Are you leaving the heat mats on over night?

CactiGuide Members' Seed Trading List
Post Reply
EliWhitney3140
Posts: 142
Joined: Tue Sep 08, 2020 4:01 am
Location: Port Angeles, WA, zone 8

Are you leaving the heat mats on over night?

Post by EliWhitney3140 »

I know this is a very basic question, but I am curious if you fellow seed growers are leaving your heat mats on 24/7 or you have an overnight cooling period? I know many species have different needs but is there a general thought on this matter?
User avatar
Aeonium2003
Posts: 303
Joined: Sun Sep 26, 2021 2:53 am
Location: Central California

Re: Are you leaving the heat mats on over night?

Post by Aeonium2003 »

I put mine on a 12 hours on/off cycle. I haven't really experimented, but it seems fine for germination and good growth. :)
User avatar
Lactus
Posts: 92
Joined: Wed Feb 02, 2022 4:58 am
Location: Humboldt CA Zone 9

Re: Are you leaving the heat mats on over night?

Post by Lactus »

I have mine on 24hrs. So far everything looks good and happy.
User avatar
7george
Posts: 2628
Joined: Tue Dec 30, 2014 7:49 pm
Location: Calgary, Canada
Contact:

Re: Are you leaving the heat mats on over night?

Post by 7george »

No firm answer to this. It depends on temps in your rooms and heat preferences of the grown seedlings. If lamps produce heat and that is enough to create day/night fluctuations you can keep mats on but if seeds need low temps to germinate better switch it off night time. Most times I was doing seedlings the mat was on in winter months and fully off during the summer. Monitor your compound temperature.
If your cacti mess in your job just forget about the job.
°C = (°F - 32)/1.8
User avatar
greenknight
Posts: 4813
Joined: Tue Apr 30, 2013 4:18 am
Location: SW Washington State zone 8b

Re: Are you leaving the heat mats on over night?

Post by greenknight »

I always use a cheap low-power mat that just raises the temperature about 10*f, and leave it on all the time. No need for a thermostat with that, it's not going to get too warm - if the weather gets very hot I unplug it. It's not in a climate-controlled space, the temperature fluctuates naturally. I start seeds only in the summer, obviously, the extra heat is needed only because our Pacific Northwest climate doesn't reliably provide enough warmth.
Spence :mrgreen:
User avatar
Shane
Posts: 1075
Joined: Thu Sep 21, 2017 5:55 pm
Location: Los Angeles, CA (zone 10b)

Re: Are you leaving the heat mats on over night?

Post by Shane »

I leave mine on 24 hrs/day. I've wondered if I should turn it off at night. I don't know if it makes a difference. I think on/off cycle if the lights the lights can provide some temperature variation. My temperature sensor is under/between the pots, so it keeps the temperature constant there, allowing (I think) for some temperature variation at the top from the lights
Los Angeles, California (USA)
Zone 10b (yearly minimum temperature 1-5° C)

Fishhook cacti are like cats, they only like to be petted in one direction
promethean_spark
Posts: 840
Joined: Fri Jan 14, 2011 9:10 pm
Location: Sunol, CA

Re: Are you leaving the heat mats on over night?

Post by promethean_spark »

Ideally after germination the heat from the lamp slightly dries the surface during the day, and moisture wicks back up again overnight and condenses and runs down the bag to the surface. Leaving bottom heat on kind of counteracts that during the day. If anything I'd supply bottom heat at night and lights only during the day. Getting that daily moisture movement just right makes growing slow stuff like strombocactus very easy, suppresses algae, moss and mold, and perfectly matches the conditions for baby cacti in habitat.
Post Reply