http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-CK64050-Germination-Station-Heat/dp/B000HHO1RO/ref=lh_ni_t?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Our new home doesn't have any warm spaces for rooting, and it's too cold outside for rooting in dirt which is my favorite way.  I have a few quality cuttings on the way replacing the ones I lost, so this time, I want to make sure they root and don't get the gnats!

I may use the rooting cells for seeds at some point, but I only want this product for the heat mat.

Thanks!

Suzi

Top of the fridge? That is what I use, it is always on and not too hot.

Sorry, I pushed the button too soon…
I used that mat, it is good, but I used with a thermostat, you do not want to cook the cuttings either.
Let me look on Amazon the model.

Here it is:
http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-MTPRTC-Digital-Thermostat-Heat/dp/B000NZZG3S/ref=pd_sim_lg_8?ie=UTF8&refRID=0A64K36181RWB7EK7N00

Greenfig,

Thanks!  My two fridges are not warm on top.  Not sure why, but they are room temp.  I already have a temp, moisture meter and am trying it on a 30 year old heating pad with some lime cuttings in perlite and the temp on low.  After an hour it reads 78 degrees with 55% humidity.  If I can make that old heating pad work, I'll spend my money elsewhere.

My fig cuttings won't get that humid, of course, but limes don't care.

Suzi

I bought mine from ebay. Free shipping. I ended up buying three. If i was you i would buy the 48 x21 inch. They work very good. I just discovered the hot water heater and stack bags on top of it. I stack 15 one gallon zips filled with coir. Very easy. But yea,you will want the big one.

I use Hydrofarm heat mats and thermostats for starting my fig cuttings and veggie seedlings.  They've been working fine for me.  You can also buy just the heat mat on either Amazon or e-bay.  You can fake the humidity dome/grow station with one of those cheap foil pans and lids from the grocery store.

But if you already have an old heating pad getting you up to 78 degrees, you probably don't need to buy a seedling heat mat.  It's not like heat mats are complicated tech that have massively improved in recent years.  The only advantage to a seedling heat mat is that it's sealed so that some water from the plants is no big deal, and the heating pad might have a timer and/or temperature cutoff.

This one has,a built-in temp control. I use hydrofarm too. But the price of this on is,worth it. Its,cheaper because its sold for reptiles. 5 dollers,free ship.

Richard, that mat is only 15 cm across, it is tiny!

i dont know cm. Lol. Sorry.

I'm using the big hydrofarm one and hydrofarm thermostat from amazon.  They're working pretty good but not able to heat to the temp I have it set...80 degrees.  The room is between low 60s to 70s.  I tried putting bubble wrap and cardboard under it to insulate it from the table its on, which helped, but still can't hold the temp.
I'm not saying it's not good, just that it will struggle if ambient temps are a little cool.  Also, I noticed my coir is drying out kinda quick with the bottom heat.  I'll have to figure something out for that.  I have some ideas.
I completely concur that the bigger size is helpful because you'd be suprised how quick you use up the space.  I have 2 tupperware boxes on it and it's full.

Exactly thats,why i have 3 littler ones !!! I find that i put towls along the bottom edges it helps alot.

Thank you all so much!  I've got the lime cuttings on the old mat with the temp/humidity thingy in there to see how they are in the morning.  I think the big one is going to be the best for me. 

Suzi

Also using the big hydrofarm one and thermostat. Works great. You will have to play with the probe position to get the temp where you want it.

I've been experimenting with DIY, I've put the steps in my rope light thread. Here's what I'm using.

 

At this point I'm up to a 75 watt bulb and the 1.5 watt rope light. The cups are on a mesh grid and there's about a half an inch of water in the bottom. the water stabilizes the temperature. The room it's in has a lot of temperature fluctuation. The big figs went dormant, the little one that are down near the under-floor heat didn't, but the leaves nearest the window got frost burn. I put a Styrofoam lid over it at night and open it up for light during the day. It's usually 80 when I take the lid off and holds around 70 through the day. The cuttings love it.

Suzi take a look at this before you buy

http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/a-warning-to-those-using-fastgro-heat-mats-7203459?pid=1285397246#post1285397246

@Dave:  That scared the bajeebers out of me!!  There is no water involved.  This is a simple pad I need to create warmth for my cuttings using this method and sealed tupperware for rooting only. 

@Greysmith:  I'm not a DIY person.  If we can buy it, we'll spend the money.  If we can't buy it, we'll hire a pro.  JD is on that page with me.  He was project manager for a publicly held national builder for many, many years, and he knows not to mess with electricity.

This morning the temps inside the tupperware on the old heating mat with a bath towel tripple folded on top of the mat were 80 Degrees F.  That old pad has a hot spot, so kicking it to the curb and getting the larger size pad.

Thanks for all the help!

Suzi

The deed is done!  One heat mat and one thermostat are on the way.  I am going to use this method for part of my cuttings, moistened with 2.26 oz water laced with a little Vitamino.  My vitamino arrives tomorrow.  Already have the coarse perlite, and is it ever coarse!  Wow!  Been collecting the tubs Buddig Lunch Meat comes in...Family pack.  There are 2 or 3 wrapped packages inside a perfectly clean plastic tub.  Got a few of those, but I'll give em a bath in bleach water prior to use.  I'll moisten Sphagnum with the Vitamino water for other cuttings. 

It's not my favorite way, as you know, but gonna rain, kinda cold, so I'll wait to put some in ground and see which way works best.

Expected delivery for the heat mat and thermostat is Sunday.

I already have some great Hollier cuttings from Figary, and am expecting others in a couple weeks.  Weather should be warmer then.

Wish me luck!

Suzi

Good luck!  I used to use an electric blanket folded double with plastic over it.  I folded the blanket over the cuttings as well.  It worked very well.

I'm using a 20" x 20" seeding heat mat by Hydrofarm. I bought a thermostat to use with it, but the temps in the rooting cups stayed exactly at 80 degrees over several days without the thermostat, so haven't used it yet. 

@ timmy2green:

Home depot sells foam insulation boards with reflective aluminum foil on one side. 4' x8' x 3/4" sheet is $12. Cut in quarters it will be perfect for the 48" x 21" heat mat. This is the best I found for resting the heat mat on because the foam isolates the mat from the floor and the foil reflects the heat. This is found where they have the insulation materials.

Mat - I use the foam insulation boards.  They're great but you have to be careful.  The aluminum side conducts electricity.  When I was having the issues with my heat mats I found this out the hard way.  The shock wasn't that bad, but enough to say, "What the heck was that?!"

Everything is dialed in correctly now   :)

That's a great tip Mat9!  I should receive my mat and thermostat today or tomorrow, and I'm currently using this old heating pad with a towel quadrupled on top.  The heat stays at 80, but I'd rather move the entire operation down to the potting shed that is at the end of the lower driveway.  It's pretty open down there, and breezy at times.  I could insulate both top and bottom with that stuff and a few bricks to stabilize.  JD made me a really cool potting shelf with a sink in it from solid core oak doors we replaced when we remodeled this house.  It has a nice shelf on the bottom and a beautiful wood top.  It has electricity down there that is up to code.  I'd rather use that than my kitchen where the cuttings are now.
 
Suzi

@Nycfig:  YIKES!  Guess I'll figure out something else..........  One of the back bedrooms upstairs.  I don't want cuttings rooting in my kitchen!

Suzi