Germinating with heat pads

Discussion in 'Plant Propagation' started by Carol Ja, Sep 23, 2006.

  1. Carol Ja

    Carol Ja Active Member 10 Years

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    Location:
    Salt Spring Island
    I have some questions about tropical seeds that I'll be germinating this winter, If I have them under lights, and on heat pads, when can I take them off of the heat? as soon as they germinate, wait a couple of weeks, or when the summer comes....?
    I realise that they will probably all have different requirements, and its a bit of a general question, but the seeds are things like Musa sikkmensis, Ensete, Agave, lithops.....
    Thanks
    Carol
     
  2. chuckrkc

    chuckrkc Active Member

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    Location:
    Kansas City, Mo.
    My limited one-season trial with bottom heat last winter suggests taking the seeds off the heat one the true leaves appear. For one, the bottom heat dries the seedlings a lot, which is bad in my dry climate and in the dry winter, too. We used plugs and potted them up to 4-inch pots and cleared the heat cable for the next batch. We went a little overboard.

    We didn't attempt anything very exotic, but I think the concerns about drying out too fast would hold.
     
  3. Debra Dunaway

    Debra Dunaway Active Member

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    Location:
    Interior BC, CANADA
    Hi Carol, I have to agree with Chuck. I even remove mine when the first cots break through.
     

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