Heat Mat / Seedling Mat Questions

[camille1585]

Putting the heat mat under a humidity tray will increase the rate of evaporation, so you will have to deal with the higher humidity. That being said, I have no idea if using both like that is common practice.

[spirit]

Yeah, I realize that... But with the temperature going up because of the mat the problem of insufficient humidity might occur on my windowsills... Or in this case will the level of evaporation coming from the container be enough for the air near the plant not to become too dry?

[camille1585]

The increased temperature is going to be compensated by the increased humidity. One thing someone would have to confirm though, is that I think a lot of the heat is going to end up heating the water, instead of the pots directly so I don't know how much of a heat boost the roots are going to get.

[ginnibug]

Ok I have to throw my hat in here too! I have used heating pads like you put on your back for pain. Not that I am recommending that, I just haven't switched over to heat/seedling mats in all these years.I grow on shelving in the basement w/ heating pads sitting on the shelf and plants then directly on those mats. Then as someone else said, wrapping the shelves with heat blankets or 3 mil plastic works the very best to retain humidity, but you are on a windowsill...I think what will have to work is grouping the plants on the mats to help with humidity. The mats will be most beneficial and you will have to increase you watering because of them but that's not a bad thing. Unless you make some sort of little "humidity canopy" I don't know what else you could do?
ginnibug

[silken]

I've been using the seedling mats under my seedling cattleyas and a few other orchids for a while now. I think putting them UNDER trays of water would lose the benefit of the heat for the most part. What I do is put smaller containers on the shelf beside my plants and if you can spare a spot on the heat mat, the container could sit on the heat and evaporate at a slightly faster rate. However, most of my mats are full of plants so the water tubs just sit beside where the mat doesn't cover the entire shelf. the plants do need water more often, but do the roots ever grow! I think it's great because in nature the roots would get wet, but then dry quickly. There seems to be no fear for root rot with this method. And I did wrap most of my shelf with the very thin silver 'survival sheets' which keeps the heat and humidity in and reflects the light really well.

[spirit]

Thank you all for your help and advice!

[ninad]

I have created humidity dome which sits on heat mats temp inside is around 75-84F, I have PC fan acting as ventilation which runs for 15min every hour
hope I will get good results

[judiwa]

I have been thinking about doing it too, good thread for me as well.

[ninad]

fan bring down humidity from 95-99% to around 75% every 15min it runs, it been just 3-4weeks and I have cattleya babies inside lets see how it goes.

[estación seca]

Water bed heaters work well as under-mat heaters, and are designed to be somewhat moisture-resistant. A pan filled with sand can be placed over a mat to diffuse the heat to an area much larger than the original mat. I have put a heat mat under a metal oil drip pan, bought at an automobile parts store. I lined the pan with heavy-duty plastic (to prevent water corrosion of the pan) and filled it with sand. I set the plants on the sand.

For colder areas this can be enclosed in a topless and bottomless box built from a sheet of polystyrene house insulation. The foil side goes inside the help reflect light. A light can be suspended overhead. The top can be covered with clear landscape plastic to retain heat yet transmit light.