Hi,

I have several Hydrofarm Heat Mats in service and they have been giving me good service for over 10 years. They come in more than one size, but I use 48" x 20" because they fit the shelves on my chrome wire steel shelves. I insulate my heat mats from the chrome wire steel shelves with corrugated cardboard (cut to size), of which I seem to have an abundance from Amazon deliveries. Heat mats usually come with a temperature controller whose sensor bulb you insert into the growing medium of a seedling pot that is on the heat mat. Because mine are relatively old, my temperature controllers are analog technology. I think most of the newer heat mat temperature controllers use digital technology. If you buy heat mats from Amazon you have the advantage of user comments and ratings for the product.

ZM

(not associated with any product or vendor mentioned or linked)

Thanks for the link!

I ordered the Hydrofoam one you rec'd ZenMan. Got it from Amazon. I got the size that fits one seedling tray, I don't think I need larger than that, not now anyway. I'll see how it works out.

I have broken out the heated propagators for the first time in a decade. I used to lose track of all the various sowing needs so switched to the simplest method of all - stuffing some seeds in potting medium and waiting it out without doing anything else at all. By and large, I did OK although a lot of things were very slow to get going. This year, having gone a bit mad with the seed orders, I thought I would attempt to be a bit more...considered, so have a selection of stuff in the props as well as the usual amount still snivelling on the freezy bench. I do promise myself that this year, I am going to be a responsible, careful and dutiful gardener, taking note of seed germination sites and following instructions - not the demented dabbler I actually am.

In truth, it would be an unmitigated disaster if everything actually germinated...as all space is now taken, while not a single seedling has been pricked out or potted on. Let us know how you are getting on MXK3 - will do the same.

Cheers, Suzy x

I have the one @zen_man has and works well. Started onion seeds just recently and only took 3 1/2 days to poke up out of the soil vs 7 to 14 days the onion packs say. I also use old heating pads on the low settings when I need more coverage.