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Thornhill, Ontario, Canada

I made this post in a different forum. But, I think this is a more appropriate for my question about a germinating box.

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I am using an insulated cooler with a household heating pad. Anything I can do to ensure good conditions inside the cooler? Right now, at the highest setting, it's only 24.2 degrees celsius at about 8" from the bottom of the cooler. It's probably slightly warmer right on the bottom [right now it's 26.2 at the bottom -ed.]. But, I am not sure how well the soil (in 1/2 gallon plastic ice cream containers) will absorb and keep the warmth.
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I had tested the setup with the heating pad inside the cooler and that worked well. But, I am worried about putting wet plants on top of an electrical device. I have been doing my test in the bathtub in case anything went wrong there's noting in there to catch fire. But, the tub may act as a heat sink. Maybe I could put something under the heating pad, between it and the tub, to keep some of the heat radiating upwards?

Does this make sense? I need to get this working soon or I'll miss planting day. Thanks.

3/29/2005 1:45:53 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

OK 1st you need to test it with your actual growing pots and soil to determine temp. You will find the thermal mass of the soil will retain alot of the heat. As far as the wet soil and fire. If you are using a household heating pad it most likely is designed to be used moist. Ours actually comes with a pad that you soak in water. If your soil is that wet that you are getting water in the bottom you are using way to much water.

3/29/2005 2:02:57 PM

Syracuse, NY

i saw an incubator at the local feed store the other day...had me thinking.....i wonder what the temp. inside ThaT would be? probably not too high nor too low....
look at my diary, just for fun....

http://bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=17063
click forward about four times and have a look. eric

3/29/2005 7:44:50 PM

Cameron,ontario Team Lunatic

Marc, I use bottles of hot water in my cooler. You have to replace them every 8 hrs to keep it warm enough though. I germinate my seeds in moist paper towels, inside a plastic baggie. They are usually sprouted by the 3-4 day. Good luck.

Phil

3/29/2005 8:04:26 PM

In the shade - PDX, OR

What kind of cooler are you using?

Is it the plastic (coleman) type that you would normally take to a picnic?

Maybe try a styrofoam food shipper. These are typically smaller and generally hold in the heat better.

If not try the boiled water method from Joel Holland. He boils water and places the hot water in the cooler 2 times a day. Your trying for a consistent 85* (sorry C illeterate)

Good Luck

3/29/2005 8:10:36 PM

Appalachian Mtns.

use the heating pad on the outside and bottom of the cooler, it'll heat the inside up if it's a decent heating pad....works for me!
(and the hot water bottle works well too, just gotta change the H2O periodically)

3/30/2005 5:07:26 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

I used a 5 gallon bucket on top of an oil filled space heater...radiator type. Folded towel on top and experimented with heat settings till I got the starting mix to stabilize at 85 degrees. Starting mix was in smaller container...approx 2 gal...set inside 5 gal bucket. Filed seed and soaked for 6 hrs. Placed directly into starting mix...60 hours later and AG season has begun. Peace Wayne

3/30/2005 7:02:40 AM

Thornhill, Ontario, Canada

Update:

I've managed to get my temperatures more consistent by using towels under the heating pad which is directly under the cooler and doing the same with a heating pad on top. So, it's a bit of a germination sandwich: towels, heating pad, cooler, heating pad, towels.

Only problem is that now it's TOO HOT! But, that's easier to fix, I suspect. Now I just have to adjust the settings on the heating pads and see what I come up with.

4/5/2005 2:02:50 AM

Eric - incubators would be too hot, most bird eggs like 100-103 degrees. That's too hot for our seeds!

4/5/2005 3:44:32 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Old lady heating pad from the drug store $30 with a towel to keep the heat steady at 85°F. I plug it in a few days early since it seems to fluctuate for 2 days every year. USE A THERMOMETER to make sure the temp is where you need it. I know growers who have cooked seeds on pro germinating mats. Line voltage fluctuations change the temperatures of all resistive heating devices that aren't regulated. Ans 99% of them are NOT.

4/5/2005 9:50:07 PM