What is a soiless potting mix? Can someone give me a brand name and a place to buy it. What type of plants need soiless mixt?
Also, can someone explain the term bottom heat? I know it has something to do with germinating seeds inside, but I don't know if it's special equipment or if you use your oven.
Please explain these terms....
bottom heat is where you have a heat mat (you buy) to help heat the plants from the bottom up. it doent heat the seeds but to a certain temp. alot of people use the refrigerator or the computer or even the tv as a heat source. i have even heard people use a low heat heating pad. it really does help the seeds and seedlings grow.
soiless potting mix to me is where is the water crystal type stuff. they sorta look like jello cubes. if i am right on this one.
That helps alot, thanks. I haven't seen either at H.D. or Walmart. A heating pad I've got. Do you leave it on all the time? Would that be enough if the room wasn't heated at all?
Now if someone can tell me their experiences with both. I need all the help I can get.
On almost another subject... I want to use my dh's workshop to house cuttings, seedlings and newly sown seeds. It has electricity and florescent lights but it's not heated. Just wondering if others use bottom heat or the soiless stuff in a non-heated environment over the winter season. I need to get the jungle out of my living quarters. Buying a greenhouse isn't in the budget this year or near future.
Deborah
The heat mat can be found at places such as Park Seed, Charley's Greenhouses, and the like. If you use a heating pad or blanket make sure you wrap it in plastic so water won't short it out. You can also be innovative by making a heat box. Walter Reeves may have it on his web site (I've seen him make one on his show). It is basically a wooden box, with some kind of tin or aluminum bottom and a 60 watt light bulb. The other thing you can get is electrical heating cable that has a thermostat built in. You would lay down this cable in a serpentine pattern with staples, then put your trays on top of this. (Do not use the electrical cable for heating water pipes since the thermostat on these is barely over freezing and wouldn't do you any good). Bottom heat is not really needed if you have a warm space. Heat mats can be expensive and I'm sure they work well, but they only cover a small space. Once seeds are up, bottom heat is not really needed.
http://www.parkseed.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StoreCatalogDisplay?storeId=10101&catalogId=10101&langId=-1&SearchText=heat+mat&mainPage=textsearchresults&RequestType=NewRequest
http://www.charleysgreenhouse.com/index.cfm?page=_search&s=heat+mat&PageNum_newsearchQuery=1&varShowPer_custom=12&varOrderby=ProductId&varSorting=ASC&varColumns=3&f=1&mtype=1
http://botanical.com/hydro/propagation/cloning.html
http://www.growerssolution.com/page/GS/CTGY/heatmats
http://www.4hydroponics.com/clone/heatmat.asp
http://www.granitehydro.com/old/aids/proptrays.htm
http://www.betterthannature.com/catalog/default.php/cPath/24?BTN_ID=9dafd215417fdd2487b87ab5cdf676e4
Soil-less mix is basically a mix that has no "dirt" in it. It is typically a mix of peat moss, Perlite, and other compounds. The purpose is to be weed, pest, and disease free and offer a better medium for houseplants and seedlings to grow in.
http://www.hortnet.co.nz/publications/hortfacts/hf355023.htm
http://davesgarden.com/terms/go/844/
http://tomclothier.hort.net/page12.html
Hi Deborah - I do what you are looking at. Only I use the shelves in my laundry room. I have a wire steel shelf unit that is 48" wide with 5 shelves - the shelves are adjustable. I bought 4 48" shop lights from Home Depot and they have S-shape hook on chains that I can fasten over the thick wire of the shelf above. I bought 3 of those heating pads (search the net for the best price as they vary widely), for the seedlings and cuttings trays. I use the upper shelves for small cuttings and seeds and the lower shelves for plants that need light and will go back outside in the spring. I like this arrangement as the lights hang from small chains and I can bring the lights up as the seedlings grow. I bought a power strip and leave the heat pads on all the time. They really don't get very warm. And I turn the lights on every morning. I only do this from about now to April. Then the shelves revert to holding large cooking pots, etc.
Do a search for 'seedling heat mat' as that is the name and will bring up sizes and prices. The prices really vary. If you are buying shop lights, make sure they have a off/on switch. Some don't.
I have a heat vent in the laundry room that helps but I don't think a totally unheated space would work for seedlings. It would be OK for plants that can go semi-dormant - I put my agapanthus, hibiscus, bruggies, etc. in my garage - top of the rubbermaid shelves - and they get light and a tiny bit of water and whatever heat the house gives to the garage. But you could enclose your shelves in heavy plastic with an overlap in front to get to your plants...
Butch,
I'm setting aside some computer time to do the research on the sites you gave me for the heating mats and also the contrived box thingy that Walter Reeves built. I'm seriously considering the workshop to be my extended greenhouse. I want to be able to go to the round-up in Jonesboro but not empty-handed. I refuse to go with plants that DGers have given me (they're too precious to me and I'd just be a RR trader instead of a bonafide gardener, fcol {for crying out loud}). Instead, I prefer to grow via seeds, cuttings, or dividing this fall and winter.
From Sterling's advice, I really do need some kind of heat in the building. It's not insulated; in fact, the walls aren't even finished. I agree, Sterling, I don't think a totally unheated space would work for seedlings either. However, I like the idea of the heavy plastic overlap in front of the plants. If this enclosure could some-how hold in the heat from what Butch was talking about, then it just might work!
All of y'alls advice is very much appreciated. I was about to pull my hair out thinking about sitting little potted plants & trays all over the house.
Deborah
I bought a heat mat from Lee Valley. The first one they sent didn't work. I sent it back, they sent another AND they paid for the return shipping by sending me back a check for the exact amount. Their price last year was lower than anyone else, including Charlies which suprised me (I like Charlies).
I use it to start certain plants, both by cutting and by seed. I was a little late starting off some calendula and snapdragons this year, so I'm turning it on tomorrow.
Personally, I like the heat mat made for seedlings because it's flat, it is waterproof, and it holds the proper temp consistently unlike an appliance (or unlike my appliances) or my heating pad.
I've also used my cat disc in a pinch. The cat disc is something that looks like a frisbee that you heat up in the microwave and it stays warm for 10 hrs or so. I just put a towel over it and set cuttings on top.
GGG
Cat disc - I had to look this up - what a nice invention... Snuggle Safe Heat Pad
http://www.amazon.com/Snuggle-Safe-Heat-Pad/dp/B00008AJH9/ref=e_deav_acc_1_1/102-2102715-8631314
It is time for a greenhouse. The van is paid off and my banker is pleased with me. I have been looking at the lean to kits. I am trying to keep it under a thousand. I am not sure whether to go with a kit or build it myself from Lowes. Hubby would rather I went with a kit. Actually he would prefer that I forget the whole thing. Ha! Fat chance, Honey!
Beth
Hi Beth - I think we all want a greenhouse!!!! But are you aware there is a forum here on greenhouses? Lots of good info.
http://davesgarden.com/forums/f/greenhouse/all/
Beth, before you begin your greenhouse, look at gapeahen's panel wire greenhouse.
I'm finding myself spending hours going back and forth between Lee Valley and Charley's. Enjoying my new on-line wish-books. Thanks for the tips!
Beth, you'll enjoy a greenhouse for sure!
Oh, I know I will. My first, a scratch built 6X10, was a source of constant joy. I designed and built it myself. I dug the foundation trench, set the form mould boards and poured the concrete myself. The only help I needed was raising the walls and rafters after I had framed them flat on the ground, and stretching the greenhouse plastic over the frame. However, at that time I had access to my father's tools, radial arm saw mostly. And I had lots of support from my family.
My spouse believes that I should have a green house that looks like a sun room. Since we can't afford that I don't NEED a green house. If my tone seems a bit sour, I just spoke to him again about financing. I am just a little angry. No, actually I am a lot angry!
Beth
I had a friend who always wrote her grocery bill over the amount, hoarded it like a squirrel. When summer came she always went to the beach, compliments of her husband, she'd say. He never knew how she saved the moola for the trip. You'll find a way. Get that greenhouse, girl!