"ajr" wrote in message
...

No idea what to do, so I'm going to plant half the seeds as you've
suggested
and the other half using my new heated propogator - I have to justify
buying
it somehow!! :-)

A heated propagator - even the cheapest basic model* without any thermostat
can be a great help when striking cuttings. Without any bottom heat some
cuttings can seem to sit around for ages. Whereas a bit of heat gives a
much better success rate, and quicker too. Similarly for anyone growing
cactus from seed a heated propagator can make all the difference as the
seed germinates quicker, and so can be sown earlier, allowing the plants
to reach a reasonable size, match head as opposed to pin head by the end
of their first season. Although columnar cacti may be bigger.

*One thing to look out for is the lids. More expensive lids are
made of acrylic which doesn't yellow with age. The styrene lids
used in some cheap propagators does. However some cheap unheated
propagators come with acrylic lids - and are worth looking out
for as this often works out cheaper than buying a spare acrylic
lid individually. Provide they're from the same make and so can
be guarenteed to fit, that is.

As has been pointed out by Mike Lyle, you will get unbalanced plants
if the heat outstrips the amount of available light. The structure of
individual plants species is the one best adapted to take advantage
both of the prevailing light levels and its associated temperature
as is normally found in nature. i.e. the plant develops leaves more
quickly so as to take advantage of the (maybe non-existent) light
levels more normally associated with that ambient temperature.

Most biological processes are speeded up by an increase in temperature
within limits. Which is why bottom heat can be useful for both cuttings
and seeds. Although it should be pointed out that not all seeds need a
high temperature. In some cases precisely the opposite. Capsicum seeds
don't necessarily need 70% to germinate. However in some areas - maybe
in some daylight zones in the US, it may be necessary to start capsicums
off early with artificial heat in order for the plants to achieve full
size in a single season. Something that doesn't apply in the UK.


michael adams

....




Will let you know the results in the summer.

Cheers,

Andrew