what do you use under heat mats

11 years ago

I have some large heat mats that I use under lights. I also want to use them in my greenhouse. I need something to put under them on my slatted shelves to direct the heat up and protect from heat loss below. I had thought of styrofoam sheets but they would be hard to store when I'm not using the heat mats. I also thought of cardboard but wondered if anyone had a better idea.

Featured Answer

dowlinggram
Original Author

11 years ago

well I've come up with a solution myself. I ordered a few windshield sun shades. They are the perfect size and will reflect the heat back to the plants. Problem solved

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Comments (6)

oldbat2be
11 years ago
Sigh, another problem of which I was unaware! Our heat mats are due tomorrow; very inexperienced seed starter here. We have slatted shelves as well, and temp today in the greenhouse (zone 6B) was around 50. Are you trying to reduce your power consumption or is there another reason you are using these? Thanks in advance.
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dowlinggram
Original Author
11 years ago
Yes I'm trying to reduce my power consumption at night. I plan to put my seeds on the mats, cover them with humidity lids and wrap the whole thing in a mylar survival blanket--very cheap at walmart or dollar stores. I will remove the blanket in the daytime. I do have a heater but this way I can set it at freeze guard and my seeds will be nice and warm. I plan to use them for the plants I have started too. I have some tall humidity lids That I can use over my plants so Ill put them on a couple of them and then wrap it up with the mylar.

I have some mesh trays and I put a couple of pieces of old hockey sticks along the sides of the mesh trays and put my tray with seedlings in that. This way they get the heat from the mats but the roots are not in danger of burning.

I did want something to put under the mats so I don't lose heat from the bottom of the mats. I thought of styrofoam or cardboard but the windshield sunshades are the right size and have a reflective surface. This is my first time trying this but I think it will work. I'll be able to tell with my mini-max thermometer just how low it went at night and how warm the plants are. Of course the heater may come on but I won't have to leave it set so high.

I must say if that's your bench it should be fine without anything under it. Mine has open spaces between the boards
oldbat2be
11 years ago
That makes sense. Thank you and good luck!
danbringhurst
11 years ago
My heat mat was too hot and it got up to 110 degrees! I placed cardboard and Styrofoam between it and the seedlings, but even at 3 inches thick, it didn't make much difference. Eventually, I wound up suspending the seedlings above the mad with around 5 inches between them, and that got my soil down to the desired 85 degrees.
aruzinsky
11 years ago
" I had thought of styrofoam sheets but they would be hard to store when I'm not using the heat mats."

Did you consider cutting the sheets into smaller tiles, e.g., 1' x 1', for more convenient storage?