finally got my heat mat and thermostat.. HAVING ISSUES!!!!!

[Ruffsta]

i don't know how long it takes to germinate seeds with a heat mat vs not using one, but i just hope i didn't waste my money on getting it and not to mention my time and electricity. nothing has sprouted yet..

[DoubleDogFarm]

I wouldn't worry until week 2. 14 days

Eric

[rainbowgardener]

Depends on what seeds. I have had some seeds pop up within about 36 hrs and some take two weeks or more, even on the heat mat. My parsley seed has been sitting on the heat mat for two weeks already and hasn't shown itself yet. But parsley is slow and well could take another week or even a little more.

But yes, if you are serious about starting lots of things from seed, you absolutely need the heat mat. Some seeds just will not germinate at all without it. They sit there in the cold damp soil and just rot. Some will germinate, but take two or three times as long.

[GardenGnome]

I have the same set as you do and didn't use the dome my house is cold from 58 to 65
And my stuff sprouted but the peppers are taking longer.

[applestar]

It's always a good idea to get some inexpensive thermometers and kep track of ambient and soil level temperatures.

[Ruffsta]

But yes, if you are serious about starting lots of things from seed, you absolutely need the heat mat.

i've been starting my gardens all from seed for the past 3 years with no real issues... i don't "absolutely need the heat mat" honestly.. just got it for my stubborn pepper seeds really.

I have the same set as you do and didn't use the dome my house is cold from 58 to 65
And my stuff sprouted but the peppers are taking longer.

yep, same thing here on my side.. i sometimes remove the dome because it gets all sweaty and to let the setup breathe.

lesson learned... do not put wooden sticks in the setup.. they get fuzz on them... lol

[Tonio]

yup, peppers- especially hotter chile need heat.

still waitin' on my poblano's Pasilla's came up in 7 days.

T

[GardenGnome]

Idk I had mine on a stone counter nothing came up.
Then I put it on styrofoam and BAM I have more seeds then I know what to do with.

[rainbowgardener]

Yes, I'm sure your stone counter was acting as a heat sink and soaking up all the heat from the mat. Mine sit on a wooden counter and do fine, though now that you have mentioned it, I might waste less energy if I insulated them from that counter too....

[Ruffsta]

yeah i have mine sitting on wood too..

[GardenGnome]

Yeah the styrofoam is a inch and half thick. I tried a towel but it didn't do much.
They have mats for camping there thin but do the job I bet.

[Ruffsta]

today the very first sprout.. woot! lol

it's the common thin chili's you see in the produce section in your grocery store...

UPDATE: make that 4..

[vebyrd36]

I place my pepper seeds on top of the heater in the living room.