using heat mat in greenhouse?

habitat_gardener · December 3, 2016

Wondering if anyone in mild-winter climates has used a seed-starting heat mat in the greenhouse. Typical outdoor winter temperatures are 40s at night and 50s days, though we have occasional cold snaps and it has gotten as low as the 20s.

Usually I start my seeds with a small seed-starting mat in the back room on top of the washing machine, which means the whole shebang has to be moved when we do laundry. But this summer a fellow gardener gave me a large heating mat that won't fit in the laundry room, and I was thinking of using it in the greenhouse. We've run an extension cord out there for a fan in the spring and summer, as needed.

AKmark · December 3, 2016

I have and they work great

greenthumbomaha · December 3, 2016

A local garden center with an indoor greenhouse built a hoop house within the greenhouse and has professional rubber heat mats to boot. They wanted the extra heat and humidity to start the super hots and also malibar spinach that the ambient greenhouse couldn't provide.

- Lisa

Durgan · December 4, 2016

My lowest temperature is minus 20C some nights. I use a heat mat and sometimes cover the plants with a cloth. Fortunately the typical low temperature is usually around 0 to minus 8. I consider minus 20 a critical temperature calling for careful action to protect the plants.

I use those body heating pads with control being buttons low med and high from a pharmacy, since they are much cheaper than the typical heat mat, which needs an adjustable transformer for control.

December 3, 2016	#1
habitat_gardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: California Central Valley Posts: 2,543	using heat mat in greenhouse? Wondering if anyone in mild-winter climates has used a seed-starting heat mat in the greenhouse. Typical outdoor winter temperatures are 40s at night and 50s days, though we have occasional cold snaps and it has gotten as low as the 20s. Usually I start my seeds with a small seed-starting mat in the back room on top of the washing machine, which means the whole shebang has to be moved when we do laundry. But this summer a fellow gardener gave me a large heating mat that won't fit in the laundry room, and I was thinking of using it in the greenhouse. We've run an extension cord out there for a fan in the spring and summer, as needed.

December 3, 2016	#2
AKmark Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Wasilla Alaska Posts: 2,010	I have and they work great

December 3, 2016	#3
greenthumbomaha Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Omaha Zone 5 Posts: 2,514	A local garden center with an indoor greenhouse built a hoop house within the greenhouse and has professional rubber heat mats to boot. They wanted the extra heat and humidity to start the super hots and also malibar spinach that the ambient greenhouse couldn't provide. - Lisa

December 4, 2016	#4
Durgan Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Brantford, ON, Canada Posts: 1,341	My lowest temperature is minus 20C some nights. I use a heat mat and sometimes cover the plants with a cloth. Fortunately the typical low temperature is usually around 0 to minus 8. I consider minus 20 a critical temperature calling for careful action to protect the plants. I use those body heating pads with control being buttons low med and high from a pharmacy, since they are much cheaper than the typical heat mat, which needs an adjustable transformer for control.