Cable Box Too Hot?

[stoneheart]

I'm using the moist paper towel method inside a sandwich bag and I'm letting the seeds sit on top of my UVerse cable box. Is this too warm? The bag definitely feels warm after sitting overnight and there is some condensation inside the bag.

[Doug9345]

I recommend that you check the temperature with a kitchen thermometer. It sounds warm to me. My other concern is blocking ventilation holes in the box and warming the box more than it should. Heat is a great enemy of electronics.

[dpurdy]

stoneheart,
I use the paper towel method to sprout seeds also, but I put them in a plastic margarine tub, instead of a plastic bag. I don't worry too much about putting them near or close to a heat source. I just place them on top of the frig and in a few days most of the seeds have sprouted. Placing them on top of the refrigerator seems to work just fine.
dpurdy

[rnewste]

The heat from the cable box will cook your new seedlings - happened to me 2 years ago. Top of refrigerator works best.

Raybo

[stoneheart]

Thanks, everyone. I'll move it off the vents and hope I didn't kill the seeds.

[Worth1]

Just preheat your oven to 350 and bake for 1 hour that should stop them from sprouting.

Worth

[Doug9345]

Originally Posted by Worth1

Just preheat your oven to 350 and bake for 1 hour that should stop them from sprouting.

Worth

A minute in the microwave is faster.

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by Doug9345

A minute in the microwave is faster.

I almost did that one time.
Its amazing where all my seeds are.

Worth

[Sun City Linda]

I used to use the cable box all the time. Don't have it anymore. I started in potting mix thought, not just sprouting in bags.

[loulac]

Experience has taught me that using a heating cable was the best way to cook my seeds sooner or later. From now on I'll always use a thermostat. I bought three cheap Chinese articles on ebei, they look perfect. But check they are sent with English directions for use, unless you master the Chinese language.

[luigiwu]

I have pepper seeds inside a coffee filter, inside a ziplock baggie. Its sitting on top of a plastic lid, over a single 40W incandescent candelabra bulb. There is an inverted clear container over all of this, trapping in the heat. The thermometer inside this says 81degrees.
Is this too hot?

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by luigiwu

I have pepper seeds inside a coffee filter, inside a ziplock baggie. Its sitting on top of a plastic lid, over a single 40W incandescent candelabra bulb. There is an inverted clear container over all of this, trapping in the heat. The thermometer inside this says 81degrees.
Is this too hot?

I wouldn't think so seeds at my place survive temps way more than that out of neglect.
If you use an incandescent light bulb you can use a dimmer on it to adjust the currant thusly adjusting the temperature.

A real easy thing to do.

Worth

[luigiwu]

Thanks, Worth. I am impatient. I have a heating mat ordered but I want these pepper seeds to start already! For a week, they've sat in a oven (where for some reason I thought the pilot light would do something.) Nada, so this is remedy #2 now. I've lifted them a couple more inches away from the bulb so they don't 'cook' - never done peppers before. Fingers crossed!

[tam91]

I've used the cable box, have my seeds inside a plastic baggie and that sitting inside a plastic container (open). Never seemed to cook any.

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by tam91

I've used the cable box, have my seeds inside a plastic baggie and that sitting inside a plastic container (open). Never seemed to cook any.

That's because you are watching the wrong movies.

Worth