Looking For Soil Thermometer for Seedlings

greenthumbomaha · January 4, 2016

I am looking for a soil thermometer for seedlings on the heat mat and check day/night temps when not on a heat mat. I also have two thermostat controllers and when I put them in the same cell in they vary by almost 4 degrees.

I have a big thick soil thermometer for outdoor use, too large for a cell. One item listed as a manual soil thermometer looks like my cooking thermometer with a large range of temps. I would like one specific to normal seed starting temps, say about 40-100 degrees, not below zero to 160 degrees!

Digital with a thin probe is a possibility. Any experience with the accuracy and easy of use for one of these? Thanks for any input on this!

- Lisa

Worth1 · January 4, 2016

I use the Taylor thermometer they are very accurate and can be adjusted/calibrated.
It doesn't matter if it reads from 0 to 220.

Be careful buying a digital one if it cant be calibrated they are worthless.
It is easy to calibrate the thermometer.

Here is a string of them.
http://www.taylorusa.com/restaurant-...y/thermometers

Worth

jmsieglaff · January 4, 2016

I have this:

http://www.taylorusa.com/5-commercia...tant-read.html

I got it from Target for about $10. It can be calibrated. I need accurate quick temp readings when brewing beer and this has worked great for me for years. I also use it to do soil temp checks as well.

RayR · January 4, 2016

I've got a bunch of probe thermometers that I've used for soil and water temps. My Hydrofarm digital thermostat for my heat mat, My digital PH meter has a separate temp probe, I have a Oneida digital bar thermometer, A digital kitchen thermometer that I forget the name of, and a Pyrex analogue kitchen thermometer with a large dial. They are pall retty close, only varying by a degree or two. I've had some junk too, a couple of cheap digital Sunbeam kitchen thermometers, it wasn't that they were wildly inaccurate, they just broke.

greenthumbomaha · January 4, 2016

Amazon has a great selection but I'm shopping locally tomorrow. Wal Mart sells a digital kitchen thermometer. At least it's easy return if its junk. let's hope I'm tickled pink and its amazing. I think Taylor is the brand.

Oh I'll hit Target too.- Lisa

dfollett · January 5, 2016

This one is way handy. It will show surface temperature, but will give the temperature of nearly anything. Has a min/max setting, so you can hold the button and scan across a large area looking for hot spots. Gives an instant reading.

This company has great quality stuff. They have an instant read food/meat probe that is great, but pricey.

http://www.thermoworks.com/products/...on-Extended-cs

greenthumbomaha · January 5, 2016

I bought Wal Mart's house brand MAINSTAYS for $10. It is no frills and does the job. I looked closer and its made by Accurite. Reviews on that brand vary. We'll see how it holds up for the season. That thermoworks looks 100X sturdier.

- Lisa

January 4, 2016	#1
greenthumbomaha Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Omaha Zone 5 Posts: 2,514	Looking For Soil Thermometer for Seedlings I am looking for a soil thermometer for seedlings on the heat mat and check day/night temps when not on a heat mat. I also have two thermostat controllers and when I put them in the same cell in they vary by almost 4 degrees. I have a big thick soil thermometer for outdoor use, too large for a cell. One item listed as a manual soil thermometer looks like my cooking thermometer with a large range of temps. I would like one specific to normal seed starting temps, say about 40-100 degrees, not below zero to 160 degrees! Digital with a thin probe is a possibility. Any experience with the accuracy and easy of use for one of these? Thanks for any input on this! - Lisa

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January 4, 2016	#2
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	I use the Taylor thermometer they are very accurate and can be adjusted/calibrated. It doesn't matter if it reads from 0 to 220. Be careful buying a digital one if it cant be calibrated they are worthless. It is easy to calibrate the thermometer. Here is a string of them. http://www.taylorusa.com/restaurant-...y/thermometers Worth

January 4, 2016	#3
jmsieglaff Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Southern WI Posts: 2,742	I have this: http://www.taylorusa.com/5-commercia...tant-read.html I got it from Target for about $10. It can be calibrated. I need accurate quick temp readings when brewing beer and this has worked great for me for years. I also use it to do soil temp checks as well.

January 4, 2016	#4
RayR Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Cheektowaga, NY Posts: 2,466	I've got a bunch of probe thermometers that I've used for soil and water temps. My Hydrofarm digital thermostat for my heat mat, My digital PH meter has a separate temp probe, I have a Oneida digital bar thermometer, A digital kitchen thermometer that I forget the name of, and a Pyrex analogue kitchen thermometer with a large dial. They are pall retty close, only varying by a degree or two. I've had some junk too, a couple of cheap digital Sunbeam kitchen thermometers, it wasn't that they were wildly inaccurate, they just broke.

January 5, 2016	#6
dfollett Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Utah Posts: 693	This one is way handy. It will show surface temperature, but will give the temperature of nearly anything. Has a min/max setting, so you can hold the button and scan across a large area looking for hot spots. Gives an instant reading. This company has great quality stuff. They have an instant read food/meat probe that is great, but pricey. http://www.thermoworks.com/products/...on-Extended-cs