Heated Propagator - Help...

[pie-gardener]

Hi All,

i just got my first heated propagator, and am a bit stuck on how to use it... It's an 8w electric one... Now i've done a best guess with some Tomatoes as follows:

Warm water in the bottom of the propagator (as i would with a normal propagator)
Seed modules laying with the bottoms just in the water
Lid on the propagator
Plugged in and switched on only while we're in the house, and not over night....

Am i doing it right? Any advice? (particularly on the when to switch on/off)

thanks

[Newton]

THere is some debate whether they are needed!

I have a temp controlled prop. I use it for chillies that need high heat to germinate. They also need constant heat at as much as 28 degrees in the early stages. As soon as they germinate I have taken the temp to 18 degrees. Day and night......

Then you get a light problem and the seedlings search forvtheclight and get leggy.

I am not sure that switching off when out is correct.....what seeds are you growing?

Also I don't think that putting water in the base is right! But much more knowledgable grapes will be along soon to confirm or otherwise.

Good luck.

[Bigmallly]

Yes, I would not advise putting water in the bottom, if you get a tiny crack................the prop lid will provide enough condensation to keep the soil moist.

[Sarico]

what i do is keep on all the time and i have a termometer put inside with hygrometer to check the moist. when i see that the humidity go down 80% i spray the seed module with water so they get wet but the are not disturbed... i always hade germination with no problem...

[Currysniffa]

Like Bigmallly said its not advisable to put water in the bottom of heated props, some use MPC in them I just put little pots or seed trays in mine. I have a piece of capillary matting in the bottom them but you could use newspaper.

[Newton]

What's growing there CS.....looks like toms and brassicas?

[Currysniffa]

What's growing there CS.....looks like toms and brassicas?

Yeah your right Newton, cabbage and calabrese first left then tomatoes and far right are red salvia for our baskets and planters.

[kathyd]

I don't put anything in the bottom of my heated propogator, I just stand the trays and pots on the base. I leave the vents open almost all the time, and the prop switched on. If it gets too misty in there, I take the lid off for a while. If it gets dry, I water gently as with any other seedlings. Now my toms have germinated I've moved them into the porch where I put bubble wrap over them if it gets cold at night. My peppers and aubergines are still in the propogator - it's all very well getting things germinated, but where do you put them afterwards if it's still cold outside?? I guess they'll go in the porch as well eventually with fleece and polythene if necessary. If they get leggy I think I can just plant them a bit deeper.. certainly the toms and peppers anyway.

[Two_Sheds]

Warm water in the bottom of the propagator (as i would with a normal propagator)

Er no. Plant roots will rot if left to sit in water. Give them a drink outside the prop, drain off then put in the prop.

when to switch on/off

I switch mine off if the room is warm, ie sunny day. You're aiming for a constant temp, day and night, so it needs to be on at the coldest times

cabbage and calabrese

They don't need heat to germinate, and tend to go leggy very quickly if given too little light and too much heat

I leave the vents open almost all the time

I keep mine closed, it keeps the temp even and saves on watering.
Don't keep seedlings in a misty environment though, it leads to fungal growth. Once the first seedlings appear, their pot gets taken out of the prop

[kathyd]

Once the first seedlings appear, their pot gets taken out of the prop

Where would you move pepper seedlings to Two_Sheds? I've got lots showing now, but nowhere both warm and light to put them - I was going to leave them in the prop until they're a bit bigger and could cope with the unheated porch?

[Alison]

I do pretty much the same as Two_Sheds, as she says, it's best to get things out the heated propogators as soon as they've germinated. My chilli and pepper seedlings are currently sat on a window ledge in our utility room, they have a base of a propogator under them which I can turn on if the night is very cold but don't need to very much. The window gives them lots of light which is their main priority when germinated.

[Currysniffa]

[QUOTE=Two_Sheds;951384 don't need heat to germinate, and tend to go leggy very quickly if given too little light and too much heat[/QUOTE]

Mine are fine thx but if they get leggy I just pot them on into a bigger pot.

[kathyd]

I do pretty much the same as Two_Sheds, as she says, it's best to get things out the heated propogators as soon as they've germinated. My chilli and pepper seedlings are currently sat on a window ledge in our utility room, they have a base of a propogator under them which I can turn on if the night is very cold but don't need to very much. The window gives them lots of light which is their main priority when germinated.

Well my toms are happy enough in the unheated porch with covers if it gets cold and no heat underneath - but I thought peppers were in need of more warmth for longer? Getting stuff out of a propogator quickly is obviously useful because it frees it up for other things to grow! Unless you use it underneath your peppers of course, like an electric blanket ... .

[Two_Sheds]

Where would you move pepper seedlings to Two_Sheds?

They go on a south-facing windowsill, then in the unheated gh in May

[allotment grower]

Propergators - electric = usage....

It is advisable you use 2 INCH'S" damp sand in the bottom of the propergator the damp sand increases the heat in the ELECTRIC propergator creating the right conditions making it more efficent -if the sand drys out rewet sand..

The same as if you were to build a propergator in the greenhouse using ELECTRIC heated cables they have to buried in 2" sand..below and above the cables.. the damp sand crates the heat..