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granma
Posts: 1,933
Does anyone use a soil thermometer with a electric propergator?.?
How do you use one ?
Do I need one for each propergator?
I have renewed my propergators this year and wondering about an added thermometer , would I benefit from using one please?
All information greatly received x
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I don't use thermometers with my electric propagators. It's just a mild heat from the heated cable in them and they always seem to get results. If you really want to know you could get a maximum/minimum thermometer and leave it in for night and see what the temp was.
I had never thought of using a thermometer with the propergators before until someone was telling me they wouldn't use an electric propergator without the addition of one. It's supposedly used to help tell you how much to water .
I can't see how it can tell you when to water. If you leave the lid on during germination the water drops back on the compost as condensation. When the plants are tiny leave the lid on with the ventilators open, there will still be little water loss. When the plants are bigger take the lid off or take them out of the propagator, then you use your fingers and your eyes to see when to water.
I don't think it would be useful unless it was the sophisticated kind that you can wire in to control the propagator. I have two propagators, one with a thermostat and one without and I can't say I've really noticed much difference in performance between the seeds grown in each although I haven't done any kind of scientific comparison.
I have a thermometer as part of the temperature control system on my propagator. All it tells me really is the artificial lights and sunlight from the window cause extreme temperature variations throughout the day and the temperature doesn't drop below the minimum set at night. Still works, had 100% germination so far and the melons I have growing on in there are romping away.
Gemma , have pmd you
Replied granma