View Full Version : Heating Pads
tophersmith
01-11-2008, 11:01 AM
Does anyone kno where you can purchase the heating pads for bannana seed germination?
CookieCows
01-11-2008, 11:41 AM
there's some on ebay ... don't know if the price is any good or anything about them http://cgi.ebay.com/SEEDLING-HEATING-CLONING-GERMINATION-SEED-GROW-HEAT-MAT_W0QQitemZ200189925700QQcategoryZ43555QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWINQ 3aPOST0Q3aRECOQ3aBINQQcmdZViewItem
D_&_T
01-11-2008, 05:36 PM
here is a site we have be planning getting one from
http://www.growerssolution.com/page/GS/CTGY/heatmats
Tropicallvr
01-11-2008, 05:58 PM
That's the type i use, both those links have good prices. They seem to have "hot spots" on them though. I usally have 5 chunks(inch or less thick) of styrofoam between the mats and the trays so that it heats more even and it stays cooler(can get well over 100F if directly on mat, and cook seeds)
Forgot to say on this post that i use the one that is big enough to hold 4 trays, so it might get alot hotter than the smaller ones.
CookieCows
01-11-2008, 06:37 PM
I've got seeds coming and have never germintated anything but garden vegetables so this is VERY exciting for me. I would be sort of nervous buying a heat pad off ebay so glad you came up with another site Dan. Cause what if it was defective.
I'm listening to what you are saying about putting styrofoam down and why you do it. I guess I should buy a heat pad also. Top of the fridge may not do the trick this time? LOL These aren't bananas but I want to be careful with them. (Edible date palm, Cedar of Lebanon and Moso Bamboo)
Tropicallvr
01-11-2008, 07:41 PM
A heat mat is priceless when it comes to germinating tough seeds.
I bet the fridge trick would do it with the Moso, and date palm, but a heat mat is alot more tidy, not to mention fun to check up on.
CosmikDebris
01-11-2008, 07:50 PM
I also use the heating mat from hydrofarm. I find them to be the safest and most reliable.
taroking
01-11-2008, 10:55 PM
http://www.bigappleherp.com/REPTILE-SUPPLIES/Heating
jellyfish_sky
01-11-2008, 11:18 PM
What about heating cables? Are they as good as heating mats? I've been considering about getting a mat as well, since my xmas light pad is not the safest :2783:
CookieCows
01-12-2008, 09:21 AM
What about heating cables? Are they as good as heating mats? I've been considering about getting a mat as well, since my xmas light pad is not the safest :2783:
Celine I have been thinking about how to make my own also instead of spending the money. I'm still up in the air about it. :parachutenanner:
mrbungalow
01-12-2008, 11:16 AM
Go to pet stores and ask for the heating mats used for reptiles. Heaps cheaper than those sold for gardening-purpouses. Then go to Radio-Shack or a similar store and buy an electrical timer. (The type with a "dial" above the socket) This setup has germinated thousand of plants for me. Cheap and easy!
Erlend
CookieCows
01-12-2008, 11:19 AM
Thanks for the tip.. I'll check that out! I already have one of those timers.
Deb
Tropicallvr
01-12-2008, 01:06 PM
I wonder how dangerous some of the Non-nursery heat pads are. I have set gallon plants on the hydrofarm farms one, and watered directly onto them(sitting in a puddle of water and no problem)
CookieCows
01-12-2008, 03:09 PM
I don't know what a hydrofarm farm heat element is :2118: We probably have those heating elements that you put in the water troughs for livestock or dog water buckets. We have a heat rock that my grandson used when he had a snake and I think I'll rig something up with that for now as I took my 7yr old grand daughter out seed hunting this morning and we have to sit down and get them started. Yikes... I'm close to getting off the thread subject so will post what we're planting on the appropriate thread! :2181:
Deb
Richard
01-12-2008, 04:23 PM
The temperature you germinate at can be important. Several people in this forum report success with temperature fluctuation in the 70F to 90F range. Search this forum on "temperature" to read the posts. There presently is no page in the wiki devoted to seed germination.
The cheapest heat mat you can buy is at the drug store -- for aches and pains. These typically have 3 settings. The lowest setting is usually delivers 85F. I use it for rising bread in the winter when the room temperature is too cool.
The heaters at the pet stores are often categorized by specific animals, because they have certain needs. All of them I have examined are regulated at 75F or higher.
The hydrofarm heat mats ( http://www.hydrofarm.com ) are advertised to keep the temperature 10 to 20F above ambient temperature. The ones I've tested maintain low 70's F in the garage where the temperature is 50F, and shut off at 80F when the room temperature rises. Hydrofarm also sells a temperature regulator for its heat mat which will keep the temperature from rising above a specified value. For many fruits and vegetables, the optimum seed germination temperature and scion rooting temperature is 65F (but apparently not for bananas).
Burpee Co. ( http://www.burpee.com/ ) and others also sell heat mats. Those I've tested are unregulated, performing similar (sometimes identical product) to the hydrofarm.
the flying dutchman
01-12-2008, 04:59 PM
There presently is no page in the wiki devoted to seed germination.
Feel yourself free to add one Richard, you have our permission
Ron
Richard
01-12-2008, 07:09 PM
Thanks for the offer, but I don't intend to grow bananas from seed. However, if someone were to start assimilating information on this topic, then I do recall seeing a "Review of the Literature" paper published at Tamil Nadu Agricultural Univ. a few years back. I hope this helps!
chong
01-12-2008, 10:40 PM
Go to pet stores and ask for the heating mats used for reptiles. Heaps cheaper than those sold for gardening-purpouses. Then go to Radio-Shack or a similar store and buy an electrical timer. (The type with a "dial" above the socket) This setup has germinated thousand of plants for me. Cheap and easy!
Erlend
Great tip for the folks, Erlend. I buy my electrical timers, with 2 outlets, from Harbor Freight for $3.99 on sale. Reg. $5.99!
chong
01-12-2008, 10:48 PM
Also, for temperature control of heat mats, I use a remote bulb thermostat placed inside the middle tray (I have a 5 tray mat from Hydrofarm). I bought the t'stat from WW Grainger. I work in the HVAC industry and I pay the lowest wholesale prices for HVAC equipment with them. If you have friends who are HVAC techs or engineers, you can ask them to buy them for you.
I usually set the temps at 90degF. To fluctuate the temperature, I jus open the dome to the tray that needs the lower temps for the number of hours it needs to be lower.
weirdone66
01-13-2008, 07:28 PM
i'm trying to grow a bananier plant seeds thats what the package says its called and I was wondering we are using a desk lamp but i heard to use a heating pad. What is better a lamp or a heating pad?
CookieCows
01-13-2008, 08:38 PM
This thread is helping me so much as I know now that I'm just going to have to stop trying to think of ways to jerry rig something and buy a heating pad. Since we're going to start up the aquaponics pretty soon and plan on enclosing it on our back deck for year round salad growing I'm going to need to be able to sprout seeds without having problems and with the growing obsession with banana growing and tropicals ... well I have that personality quirk that my husband just shakes his head at .... like saving money by making my own bread. Causes me a ton more work and saves us very little. LOL He has an analitical brain and..............I don't!
I WILL go check out the prices at the pet store to see what those heating mats are running and hook up to timers though if they're alot cheaper.
Lots of good info. on this subject and I've checked out the stores mentioned also. Would love to go visit them. You guys have so much experience. I've learned so much in my short time with this forum.
Deb
chong
01-13-2008, 09:19 PM
i'm trying to grow a bananier plant seeds thats what the package says its called and I was wondering we are using a desk lamp but i heard to use a heating pad. What is better a lamp or a heating pad?
I use a small desk lamp to heat the base (pot) of my small Siam Red. The focus of the lamp is aimed at the soil. For the actual lighting, I have another desk lamp with a 13 watt fluorescent lamp, 18-inches above the plant, directly over it. If your seeds require bright light, you could use both incandescent and fluorescent lamps together. The incandescent will heat the soil and actually provide the red rays that support root formation. However, to provide heat to the roots, you need to get the lamp close to the soil. The risk of burning the new growth is great, depending on how close the lamps are to the plants.
For starting seeds, I use the Hydrofarm heating pad for the bottom heat, and the fluorescent above. This way I can control the heat with a bulb thermostat in one of the trays. Since they are in the greenhouse, the fluorescents are 2feet over the domes. They are only used for "fill-in" light, since although most of the light comes from the sun, the problem here in Seattle, as y'all are aware of, the sun is hardly seen here, especially in the winter. Today, though, the sun actually appeared in full glory. Must be why church attendance was low today.
Another thing about incandescent lamps: I read, sometime ago, that too much of this light spectrum can actually slow down, or even inhibit, the sprouting of some seeds. So, make sure that you check on the lighting requirements for your seeds.
jellyfish_sky
01-13-2008, 10:21 PM
i'm trying to grow a bananier plant seeds thats what the package says its called and I was wondering we are using a desk lamp but i heard to use a heating pad. What is better a lamp or a heating pad?
I find it hard to use a desk lamp alone to germinate seeds. Like Chong said, to give enough heat to your plants the lamp would have to be very close to the soil. Using a heating pad is much easier to control temperatures. If you're on a tight budget, try looking for home-made germination stations posted around here, though it takes a bit more time to set up.
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