Howdy,

I am starting some plants in a rather cool garage. I currently have
them on a heat mat to speed germination.

I want to know more about the effects of the heat from below after the
plants have germinated.

Generally, is it useful to leave the heat on? If not, what are some of
the likely disadvantages?

Sincere thanks,

--
Kenneth

If you email... Please remove the "SPAMLESS."

Kenneth said:

I am starting some plants in a rather cool garage. I currently have
them on a heat mat to speed germination.

I want to know more about the effects of the heat from below after the
plants have germinated.

Generally, is it useful to leave the heat on? If not, what are some of
the likely disadvantages?

Turn it off unless the area would get below 50 degrees at night. And in that
case, you might want to move the mat out from under them and run it to warm
the air. (Otherwise you might have to water the plantsquite often.) The optimal
temperature for sprouting seeds is higher than the optimal temperature
for growing on good, sturdy plants.

I myself wish I could *lower* the temperature where I raise my plants.
--
Pat in Plymouth MI ('someplace.net' is comcast)

Any technology distinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced.
(attributed to Don Marti)

On Sun, 25 Apr 2004 05:16:02 -0500, (Pat
Kiewicz) wrote:

Kenneth said:

I am starting some plants in a rather cool garage. I currently have
them on a heat mat to speed germination.

I want to know more about the effects of the heat from below after the
plants have germinated.

Generally, is it useful to leave the heat on? If not, what are some of
the likely disadvantages?

Turn it off unless the area would get below 50 degrees at night. And in that
case, you might want to move the mat out from under them and run it to warm
the air. (Otherwise you might have to water the plantsquite often.) The optimal
temperature for sprouting seeds is higher than the optimal temperature
for growing on good, sturdy plants.

I myself wish I could *lower* the temperature where I raise my plants.

Hi Pat,

Thanks for your comments...

Can you tell me anything at all about what specific effects one might
expect from leaving the heat mats on as the plants grow?

Thanks again,

--
Kenneth

If you email... Please remove the "SPAMLESS."

Kenneth,

Depends on the plants. Anything that normally requires warm
temperatures to grow will do much better if you leave the heat on. For
example, I keep tomato and cactus seedlings on the heating pad until it is
time to harden off in preparation to moving outdoors.
As noted by another reply, plants that require cooler temps should be
taken off the heating pad after germination. For example cabbage and
primula.

--beeky

Kenneth wrote:

Howdy,

I am starting some plants in a rather cool garage. I currently have
them on a heat mat to speed germination.

I want to know more about the effects of the heat from below after the
plants have germinated.

Generally, is it useful to leave the heat on? If not, what are some of
the likely disadvantages?

Sincere thanks,

--
Kenneth

If you email... Please remove the "SPAMLESS."

On Sun, 25 Apr 2004 14:47:00 GMT, wrote:

Kenneth,

Depends on the plants. Anything that normally requires warm
temperatures to grow will do much better if you leave the heat on. For
example, I keep tomato and cactus seedlings on the heating pad until it is
time to harden off in preparation to moving outdoors.
As noted by another reply, plants that require cooler temps should be
taken off the heating pad after germination. For example cabbage and
primula.

--beeky

Kenneth wrote:

Howdy,

I am starting some plants in a rather cool garage. I currently have
them on a heat mat to speed germination.

I want to know more about the effects of the heat from below after the
plants have germinated.

Generally, is it useful to leave the heat on? If not, what are some of
the likely disadvantages?

Sincere thanks,

--
Kenneth

If you email... Please remove the "SPAMLESS."

Hi Beeky,

Thanks so much for your response...

I am having a problem with tomato seedlings becoming super tall
(leggy?) and wondered if that might relate to the heat issue.

They are still at the two-leaf stage but some are so tall and spindly
that they cannot support themselves.

Thanks for any further thoughts,

--
Kenneth

If you email... Please remove the "SPAMLESS."

Kenneth wrote:
On Sun, 25 Apr 2004 14:47:00 GMT, wrote:


Kenneth,

Depends on the plants. Anything that normally requires warm
temperatures to grow will do much better if you leave the heat on. For
example, I keep tomato and cactus seedlings on the heating pad until it is
time to harden off in preparation to moving outdoors.
As noted by another reply, plants that require cooler temps should be
taken off the heating pad after germination. For example cabbage and
primula.

--beeky

Kenneth wrote:


Howdy,

I am starting some plants in a rather cool garage. I currently have
them on a heat mat to speed germination.

I want to know more about the effects of the heat from below after the
plants have germinated.

Generally, is it useful to leave the heat on? If not, what are some of
the likely disadvantages?

Sincere thanks,

--
Kenneth

If you email... Please remove the "SPAMLESS."


Hi Beeky,

Thanks so much for your response...

I am having a problem with tomato seedlings becoming super tall
(leggy?) and wondered if that might relate to the heat issue.

They are still at the two-leaf stage but some are so tall and spindly
that they cannot support themselves.

Thanks for any further thoughts,

The symptoms are either from too much heat or nitrogen, causing them
to grow too fast, or not enough light------are they bending toward a
light source. I remove bottom heat as soon as about 50% of my seeds
have germinated.
Bill

Kenneth said:

On Sun, 25 Apr 2004 05:16:02 -0500, (Pat
Kiewicz) wrote:

Turn it off unless the area would get below 50 degrees at night. And in that
case, you might want to move the mat out from under them and run it to warm
the air. (Otherwise you might have to water the plantsquite often.) The optimal
temperature for sprouting seeds is higher than the optimal temperature
for growing on good, sturdy plants.

I myself wish I could *lower* the temperature where I raise my plants.
nks for your comments...

Can you tell me anything at all about what specific effects one might
expect from leaving the heat mats on as the plants grow?

Plants that grow too tall too fast, even though they have adequate light.
Pots that dry out too quickly.

Also, a drop in temperature at night is natural and desirable -- within limits.
For tomato plants, the nightly low should be higher than 50 degrees F.

--
Pat in Plymouth MI ('someplace.net' is comcast)

Any technology distinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced.
(attributed to Don Marti)

On Mon, 26 Apr 2004 04:56:19 -0500, (Pat
Kiewicz) wrote:

Plants that grow too tall too fast, even though they have adequate light.
Pots that dry out too quickly.

Hi Pat,

I thank you for that comment... The drying is no big deal for me, but
the rapid growth that I have seen may be attributable to the heat mat.
I will turn it off after germination.

All the best,

--
Kenneth

If you email... Please remove the "SPAMLESS."