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Heat mats
Pete.8
Posts: 11,340
In a few weeks I'll have more tender seedlings than I can keep in my propagator so was thinking about getting a heat mat to put the seedlings on in my unheated g/house.
The staging is aluminium so I'd get some 10mm polystyrene to put between the staging and mat for insulation.
First question is will a heat mat provide enough warmth to keep the seedlings warm enough?
and if so,
Any recommendations?
I was looking for something about 4ft x 2ft
Thanks
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
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I bought a heat mat a few years ago. My shelves are wooden and I put a sheet of solid polycarbonate under the heat mat. Polystyrene is inflammable so that would bother me. It's been brilliant. If I sow seeds in trays I put a clear cover over them and it's like using a heated propagator. But I have 3 of those already so I use it more for putting potted up seedlings onto, uncovered. Gives them a gentle warmth underneath and they don't get frosted.
I bought mine online, but, sorry, I can't remember who from.
Oh good, that sounds quite promising then BL thanks a lot. Good point about the polystyrene, I'll get some polycarb instead.
There is a bewildering choice both with and without thermostats and prices from £20-£100+ for basically the same thing, so I was hoping for some guidance.
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Mine had a thermostat, but it didn't seem to work properly. As soon as you put the end of the wire with the heat detector into the compost it turned itself off, so I don't bother with it. But I think it's the thermostat that makes it much more expensive so if you can find a cheap one without thermostat that's safe then I'd go for that.
These people have them https://www.greenhousepeople.co.uk/categories/accessories/heat-mats/
Thanks BL. The mats seem a bit flimsy to me and I thought moving pots and trays around on them may damage them after a season or two.
I've been looking and I quite like the look of this one - the 39"
http://www.twowests.co.uk/product/heated-tray
with a
https://www.amazon.co.uk/VIVOSUN-Seedling-Thermostat-Controller-68-108-F/dp/B01DZRXKM4/ref=pd_vtph_86_bs_lp_tr_t_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=BANVDH4FR2B7W77MF19X
But I'll have think on it for a while.
Thanks again for your suggestions.
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.