Flower seeds in heated propagator

[IndigoElectron]

Today I sowed the following seeds in 1 inch modules and put them in the heated propagator:

Begonia (Summer bedding), germinates in 14-21 days at 21-24 C
Lobelia (Kristallpalast), germinates in 15-20 days at 20 C
Garden nasturtium/Indian cress (High-climbing mix), germinates in 15-20 days at 20 C

We are going away between Friday and Monday, and I don't really want to leave the heated propagator on during that time. I probably should have waited until we got back, but I think I have left it a bit late to sow the seeds as it is so wanted to get started.

Will the seeds still germinate if I turn the propagator off for a few days? I can set the heating to come on in the morning and evening, so it doesn't get too cold (our house rarely gets below 19 degrees anyway).

Thanks.

[WendyC]

If your house is that warm anyway I don't think a couple of days without bottom heat would make any difference. We turn the heating off when we aren't in the house!

[Kristen]

They will germinate anyway, without the propagator, but what you should get with the propagator is faster germination, and more consistency (all germinate at one) so I don't think it matters if you leave it on, or turn it off for a few days (assuming that, if propagator is turned off, the house will stay above, say, 18C ... or perhaps 16C ... whilst you are away.

Only other consideration is whether they would dry out if the propagator is on. For me, in trays covered with [individual] clear plastic domes with the air vents closed, the trays don't dry out at all until germinate when I take the lids off (provided germination is less than a month, say, longer than that needs some top up irrigation, or I put them in a plastic bag which contains the moisture better than a lose fitting lid and drainage holes at the bottom open to the air)

[IndigoElectron]

Thanks both. It is looking pretty damp in there at the moment, so don't think they'll dry out. I've put a damp cloth at the base of the propagator, I can always re-wet it can't I?