heat mat temps for peppers

PaulF · December 15, 2013

I am not sure how to word the title to get help. Here is my situation: I have been starting peppers from seed for many years and seem to have a real problem getting the seedlings to grow after germination.

All the peppers are in flats with heat mats. Peppers like warmer temperatures. It seems the problem is the soil temp is not high enough; more like 75 degrees than the desired 85-90 degrees.

Question: If the heat mats only add 10-20 degrees to the ambient temperature, how can the soil temp be raised to 90 when the warmest my basement growing area will get is 65 degrees? ( without increasing the whole house temp up to an unbearable number and expense?).

My idea is to attach a thermostat with a soil probe to the heat mat, but will the heat mat be able to keep the soil hot enough? I have several heat mats but no thermostats. On e-bay there are several in the $30 range. Will that help solve my problem?

December 15, 2013	#1
PaulF Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brownville, Ne Posts: 3,285	heat mat temps for peppers I am not sure how to word the title to get help. Here is my situation: I have been starting peppers from seed for many years and seem to have a real problem getting the seedlings to grow after germination. All the peppers are in flats with heat mats. Peppers like warmer temperatures. It seems the problem is the soil temp is not high enough; more like 75 degrees than the desired 85-90 degrees. Question: If the heat mats only add 10-20 degrees to the ambient temperature, how can the soil temp be raised to 90 when the warmest my basement growing area will get is 65 degrees? ( without increasing the whole house temp up to an unbearable number and expense?). My idea is to attach a thermostat with a soil probe to the heat mat, but will the heat mat be able to keep the soil hot enough? I have several heat mats but no thermostats. On e-bay there are several in the $30 range. Will that help solve my problem? __________________ there's two things money can't buy; true love and home grown tomatoes.