I use flourescents and I can not get the temps down enought with the domes on when all 16, 4 foot shop lights are running at once. It will just not happen. The catch 22 is, without the lights I can't keep the temps where I want them without smothering everyone in the house. I also have never used lights on my plants until after they germinate. This will be the first year. Thanks all for the good idea.
wayright
15 years ago
I am interested in your observation of how well they germinate with light versus without!
Kevin
pepperfanman
Original Author
15 years ago
I will be tracking that this season for sure. I usually get at least 85% with chinense varities and usually 95% or better with annumms. I put half tray of Madam Jeanette down last year and if I remember correctly I had 4 out of 36 come up LOL! I got some fresh seeds this year from a person I known so this year should be different. I'm sure you will agree that germinating in total darkness has it's advantages. If anybody has not tried it I would recommend trying a test tray to give it a shot. I even cover my domes so no light can get in. When germinating slow growers like a bhut or a 7, the darkness slows the up shoot speed since they do not go leggy instantly and reach for the light. That gives me a little more play room for more to germinate before I remove the dome, increasing my transplant count numbers.