5 Tips to Help You Master Using Heat Mats

Heat mats can be incredibly beneficial when seeds starting. I wanted to include a list of five of my top five tips to helping you master using them.

[tobruz]

If you have no thermostat for your heat mat and wish it to be not as warm you can put some cardboard between the mat and your tray

[jakoblarok]

Haha! As I was watching this video, I was using mine (with a towel for safety insulation) to keep my feet from freezing under my desk!

[lyndelgado]

Thanks, I did not know to take it off.The heat met as soon as you got sprouts!

[howellomaha]

Last growing season was my first growing season with a heat mat and because I had watched a video you made on the do/don't of them, I was successful.
Before watching that video I thought you kept the seeds on the mat for weeks and weeks. I didn't realize it was just during germination.
Such good information you provide. Thank you!

[joycejohnson]

Thanks for the tips at the end of the video about using the mat for sourdough! Great idea I never thought of 😆 I’ve had such a hard time with my starter during these winter months and I will try the mat to keep it warm.😊 Great video

[jillstavos]

Yes! I had to brew kombucha in my basement during the winter. To help with the warmth, I have used a heat mat

[barbaramix]

I bought a heat mat and have used it for sourdough, starting seeds, and in an emergency I finally used it to keep my chicks warm when their heat lamp burned out during he night. I never thought about kombucha. I eventually used it under plexiglass to keep my old dog warm in his doghouse. I put an old blanket on it and he was quite comfortable. It sounds like it has a lot more uses.

[clipsfromcherie]

Great tip using heat mat for proofing bread. Love it!

[FredMcGee-gndm]

I've used different types of heating mats and previously used timers to only have them on during nighttime coolest times. Thanks for explaining that they should be on all the time and also that seedlings need to be off after first sprouting. I wasn't aware of that either. 😀

[PR.Hobbit]

Thank you!!! I did learn something that I was doing wrong = timer on heat mat

[kimberlyhaney]

The only space I have to start seeds is next to my wood stove. I am going to try a heat mat this year, so this is really helpful. Thank you

[r.m.burthom-paranormalwrit]

I've never used heat mats but always wondered about them. Thank you for sharing this was very interesting and informative.

[WelcometomyCapeCodlife]

I use a heat mat to germinate my warm weather plants! This will be my third season using them.such a great tool for a gardener.

[leedavis-mo]

I just bought my first mats a couple of weeks ago. I can't wit to give them a try. Thank you for your insites into using heat mats, and so timely, too.

[Minnehaha]

I started using heat mats 2 years ago. There is a little draft that comes in at our bow window, and the heat mats help. I always take the mats out as soon as the seeds germinate. If I want to start seeds when it gets a little warmer, I can use my little greenhouse. But I can't wait until then to start seeds in zone 6b. I can't wait to get started!

[TomCrosman]

Use one of my 3 heat mats for kombucha all the time. Using it now.

[AncestralCyborg]

I've never had trouble with germination really, I think it's partly luck with a side of obsession. I just love trying to grow things that I've had some success with. Basically tomatoes and peppers. Thank you though because last year I invested in a ton of seeds in a wide variety and I used dome lids on my trays for the first time. Everything was great and then it wasn't except for the peppers and tomatoes. I now know precisely what I did and I'm ready to try again. Thanks.

[joebonner]

This will be my first year using heat mats. Thanks for the extra info that you have provided.😊

[timothydillon]

Great video, could you schedule one on cold frames for the spring?

[JohnWood-tkge]

Very timely, the one I ordered from you should arrive tomorrow 🤩