K6MZMarion
1400165443
Posted 1449497435
Reply with quote #1
This is a great DIY project.http://www.vegetablegardener.com/item/11658/diy-heat-mat-speeds-seed-starting
Marion
FiggyFrank
1347560723
Posted 1449512552
Reply with quote #2
Great idea, Marion. I'll have to try this with some cuttings.
Dave
1312388324
Posted 1449515043
Reply with quote #3
I like this idea looks like a very safe setup
Connecticut - Zone 6B Wish List - Bordissot negra rimada
Smyfigs
1443660141
Posted 1449516934
Reply with quote #4
This is a great idea!
Meg-Hardiness Zone 10a
PeterC
1442348302
Posted 1449526318
Reply with quote #5
wow, this looks like a very economical way of heat source. Very cool!
Louneo
1447108662
Posted 1449527645
Reply with quote #6
I have also just used a short strand of led christmas lights under a seed tray as well. I have 2 sets of solar powered rope lights from Harbor Freight that im going to use to heat some seed trays in my greenhouse. It seems like a good setup if you insulate it so the heat doesnt dissipate too quickly
2017 Wishlist: CDDG, CDDN, CDDB, CDDR, Preto, i-258, Pastilliere Dauphine, Figoin, Cavaliere, Bordissot's Thank you!
lifigs
1374698291
Posted 1449527919
· Edited
Reply with quote #7
Perfect time of your to post this. A month from now you won't be able to buy X-mas lights.
Louneo
1447108662
Posted 1449528668
Reply with quote #8
Try Goodwill, Re-Store, or any of the salvation armys, you can get strands of lights really cheaply! I found 100ft strands last week for $4 a strand at a local Re-Store. They are LED and dont give off as much heat as the older style christmas lights but they are also less likely to have bulbs breaking if you go the xmas light route.
2017 Wishlist: CDDG, CDDN, CDDB, CDDR, Preto, i-258, Pastilliere Dauphine, Figoin, Cavaliere, Bordissot's Thank you!
GregMartin
1370378358
Posted 1449531393
Reply with quote #9
I bought rope lights right after Christmas last year at Walmart when they were marked way down. Got a nice timer system for the fluorescent lights that was also marked way down. I built a 4'x4'x4' insulated grow cube in my basement and installed them in the 2x4s that support the water tray. Works great to add that extra bit of heat to the medium the cuttings are rooted in.
NoelG_123
1406247827
Posted 1449536753
· Edited
Reply with quote #10
Thanks Marion. Being on a tight budget like many folks. This is very doable. Thanks again for the share.
eaglet2
1432240609
Posted 1449600381
Reply with quote #11
I've been using soil heat cable and a light dimer to set heat temp. Just zig zag under trays with duct tape to to deck. 12' double does 8 trays. setting is on dim. Has lasted for years and no bulbs to replace.
Hortstu
1350422638
Posted 1449957721
Reply with quote #12
I'm under the impression, just impression I've never experimented with them, that most of the energy going into LEDs goes into light and very little into heat. That's why they're so efficient. So maybe for this purpose you'd want to avoid the LEDs?
COGardener
1357441505
Posted 1450016600
Reply with quote #13
I have used the rope light idea to heat a humidity bin for a couple years, the fist one has work flawlessly with perfect heat and no fuss. When I decided to set up a second one, the project was meet with great disaster. The "exact same light" burnt significantly hotter than the first and cooked everything in the bin.
K6MZMarion
1400165443
Posted 1477499972
Reply with quote #14
It's time to share this again.
Marion
KK
1352993559
gofiger
1468681189
Posted 1477527203
Reply with quote #16
Not to hijack this thread but what I have used with great success is my oven. My oven when just the interior light is on is a constant 81 F. I learned this trick years ago from someone who told me that the inside of your oven with the light on is a great place to rest bread if your making your own and your house is on the cool side. So I used it for bread and it worked great. Then I used it to start my veggie seeds, namely my tomatoes and peppers. Worked awesome for that too. Then last march I tried it for my 1st fig cutting. All three of them grew perfectly.
Steve
SCfigFanatic
1450004954
Posted 1477589991
Reply with quote #17
make sure no water can drain on your lights.
EB18702
1448986849
Posted 1477652352
Reply with quote #18
for the time and money spent on this, id just buy the heat mats. i see other people try this same idea trying to make cheap grow lights. just buy the profession stuff. some are spending hundreds on cuttings and then cheap out on there equipment lol.
Natalina BI, U. Italian Yellow BI , U. Yellow Greek AD, U. South Plainfield, U. Orangeburg Prosciutto, Naples Dark , Azores Dark, Columbaro Nero, De La Tira, I376, Des Roig Manyo , Greek Church U. Smith , any in ground figs for zone 6.
SCfigFanatic
1450004954
Posted 1477666629
· Edited
Reply with quote #19
"i see other people try this same idea trying to make cheap grow lights. "
NoelG_123
1406247827
Posted 1477668123
Reply with quote #20
Are the grow mats we buy supposed to be waterproof? I bottom water my cuttings. Thanks in advance for your response.
