Why do these things happen to me? I got a new heat mat for christmas and had set it up on the kitchen counter to start my seedlings. While putting around out there I noticed the mat seemed unusually hot. After pulling the trays off and feeling it .... It was really hot in a certain places. I don't think it's been like that for a very long... but I can't be sure. Do you think I killed the seeds? How much heat can they take? It wasn't too hot to touch but I'm sure it was too hot for germination. Geez.... this brug growing isn't going too well for me. At the rate I'm going I'll be lucky to get a couple of cuttings through the winter - mind if I scream?
AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!
Oh Great,,,
PoppySue, I think it takes over 110* to kill the seeds. Did it have a thermostat with it? Do you have the probe in soil that is setting ON the heat mat? Do you have the ground wire installed properly? Your thermostat may be bad. It should click as you turn it, probably somewhere around the ambient air temp. If it doesn't click, it's bad. Take it back and get another one.
This is just the flat mat and doesn't have a thermostat. It's spose to keep them between 75-85. I had it flat on the counter but it was over my dishwasher. I think the heat from the dishwasher was what caused it to overheat. I should have known better - but never even thought about it. I'll set it up somewhere else and see how it does.
poppy, is it the one that Walmart carried for $17?? cause I have had NO luck with it and brug seeds. I think it's much too hot for them.
No I ordered this from Jonny's. I didn't know wal-mart had one. It did fine at first - I think this was my fault. I'll test it before I put any more seeds on it.
My friend Dianna used a plain old heating pad set on low with plastic cover over it to start her seeds on. It worked great, just remember not to get it wet.
I've also used just a plain old heating pad with a cookie sheet on top. I have also taken an electric blanket and spread it over the whole kitchen table and then put cookie trays on top of that. Pretty cold in bed but, heck, brugs come before being warm in bed.
I have started some Brug seeds in my terrarium.
I have signs of life! Thank goodness I didn't kill them all. 2 sprouts so far ...a sanguinea and a versi hybrid from LBJ. :-)
way to go!!!!!!!! sure am glad of it.
I have mine on a shelf near my woodstove,seems to work well,but when I take them out of the plastic bags I have to water every day,as soon as they get true leaves on them I move them somewhere else to make room for more.I've never tried a heat mat,but the heating pad sounds like a good substitute...
I have never tried this way, but if I put the seeds on a heat mat on the counter that has a light above it would that be too much?? Should I turn off the light and just use the mat??? Any thoughts suggestions appreciated. Thanks, Dee
I am not sure which heating pad you are talking.. Is it for backache or cramp that I can use it??? or just for plant heating pad.. I dont have one which I threw it away,it was broke..
poppysue, All the LBJ seeds we got are sprouting.I have them next to the woodstove and in the last two days several have come up with more each day. The Butterfly cross seeds are doing the best with almost 100% germination rate so far. Out of the 5 Sanguinea seeds 4 out of 5 have come up so far.Arlene's white hybrid are up and doing well. Now the fun begins. If something does'nt come up for you that I have let me know and I'll save it for you.
Snow - So glad to hear you've had good luck. I just have a couple of sprouts so far -no butterfly x yet - but keeping my fingers crossed. I've been planting a few every couple of days so they may have been a little later. I still have some that need to get planted. I'm sure when they all get going I'll be overwhelmed with seedlings. Did you plant any of the daylilies yet? I haven't even started those - I don't know where I'll find room to squeeze them in!
I have run out of heat mat space, so today I got out the old heating pad that I use for my knee and have a cookie sheet full of cuttings on it. Great idea. I like the electric blanket idea too. May have to go there soon.
I'm glad you are all having good luck with your brug seeds. Just keeps me fascinated when I have them planted. Also a little anxious.
Sometimes you can find old heating pads at the Goodwill or Salvation Army store. They would work for seeds, just ask if you can see if it works before you buy it.