Thanks for the tips at the end of the video about using the mat for sourdough! Great idea I never thought of 😆 I’ve had such a hard time with my starter during these winter months and I will try the mat to keep it warm.😊 Great video
Last growing season was my first growing season with a heat mat and because I had watched a video you made on the do/don't of them, I was successful. Before watching that video I thought you kept the seeds on the mat for weeks and weeks. I didn't realize it was just during germination. Such good information you provide. Thank you!
I've used different types of heating mats and previously used timers to only have them on during nighttime coolest times. Thanks for explaining that they should be on all the time and also that seedlings need to be off after first sprouting. I wasn't aware of that either. 😀
I just bought my first mats a couple of weeks ago. I can't wit to give them a try. Thank you for your insites into using heat mats, and so timely, too.
I bought a heat mat and have used it for sourdough, starting seeds, and in an emergency I finally used it to keep my chicks warm when their heat lamp burned out during he night. I never thought about kombucha. I eventually used it under plexiglass to keep my old dog warm in his doghouse. I put an old blanket on it and he was quite comfortable. It sounds like it has a lot more uses.
The first "heat mat" I ever used was LED Christmas lights under a clear plastic tote in which I placed seed starts. I used a thermometer I already had to know how high to prop each container off the lights to achieve the proper temperature for the seeds awaiting germination. Since I use only things I already have, it's a very low budget means by which to regulate soil temp for hundreds of seeds/dozens of types of plants. 2025 will be my third year employing this tactic, though I am picking up an actual heat mat to try it out this year, too.
I use one of my heat mats under my worm tote with a thermostat to keep them warm in my kitchen. Also I make kimchi and my house is not always toasty warm so it can also be used to help with the fermentation as well.
I use a heat mat to cure my sweet potatoes. Made a raised screen that fits over my large heat mat, put a shallow pan of water for some humidity, then cover the sweet potatoes with a light plastic painters tarp used for draping over furniture. Happy New Year! Stay Well!!!!
I started using heat mats 2 years ago. There is a little draft that comes in at our bow window, and the heat mats help. I always take the mats out as soon as the seeds germinate. If I want to start seeds when it gets a little warmer, I can use my little greenhouse. But I can't wait until then to start seeds in zone 6b. I can't wait to get started!
I have a very small seed-starting nook in my house and do use a heat mat for some seeds in very specific circumstances, but start a lot of seeds without it. I also brew kombucha and haven’t ever used it for that.
Question. You say to take the plants off the heat mat after germination even for tomato plants. How do I deal with my house being too cold for tomato plants? My house is between 63 and 65 until the outdoor temp is warm enough to open the windows and heat the house. My house is to cold to germinate tomatoes without a heat mat. Last year I had success germinating with a heat mat, but they didn't grow so great. I can't heat the air more. How do you recommend starting tomatoes indoors if I can't keep them on the heat mat?
Once the seeds sprout, it’s better to provide heat from above rather than bottom heat. A sunny window helps. I use grow lights. The seedlings need a fair amount of light anyway or they’ll get leggy. I use 6500k bulbs in shop-type brooder bases. It works well for me.
Have you watched JacobsBackyardGardening? He reminds me of you early on in your gardening.Happy New Year.I look forward to a fruitful 2025 with your wisdom and knowlege .
I use a single flat sized heat mat and have always set it on a perlite-filled flat so that it doesn’t work hard trying to heat the ceramic tiles where the it is plugged in .
In the beginning they are great because you don't want the flat to dry out or the seeds won't germinate. When they sprout, you want to take it off to prevent mold, mildew which will cause damping off which will kill your seedlings . Hope this helps.
A heat mat is great to have in case of severe weather and electrical outages if it's cold if you have a battery power backup or generator or even if a car if you have a power inverter. It can help save your life and the life of pets.
My issue is I can't find any info on what temp to set it to, and should I use it if the ambient temp is high enough already?? Ex: House at 70F, seeds in question germinate best at 60F to 70F or 65F to 75F.... Heat mat on or off? If on, what should it be set at?
You can buy a soil thermometer or tester with a 3 or 4 in 1: PH, light, soil temp to guage the soil temp in the flat to see if you need to use a heat mat. They are very handy to have. Take it from there and I think that will give you your answer as to the setting that is needed.
I don't own a heat mat but was thinking of getting them this year because last year I had a very hard time getting some things to sprout. I think He said NO to your question. Maybe an extra day or so but once 25% sprouted the rest are probably already on their way I believe he said. Good luck!
I have a couple of heat mats for gardening, but I also bout a couple of small ones to put in my nest boxes for my chickens so the eggs don't freeze, I haven't put them in there yet cause I got them for Christmas, has anyone else done this and would it be ok to keep them on all the time for would it be a fire risk?
Not to take business away from your store but there are heat mats out there with adjustable thermostats that have a probe that you insert into your seed tray soil and you can set them to whatever temperature you like and they will toggle themselves on and off as needed
I used heat mats for several years and noticed that the plants around the outside of the tray generally germinated faster and in higher percentages, while plants toward the middle often didn't germinate at all. Eventually I ended up using a simple kitchen heat probe to determine how much heat the mat was giving off. If was over 100F, which was way too hot. I purchased an inexpensive dimmer cord from Home Depot and used it to adjust the amount of electricity received by the heat mat. After setting a proper temperate (75F - 85F), I get nearly 100% germination and fairly consistent germination. Note: You can also buy products which will allow the temperature to be set for the heat mat. Bottom line: Test your heat mat, and if necessary do something to reduce the heat if it is too high. Another method would be to stack towels or blankets between the mat and the tray(s) to reduce the amount of heat transfer.
OK so you said heat stress can cause legginess in cool weather crops. I sowed some bok choy seeds in a flat with the lights close to the surface. Now they're long and spindly, not that they're reaching for the light. My basement is about 72 degrees. Also I have peppers that germinated without a heat mat. Pretty sure during this comment I answered my own question but a professional opinion is always welcome 😊
HNY! Aren't those plants okay with the cold? I got them in the backyard and they're growing like crazy. I just added organic banana peel in the soil to fertilize them and maybe, they work like composts - natural heating for the roots.
HELP!! I have garlic that I purchased, used like three toes of it. Four days later it is all growing. I live in sw mi and can't put it in ground. ??? Hugs and kisses to all. Stay safe 💕
Separate them and plant them in a deep pot. At least 3 or 4 inches, 1/2” or so spacing is fine. They’re roots are thick so they separate well when it’s time to plant
I am going to give up on germinating my own seeds and buy store bought Non-GMO plants that I can grow in our apartment garage environment. Waiting for seed germination is total insanity, given my environment. I can easily re-grow/clone/cut-n-come-again type plants from existing Non-GMO starts. Come warmer temps, I can go back to germinating seeds for summer. If you sell non-GMO starts I am in the market? It could be a "Luke-ative" product idea for you MI gardener. Just an idea.
I think the heat mat made me get plants way too early! I had tomatoes ready to go 1.5 months too early. Im going to try winter sowing this yr! Im in yr 3 growing vegetables...the climate caused poor crops last yr, that and slugs ate all my strawberries!
Can you please explain why your mats are so much better than ones from Hydrofarm and other manufacturers? Are the internals constructed differently? You made this claim on another post, but never answered my question. If you make a claim like this, please provide a real explanation for customers. It helps us decide. 7:06
Thanks for the tips at the end of the video about using the mat for sourdough! Great idea I never thought of 😆 I’ve had such a hard time with my starter during these winter months and I will try the mat to keep it warm.😊 Great video
Thanks, I did not know to take it off.The heat met as soon as you got sprouts!
Haha! As I was watching this video, I was using mine (with a towel for safety insulation) to keep my feet from freezing under my desk!
That's a good one.😂😂😂😂
Last growing season was my first growing season with a heat mat and because I had watched a video you made on the do/don't of them, I was successful.
Before watching that video I thought you kept the seeds on the mat for weeks and weeks. I didn't realize it was just during germination.
Such good information you provide. Thank you!
I've used different types of heating mats and previously used timers to only have them on during nighttime coolest times. Thanks for explaining that they should be on all the time and also that seedlings need to be off after first sprouting. I wasn't aware of that either. 😀
Yes! I had to brew kombucha in my basement during the winter. To help with the warmth, I have used a heat mat
I hadn't thought of using it for such a purpose, but this is genius! I'll be doing the same for my water kefir this winter-- thanks for the idea!
@@LeveledUpMom it’s a game changer - right? Water kefir - sounds interesting 🤔
Great tip using heat mat for proofing bread. Love it!
I just bought my first mats a couple of weeks ago. I can't wit to give them a try. Thank you for your insites into using heat mats, and so timely, too.
The only space I have to start seeds is next to my wood stove. I am going to try a heat mat this year, so this is really helpful. Thank you
If you have no thermostat for your heat mat and wish it to be not as warm you can put some cardboard between the mat and your tray
I bought a heat mat and have used it for sourdough, starting seeds, and in an emergency I finally used it to keep my chicks warm when their heat lamp burned out during he night. I never thought about kombucha. I eventually used it under plexiglass to keep my old dog warm in his doghouse. I put an old blanket on it and he was quite comfortable. It sounds like it has a lot more uses.
The first "heat mat" I ever used was LED Christmas lights under a clear plastic tote in which I placed seed starts. I used a thermometer I already had to know how high to prop each container off the lights to achieve the proper temperature for the seeds awaiting germination. Since I use only things I already have, it's a very low budget means by which to regulate soil temp for hundreds of seeds/dozens of types of plants. 2025 will be my third year employing this tactic, though I am picking up an actual heat mat to try it out this year, too.
I've never used heat mats but always wondered about them. Thank you for sharing this was very interesting and informative.
I use one of my heat mats under my worm tote with a thermostat to keep them warm in my kitchen. Also I make kimchi and my house is not always toasty warm so it can also be used to help with the fermentation as well.
Use one of my 3 heat mats for kombucha all the time. Using it now.
I use a heat mat to germinate my warm weather plants! This will be my third season using them.such a great tool for a gardener.
I use a heat mat to cure my sweet potatoes. Made a raised screen that fits over my large heat mat, put a shallow pan of water for some humidity, then cover the sweet potatoes with a light plastic painters tarp used for draping over furniture.
Happy New Year! Stay Well!!!!
Ooh, I'm going to have to try this: great idea!
I started using heat mats 2 years ago. There is a little draft that comes in at our bow window, and the heat mats help. I always take the mats out as soon as the seeds germinate. If I want to start seeds when it gets a little warmer, I can use my little greenhouse. But I can't wait until then to start seeds in zone 6b. I can't wait to get started!
This will be my first year using heat mats. Thanks for the extra info that you have provided.😊
Great info! Thanks Luke!
Great video, could you schedule one on cold frames for the spring?
Very timely,the one I ordered from you should arrive tomorrow 🤩
Thought they were going to expensive. Just checked and they very affordable. Thanks for the info too.
They’re worth spend the money on because you’ll save money later on seeds since your germination rate will be better. 😊
Thank you!!! I did learn something that I was doing wrong = timer on heat mat
I use a heat mat for tomatoes and peppers.😊
The germination ratio is greatly improved with tomatoes and I have never been able to sprout a pepper without a mat.
Learned something new today, Yeah!
Thanks Luke for your videos! I always learn things to help me. I use heat mats but I had them on the timer with the lights. Now I will not do that.
I have a very small seed-starting nook in my house and do use a heat mat for some seeds in very specific circumstances, but start a lot of seeds without it. I also brew kombucha and haven’t ever used it for that.
Question. You say to take the plants off the heat mat after germination even for tomato plants. How do I deal with my house being too cold for tomato plants? My house is between 63 and 65 until the outdoor temp is warm enough to open the windows and heat the house. My house is to cold to germinate tomatoes without a heat mat. Last year I had success germinating with a heat mat, but they didn't grow so great. I can't heat the air more. How do you recommend starting tomatoes indoors if I can't keep them on the heat mat?
Once the seeds sprout, it’s better to provide heat from above rather than bottom heat. A sunny window helps. I use grow lights. The seedlings need a fair amount of light anyway or they’ll get leggy. I use 6500k bulbs in shop-type brooder bases. It works well for me.
Perhaps placing the trays in a tote with incandescent Christmas lights will raise the temperature enough to sustain them.
I use the top of my frige. I don't have an overhead cabinet so it works well.
Thank you!
Happy New Year
Have you watched JacobsBackyardGardening? He reminds me of you early on in your gardening.Happy New Year.I look forward to a fruitful 2025 with your wisdom and knowlege .
I use a single flat sized heat mat and have always set it on a perlite-filled flat so that it doesn’t work hard trying to heat the ceramic tiles where the it is plugged in .
Happy New Year. Do you have to put a dome over top?
No need as long as you keep them damp.
new subscriber I just saw you video from 3 weeks ago about the seed starting trays I'm wondering about humidity domes should I get them or not?
In the beginning they are great because you don't want the flat to dry out or the seeds won't germinate. When they sprout, you want to take it off to prevent mold, mildew which will cause damping off which will kill your seedlings . Hope this helps.
Wow thats a whopper. Great deal! I think I might grab one.
Great video! What’s your average min/max temp in your unheated greenhouse?
A heat mat is great to have in case of severe weather and electrical outages if it's cold if you have a battery power backup or generator or even if a car if you have a power inverter. It can help save your life and the life of pets.
My issue is I can't find any info on what temp to set it to, and should I use it if the ambient temp is high enough already??
Ex: House at 70F, seeds in question germinate best at 60F to 70F or 65F to 75F.... Heat mat on or off? If on, what should it be set at?
You can buy a soil thermometer or tester with a 3 or 4 in 1: PH, light, soil temp to guage the soil temp in the flat to see if you need to use a heat mat. They are very handy to have. Take it from there and I think that will give you your answer as to the setting that is needed.
Didn't know to remove from the heat mat after sprouting. When is best to remove a dome from seeds sprouted using a heat mat indoors?
Right after they sprout.
Looks like snow outside. Is the inside heated?
How does the heat mat effect the water below the soil as I was taught not to water from the top?
Do you leave it on the heat mat to all your seedlings germinate
I don't own a heat mat but was thinking of getting them this year because last year I had a very hard time getting some things to sprout. I think He said NO to your question. Maybe an extra day or so but once 25% sprouted the rest are probably already on their way I believe he said. Good luck!
What powers your heat mat? Is there a solar powered version?
I have a couple of heat mats for gardening, but I also bout a couple of small ones to put in my nest boxes for my chickens so the eggs don't freeze, I haven't put them in there yet cause I got them for Christmas, has anyone else done this and would it be ok to keep them on all the time for would it be a fire risk?
Not to take business away from your store but there are heat mats out there with adjustable thermostats that have a probe that you insert into your seed tray soil and you can set them to whatever temperature you like and they will toggle themselves on and off as needed
I got one and they work great. Just plug the sensor in the soil (and don't forget it's there when you move the tray.
I used heat mats for several years and noticed that the plants around the outside of the tray generally germinated faster and in higher percentages, while plants toward the middle often didn't germinate at all. Eventually I ended up using a simple kitchen heat probe to determine how much heat the mat was giving off. If was over 100F, which was way too hot. I purchased an inexpensive dimmer cord from Home Depot and used it to adjust the amount of electricity received by the heat mat. After setting a proper temperate (75F - 85F), I get nearly 100% germination and fairly consistent germination. Note: You can also buy products which will allow the temperature to be set for the heat mat. Bottom line: Test your heat mat, and if necessary do something to reduce the heat if it is too high. Another method would be to stack towels or blankets between the mat and the tray(s) to reduce the amount of heat transfer.
OK so you said heat stress can cause legginess in cool weather crops. I sowed some bok choy seeds in a flat with the lights close to the surface. Now they're long and spindly, not that they're reaching for the light. My basement is about 72 degrees. Also I have peppers that germinated without a heat mat. Pretty sure during this comment I answered my own question but a professional opinion is always welcome 😊
❤🙏
HNY! Aren't those plants okay with the cold? I got them in the backyard and they're growing like crazy. I just added organic banana peel in the soil to fertilize them and maybe, they work like composts - natural heating for the roots.
I challenge you to find a non organic banana peel LMAO
❤HAPPY NEW YEAR 2025!❤😊
HELP!! I have garlic that I purchased, used like three toes of it. Four days later it is all growing. I live in sw mi and can't put it in ground. ??? Hugs and kisses to all. Stay safe 💕
Separate them and plant them in a deep pot. At least 3 or 4 inches, 1/2” or so spacing is fine. They’re roots are thick so they separate well when it’s time to plant
heat mat to keep Luke's feets warm
I am going to give up on germinating my own seeds and buy store bought Non-GMO plants that I can grow in our apartment garage environment. Waiting for seed germination is total insanity, given my environment. I can easily re-grow/clone/cut-n-come-again type plants from existing Non-GMO starts. Come warmer temps, I can go back to germinating seeds for summer. If you sell non-GMO starts I am in the market? It could be a "Luke-ative" product idea for you MI gardener. Just an idea.
I think the heat mat made me get plants way too early! I had tomatoes ready to go 1.5 months too early. Im going to try winter sowing this yr! Im in yr 3 growing vegetables...the climate caused poor crops last yr, that and slugs ate all my strawberries!
Thanks for the video!
Can you please go deeper into the third tip? Just kidding, you skipped that...
How can a heat mat work when it is " so cool?"
Can you please explain why your mats are so much better than ones from Hydrofarm and other manufacturers? Are the internals constructed differently? You made this claim on another post, but never answered my question. If you make a claim like this, please provide a real explanation for customers. It helps us decide. 7:06
not true for keeping pepper seedlings on the heat mat
Happy New Year - Wishing everyone awesome 2025 Gardens, Grow Bigger 🍅🥕🍉🌽🫑
Happy New Year to you too! May your garden be overflowing with delicious produce this year.
Happy New Year