I was just curious if anyone out there has found a noticeable difference in germination rates with and without a germination heating mat (all other variables being the same). I've read many say that their seeds take 60 - 90 days to germinate. Others (using a mat) have gotten them to germinate within a couple weeks. Granted, the species in the two examples above were different -- but 60 - 90 days is roughly the length of a season; if the seeds were planted in, say, January and took 2 - 3 months to germinate, perhaps they would have germinated sooner had they just been exposed to warmer temps? (that is, temperature, not time, made the difference). I'm asking because I'm weighing the pros & cons of spending the money on a heating mat vs. just letting nature "do its thing". Thanks in advance for the replies!
Germination heating mats for passiflora: do they matter?
I have germinated quite a few seeds, some hybrid, some various species. I use a heating mat set to keep the soil at 80-85 degrees F and most seeds germinate within 3-14 days.
This is how I bottom heat my seeds. I have a rubbermaid container (about 12X12X12) and put a long strand of Christmas lights in it. I put an aluminum baking tray over the top and put my baggies, pots, and pellets on top of the tray.
