No Heat Mat? No PROBLEM. Heat Mat Alternatives For Seeds!

[@GardeningInCanada]

Here is a soil temp thermometer that can be found internationally geni.us/3jgZ2jx For the one I know Canadians and Americas can get/my personal favourite check out my garden guide! chipper-originator-4877.ck.page/a073b6b263

[@cuznclive2236]

Retired volunteer firefighter and electrician here. If you use heat mats, set or hang a fire suppression ball near or above the location where using them, please.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Wait are you serious? Do these things catch fire?!

[@cuznclive2236]

@@GardeningInCanada They are a high resistant heat source, think light bulb filament, molded in silicone. What could go wrong? I've seen many of them fail. Some more spectacularly than others.

[@jcl5345]

Show it. Where's your evidence?@@cuznclive2236

[@SparkiMcSparks]

@@GardeningInCanadaA Review I just read on a heat mat mentioned that it was smoking..so here I am to watch you alternative video! Great info here - thank you! Also..what is your "witch's brew" mix, please?

[@rnupnorthbrrrsm6123]

What is a fire suppression ball ??

[@paulleighton7078]

Hi Canadians 🇨🇦 we have a lot of time for you guys down here 😊🇳🇿

[@I21oIoIl3]

I made a hotbed using chopped straw, alfalfa pellets, coffee grounds, and sawdust from hardwood pellets in a 75 gallon aquarium. Using a Ziploc bag with moist paper towel and keeping it in your pocket also works because of your body heat.

[@GardeningInCanada]

This is awesome!

[@melanyjordan7524]

We live off grid in Sask and have a propane oven so I put my babies in oven, the pilot light is perfect temp…but I now REMOVE the knob for the oven as a reminder that there is something in the oven (Hubby baked my cayenne pepper seedlings last year 😭😂)

[@GardeningInCanada]

Love this haha

[@krisyallowega5487]

My den is the warmest room in the house. I used to use an old electric blanket I covered it in plastic and had a thin sheet on top. It worked great, the entire bench was warm.

[@GardeningInCanada]

That is awesome!

[@blacksmithden]

Before I had heat mats, I walked around my house with a thermal imaging camera (yeah, I already owned it) looking for a constantly warm spot. Surprisingly, my new hot water tank was ambient room temperature on top. The ONLY place I could find that was a couple of degrees above room temperature was on top of the Bell satellite receiver. I put the seeds and some wet vermiculite in a pill bottle and stuck it up there for...5 days ?....a week ? I honestly can't remember exactly. Anyway, when roots started to appear, I planted the seeds in a cell tray and got a great crop.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Hahaha you are so nerdy I love it 🤓👩‍🔬

[@mountainvalleysunshine7228]

Thanks for reminding me why I don't live is Sask 🤣 Today in the Okanagan its 15°C and sunny, raking leaves and setting up the kids trampolin. For seed starting I built a little bench between my furnace and hot water tank. Its plenty warm in there! Also the water I use for watering sits in a glass jar in the same area so its basically the same temp as the soil. Happy sprouting everyone!

[@GardeningInCanada]

I need to move … lol it’s still below zero here

[@NeonCicada]

Good point about the comments section lol -- but also, she's being humble _(bc she's a highly intelligent plant ninja)_

[@GardeningInCanada]

Ha! 👩‍🔬

[@janmartin5145]

I have always used an old duo controlled electric blanket as a heat mat. I fold it in half to cover the whole table. I can then control each half of the table as I need to. It has a thermostat, so it never overheats. I cover it with plastic so it’s waterproof. When don’t need it anymore I just turn it off.

[@GardeningInCanada]

That's a great idea!

[@joetran8798]

I put a bunch of those jiffy7 plugs in a takeout container (after rehydrating them), drop a few seeds in them, put the top on with a little water and then place it on top of my refrigerator. Check every 2-3 days and once I see something sprout, move it to a different container on my window sill with morning sun.

[@kellyesselmont2478]

I place over my heat register.. I use a wire rack over it so it still heats the house too. Seems to work.. once a couple sprout I move to lights

[@clintoncooper3427]

Pop up table in wood stove room. Need moisture top in starter tray.

[@mammyoffgrid]

Off grid here, so heat mat not an option. Have always used warm water. Always have large pots of water on the woodstove so I'll often reverse the pot lids and set seedlings on top. Works great but have to keep a watchfull eye! Never leave them there through the night. Seedlings are set in front of window and grow lights only on for 3 to 4 hours in the evening when generator is on. You got to do with what you've got. This is my fifth year gardening this way with more successes than failures

[@jgsawka]

I know that different seeds like different temps for germinating, but the bad seed mom that I am, I shove all the trays in the grow box on a heat mat, haha! They surprisingly seem to survive my torture, lol!

[@peterreed4735]

Reading garden nerds minds. This video is the perfect time.

[@GardeningInCanada]

🤓👩‍🔬

[@pelenaka]

Soak seeds for 24 hours. Bought a heat matt for dogs on sale 25 years ago. Alternate on & off 8 hours. Always use warm water.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Yes! The good old soak love that idea

[@CreativeRedundancy]

Hello Ashley glad I didn’t mist these warm tips ❤ . I have a south facing window, but big but it gets cloudy too ;) I’m trying new to me stuff this year

[@GardeningInCanada]

Nice! Good luck

[@Gr8fullyDeadHead]

Turn a 10x20 sheet pan upside down over the stoves pilots most of the day it sits unused. Works perfectly.

[@GardeningInCanada]

That’s an awesome idea!

[@missm4174]

I was looking for a warm spot for my peppers this year and decided to try the register trick. Then I remembered that I have a small entry room that has a big southern window and a big western window - duh, I put them in there! I moved them to the basement after they germinated. It's cooler, but I figured they'd appreciate the overhead grow lights over the sunshine from the side. Not sure if that was right, but they haven't keeled over yet.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Genius!

[@wrail5205]

I cover my trays with a black plastic for a light blocker and run shop lights (heat source ) with emergency blankets reflectors 24/7 till they sprout . Then remove the cover and time the lights . Seems to work ok and saved the expense of a heat mat.

[@ZeFeratu]

Michigan zone 5a here. Our house is a bit extreme with temperature fluctuation from room to room. We use a wood burning stove for heat, so if the "fire room" is 78°F at night, the "Sun room" across the house is anywhere from 25°F - 60°F. It really depends on the outside temperature. I started last Autumn with the plants in the Sunroom, and eventually realized that it gets too cold, so had to relocate everything into a grow tent in our "Fire Room". When the temperature needs to be increased for the plants, I open the top of the grow tent, and have a small fan blowing out of the bottom of the tent. I check temperatures often with an IR temp gun, and close the top and bottom when the temperature is in a good range. I have a wire shelf inside of the tent with labels that show the minimum temperatures for the plants on the corresponding shelves. Floor is 50°F , bottom shelves are 60°F, and so-on going up to the "tropical & germination" shelf at 80°+ my strongest grow lights are at the top, but the grow lights from a germination kit you recommended are also spread out along 5 of the lower shelves. About an hour after I pull in the warm air and turn off the fan, the warmer air rises, and it's so satisfying to see the temperatures in the accurate ranges per my labeled shelves 😁 🤣TBH most of this is experimental, and not really sustainable once I lose interest. Far too much work involved. I'm ok bringing in the warm air and trusting the process once I know it's consistent.

[@GardeningInCanada]

That’s awesome. I would love a furnace like that!

[@psynurse]

Thanks again for the timely video. Trying to use heat mat. Have used reptile ceramic heater low watt overhead with good results and since they dont put out visible light it seems to work well. Like idea of using the black trays with clear cover for solar , fridge top etc . My setup is in the basement where it's cool doing what I can til warms up 🌞

[@izebdeh]

Exactly what i was looking for. Ive only got one heat mat too. Currently just cramming as many pots ontop of eachother as possible, to utilise as much surface area as I can 😬😂

[@GardeningInCanada]

Heat in bulk lol

[@emkn1479]

I’ve wondered about the temperature of soil vs air…didn’t seem to be true once I got a heat mat with a thermometer. I use stored rain water on all my plants and I always bring in a bucket the night before I want to water so it can warm up.

[@waynesell3681]

Good stuff my frig top is warm. Grow room at 73 degrees F. Comfortable. Looking forward to seeing outside sometime this summer!

[@GardeningInCanada]

Oh yes that’s perfect

[@waynesell3681]

@@GardeningInCanada thanks it's warm there. Haven't tried a whole tray of 72 up there. Few small plates works.

[@vidadavey7219]

I do not have a heating mat. I did not have much room on the floor near and on top of a heater vent for all the planted seeds I am trying, so, I placed some on top of a display case. I discovered that my planted seeds sprouted faster sitting on top of a display case / book case than near the heater vent. The air is warmer closer to the ceiling.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Awesome idea!

[@Mastadex]

I use the baggy method to start seeds, and I leave the bag in the closet with my modem, router, other electronic equipment. It's a consistent, warm place for them.

[@Emma-3010]

Incandescent rope lights. I sit my base containers directly on them, put the seeded six packs into that container. Rope lights were WAY cheaper than heat mats when I was looking a few years ago.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Yes! Awesome idea

[@zabmcauley5647]

I'm in Ottawa. We didn't get much snow this winter. All snow has been melted for weeks. It's scary

[@ZaraWatsonmodel]

Great video as always. 👏 You said you were going to link a list of different seeds and their germination temps down below. I can't see it, am I being blind?! 😃 (I mainly wanted to see if it listed the germination temp for delphiniums. Everyhting ive read about it is contradictory, from 10 Celsius to 21. And I seem utterly incapable of germinating them, despite trying a million different things! 🤦‍♀️ Arrggh! 😀 I put seeds on top of my boiling water tank, it's actually probably too hot! But its in a cupboard, so if they need light i put a little torch in the cupboard on them! Ive also used hot water bottles, jars with boiling water in etc! I do have a heat mat, but really i could do with about 50!! I get far too carried away with seeds! 🤦‍♀️ xxx Thanks very much ❤

[@GardeningInCanada]

It should be in a comment somewhere I posted it a few times as a reply

[@Lance.pigman]

Y’all still haven’t hit spring up there in Canada? We’ve already had 90 degree days in Houston 😂 feels so nice out

[@GardeningInCanada]

Nope lol. Snowbanks still 🥹

[@marklynch8781]

The improved results make heat mats worth the very reasonable price they now sell for online.

[@GardeningInCanada]

That’s are pretty cheap

[@thebandplayedon..6145]

Because I'm off grid with a small solar system I cannot run mats 24/7 so I've come to use hot bricks and or large rocks, heated via sun, put in boiling water for a few minutes, or heated on the wood stove. They hold/ radiate heat for hours. Place a silicone mat or thin towel down on top for trays to lay on and not receive direct heat- and they do get very hot!

[@GardeningInCanada]

I have never thought of that! Awesome

[@tiarnaanderson6301]

Hey, you mentioned a seed temp guide by the U of CA but I can't see the link. Sorry if you have it posted somewhere. Can you add?

[@GardeningInCanada]

Here you are! sacmg.ucanr.edu/files/164220.pdf

[@mattg6472]

Nice that was a beauty intro

[@rugvedkulkarni1593]

Thank you for this video :) What growing zone are you in?

[@VOTE4TAJ]

We keep our heat at 21° and I have not used any heat mat except placing it at a bit sunny east window where there is heat vent underneath the sofa. I’m struggling with only one thing and that is basil. Holy basil refused to come up I think I’m not that holy. Speaking of snow….. our mud in Airdrie is drying up fast. Question: can we use windshield washer fluid jug for winter sowing or frost cover?

[@GardeningInCanada]

As long as it’s cleaned out it would be fine

[@VOTE4TAJ]

@@GardeningInCanada thank you. I am talking to a couple of restaurants for vinegar cans.

[@ricebeansrockroll882]

My bathroom has floor heating. I put the trays on a oven sheet for easy moving when having a shower, otherwise the seeds live in my shower.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Genius!

[@cardstockcollector]

Thank You!

[@GardeningInCanada]

You're welcome!

[@yesterdayseyes]

The top of my gas fireplace is perfect, warm from the pilot light.

[@GardeningInCanada]

That’s a win

[@JubileeHomesteading]

Hey! I've heard you state you grow onions in a flat. Do you use a flat without holes? If so, do you use a heating mat underneath? If not, how do you manage the soil exposed to direct heat? Please help! I'd like to try this method since I'm used to growing them with a 50-cell 1020 tray but would like to conserve those for other seeds. Thanks so much!

[@GardeningInCanada]

I do flats without holes but if you normally over water then I would go with holes. With a bottom catch tray.

[@shibafan1883]

What is the link to the pdf of ideal seed starting temperatures? I use the air vent method. I elevate the seeds a bit above the vents.

[@anniewildmush1284]

i put my mars hydro on a shelf... but above those.. is soo warm perfect for peppers.. or i have old water heater... put a woodp piece on it... pizza stone loll and put it on it loll

[@GardeningInCanada]

Oh yea! Those things throw heat

[@MusicBlik]

These are all good ideas! Never heard a humidity dome called a "cloche". Is this a legitimate hole in my knowledge or do Canadians just drop random French words into casual conversation?

[@GardeningInCanada]

That’s a good question. I actually have no idea. That very well could be a Canadian reference and have zero relevance to the rest of the world. We are known to drop a French word or two into a sentences so very well could be the case. I’m just so used to it. I wouldn’t have noticed.

[@JM.TheComposer]

Where's the link to the germination temperatures PDF?

[@stevenwiig3747]

indeed

[@GardeningInCanada]

I am so sorry. My forgetfulness! sacmg.ucanr.edu/files/164220.pdf

[@GardeningInCanada]

I am so sorry. My forgetfulness! sacmg.ucanr.edu/files/164220.pdf

[@SunnyNot]

Ashley, is it fine to put nemoknights into the seed starting mix? I'm worried the gnats will destroy my seedlings

[@GardeningInCanada]

Yup! Just fix it in you are good

[@SunnyNot]

@@GardeningInCanadathanks!

[@79PoisonBreaker]

lol I used my cable tv pvr to germinate until I got a heat mat. It worked really good. I also used a tray ballanced on a shelf and the top of a tv. the heat from electronics often is enough lol just careful to keep moisture from leaking.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Hahah k. I have a security camera system and the box is hot. I have totally used it… 🤓🙏

[@kendravoracek3636]

💚💚

[@GardeningInCanada]

❤️❤️❤️

[@peachy6969]

Does anyone see the PDF link? I can't find it!

[@GardeningInCanada]

I am so sorry. My forgetfulness! sacmg.ucanr.edu/files/164220.pdf

[@peachy6969]

Thanks 😊@@GardeningInCanada

[@12345BLane]

Me neither.

[@JogBird]

unless youre starting seeds in an unheated garage, you dont need a heat mat

[@Gr8fullyDeadHead]

I only use a mat for tomatoes and peppers.

[@steffyincan]

If you're doing hot peppers it's a necessity to get that soil temp up.

[@beentheredonethat6584]

I find that a heat mat helps only with onions but I rarely bother to use it. My seeds germinate fine at 20-21C. More critical to success in seed starting are : 1. Regulating moisture in the growing medium 2. the light/no light requirements 3. seed age

[@sandiheilman-ry4jt]

I wanted to hear what you had to say, but your hand motions are too much. Can you tone it down? You don't need to motion every second

[@Jeff24669]

Lots of people talk with their hands. Sounds like a personal problem for you.

[@sqeekable]

Look away from video and just listen to hear advice, take notes.

[@sandiheilman-ry4jt]

@@Jeff24669 she can speak for herself. Are you one who likes to harassing others? Does that make you feel special