Warning! Seedling Mat Temperatures

LeastExpectedGrower

Well-Known Member
Yep. I have 5 of these...I run 4 off of one controller without problem and I've never had 'em short from being around water. They're pretty well sealed around the edges and assuming the outer 'shells aren't damaged, don't think they're going to short. Did this on my last run with them. I didn't have a dummy pot (since I was using 3/4 Gallon pots, but did have the sensor sunk down in one of the seed pots as I would normally.

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buckaclark

Well-Known Member
It's -32F here right now. Standard winter. So I bought a heated seedling mat. Literature says it operates from 70-85. Tops of medium drying kind of quick with the tent 72F.

Took my Fluke Infrared and shot the temperatures of everything. Mat 86-92F. Cups 77 halfway up.

And they advise using a dome? FYI. Vivosun 20"X20" model.
Never a dome
 

lusidghost

Well-Known Member
I'm using an inexpensive temp controller (PID) to control mine exactly. I also use it to ferment bread doughs and such. Hydrofarm mat.
Same. I used to use mine to warm a little vacuum chamber while making shatter and the mat was too hot on its own. Now it's just nice to have.
 

lusidghost

Well-Known Member
I've got a handful of the vivosun mats and a couple of their controllers. Makes sense that they'd run hot down low to me...part of that is getting the sensor placed right. I like to fill a 'dummy pot' and bury the sensor about 3/4ths of the way down into it. I've also put it under the pot, but I think you don't get the temps you want at the top of the soil that way.

I set mine to about 78 and run it for germination and the first week after that.
I stick the probe in a Root Riot cube.
 

PadawanWarrior

Well-Known Member
It's -32F here right now. Standard winter. So I bought a heated seedling mat. Literature says it operates from 70-85. Tops of medium drying kind of quick with the tent 72F.

Took my Fluke Infrared and shot the temperatures of everything. Mat 86-92F. Cups 77 halfway up.

And they advise using a dome? FYI. Vivosun 20"X20" model.
Do you have a thermostat?

 

PadawanWarrior

Well-Known Member

LeastExpectedGrower

Well-Known Member
I'm using an inexpensive temp controller (PID) to control mine exactly. I also use it to ferment bread doughs and such. Hydrofarm mat.
I use mine similarly. I bake too and use them when our house's ambient temp drops down into the mid to low 60's for proofing both standard yeast doughs and fermented (starter based) doughs.

The Vivosun people also sell a thin-long version meant to go around brewing tuns so that you can keep bottom fermenting yeasts warm.
 
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