Humidity?

pauladkins · February 23, 2015

I have a heat mat & a 7 inch dome for starting my seeds. I bought a humidity gauge to monitor the level inside the dome. Can anyone tell me what % I should try to keep it at?

heirloomtomaguy · February 23, 2015

I would worry more about your soils temperature. As soon as the seeds sprout you are going to vent/remove the dome anyway so humidity wont matter. You want the media you are sprouting seeds in nice and moist not overly wet. Good luck!

pauladkins · February 23, 2015

Thanks for the quick reply. I was planning on leaving the dome on until the plants got 5 inches tall. That's why I wanted to know what I should try & keep the humidity level at.

Tracydr · February 23, 2015

I vent the lid until germination,then take off. I've had trouble with damping off when I left it on for even one extra day.

pauladkins · February 23, 2015

This is my first time using a heat mat & dome. From the pictures of this unit they show 6 inch plants growing under the dome. It sounds like that won't be possible. I am trying to keep the dome on longer so I can use the misters I mounted above to keep them wet.

**carolyn137** · February 23, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tracydr

I vent the lid until germination,then take off. I've had trouble with damping off when I left it on for even one extra day.

Damping off doesn't occur if the mix is just too wet for damping off can only occur if one or more of the fungal genera and species is present in the mix used to start the seeds.

I googled some info but lost it in the transfer. One of my tomato pathology books, not near me right now, showed pictures where seedlings could be up to 5 inches tall before going down, that surprised me, so damping off just isn't seen when the seeds germinate and are very small.

Hope that helps,

Carolyn

heirloomtomaguy · February 23, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by pauladkins

This is my first time using a heat mat & dome. From the pictures of this unit they show 6 inch plants growing under the dome. It sounds like that won't be possible. I am trying to keep the dome on longer so I can use the misters I mounted above to keep them wet.

Are you top watering your tomato seedlings with a mister? Tomatoes are prone to all kinds of diseases when their foliage gets wet. Best to bottom water when possible. A pic of your setup would be helpful if you have one.

pauladkins · February 24, 2015

Yes I am top watering. I will take a pic & post it. I am a newbie at this & don't know anyway other way to keep the soil moist.

heirloomtomaguy · February 24, 2015

Just pour water in the tray and let your media soak it up. Top watering is a big tomato no no

pauladkins · February 25, 2015

Is it okay to top water until the seeds pop up?

heirloomtomaguy · February 25, 2015

Yes but of you have a humidity dome you usually wont need to water more than once maybe twice. You dont want your growing media soggy.

pauladkins · February 25, 2015

Would a fan on the seedlings & top water with misters allow me to leave them in the dome longer?

heirloomtomaguy · February 25, 2015

I would not leave them in the dome at all after they sprout. Humidity is not a tomatoes friend. Why do you want to leave them inside the dome? How does your setup top water with misters inside a 7 inch dome?

pauladkins · February 25, 2015

I was hoping to keep them in the dome so I can control the temp & keep them watered. I am trying to automate the process. I ran a drip line through the top of the dome & attached two misters. I have the water & light on a timer.

Gardeneer · February 27, 2015

The purpose of dome is just to prevent the soil from drying out fast. So if you can keep the soil moist by other means (such as misting ..) you don't need a dome. Stagnant humid air is a haven for mo;d growth.

February 23, 2015	#1
pauladkins Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: ca Posts: 34	Humidity? I have a heat mat & a 7 inch dome for starting my seeds. I bought a humidity gauge to monitor the level inside the dome. Can anyone tell me what % I should try to keep it at?

February 23, 2015	#2
heirloomtomaguy Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2013 Location: glendora ca Posts: 2,560	I would worry more about your soils temperature. As soon as the seeds sprout you are going to vent/remove the dome anyway so humidity wont matter. You want the media you are sprouting seeds in nice and moist not overly wet. Good luck! __________________ “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it."

February 24, 2015	#9
heirloomtomaguy Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2013 Location: glendora ca Posts: 2,560	Just pour water in the tray and let your media soak it up. Top watering is a big tomato no no __________________ “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it."

February 25, 2015	#11
heirloomtomaguy Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2013 Location: glendora ca Posts: 2,560	Yes but of you have a humidity dome you usually wont need to water more than once maybe twice. You dont want your growing media soggy. __________________ “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it."

February 25, 2015	#13
heirloomtomaguy Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2013 Location: glendora ca Posts: 2,560	I would not leave them in the dome at all after they sprout. Humidity is not a tomatoes friend. Why do you want to leave them inside the dome? How does your setup top water with misters inside a 7 inch dome? __________________ “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it."

February 23, 2015	#4
Tracydr Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2011 Location: Laurinburg, North Carolina, zone 7 Posts: 3,207	I vent the lid until germination,then take off. I've had trouble with damping off when I left it on for even one extra day.

February 27, 2015	#15
Gardeneer Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: NC - zone 8a - heat zone 7 Posts: 4,916	The purpose of dome is just to prevent the soil from drying out fast. So if you can keep the soil moist by other means (such as misting ..) you don't need a dome. Stagnant humid air is a haven for mo;d growth.