Topic: Heated Propagator

[Barnowl]

Thanks Tim, those look good: particularly when you've a small GH like mine.

Tee Gee, that's impressive: how did you make it?

[GrowingChillis]

I have just acquired an electric propagator.
I am going to be germinating chillies in it.
I have never used one before,
can anyone answer a few questions-

- There is a black mat on the floor of the propagator,
what is this for? is this what you water onto?

- Do I just put seed trays straight onto the mat, and
I am guessing the trays need holes in the bottom.

- Do you leave the power on it allday, bearing in mind it is to e used indoors,
and does anyone know how much they cost to run in terms of electric.
It says on the box - "heated growing base 22watts"

-I am thinking of gettin a small light as I don't think that the
light coming through the window  is strong enough at the moment,
and I don't want them to get leggy.
I need a cheap light preferably from a normal high street supplier,
and one that I can just plug into the mains.

Here is a pic of the one I have got

Any advice appreciated

[Merry Tiller]

There is a black mat on the floor of the propagator,
what is this for? is this what you water onto?

Yes, it's capillary matting, it makes it easier to stop everything drying out

Do I just put seed trays straight onto the mat, and
I am guessing the trays need holes in the bottom.

Yes and yes

Do you leave the power on it allday, bearing in mind it is to e used indoors,
and does anyone know how much they cost to run in terms of electric.
It says on the box - "heated growing base 22watts"

Yes leave it on all day, 22watts should work out at about 30p a day, less than leaving a light on all day anyhow

I am thinking of gettin a small light as I don't think that the
light coming through the window  is strong enough at the moment,
and I don't want them to get leggy.
I need a cheap light preferably from a normal high street supplier,
and one that I can just plug into the mains.

I use a growlight flourescent tube, not the best but much cheaper than the rest

[GrowingChillis]

I use a growlight flourescent tube, not the best but much cheaper than the rest

Where did you get yours from, and what kind is it?
I want one that is pluggable into the wall!
Do you grow peppers too?
Thanks for your advice.
Peter

[Merry Tiller]

http://www.commercial-lamps.co.uk/acatalog/Plant_Growth_Lamps.html

I use a tube in an ordinary flourescent fitting at the moment with a home made timer, I think I might try a couple of the reflector lamps if I can find the time to construct a reflector/fitting, it may be a job for next winter now though.

Yes, I do grow peppers & chilis

[manicscousers]

in garen news this week, they suggest putting foil over a piece of card and propping it up to reflect the outside light on to the plants, anyone tried this ?  :)

[GrowingChillis]

Cheers for that Merry

how much does your lamp cost you to run a day?
and what kind of light cycle do you have it on?

All I have to do now i convince the OH to let me
have a lighting setup!
That may be the hard bit!!

[tim]

Surely, nothing is cheap - you only get what you pay for?

[GrowingChillis]

I thought maybe lights that were good for growing plants under,
may actually be cheaper or the same price as normal bulbs.

I read a thread somewhere saying that you only want specific
parts of the light spectrum, and the brightest isnt always the best.

Peter

[Tee Gee]

Quote; Tee Gee, that's impressive: how did you make it?

Well I have had it for many years and my memory is fading a bit but as I recall the edges are 4"x1" tanalised timber.

The base is 4" x1" slats with a 1" gap between them to drain off any surplus water.

On to this I laid 1" thick polystyrene sheeting for insulation.

I covered this with a sheet of polythene.

If you are with me that leaves 3"

I laid a bed of sharp sand 1" thick on top of the polystyrene then laid out the cable in a similar fashion as shown in the mats on Tim's link i.e. approx 3" apart.

I filled it with another 1" layer of sand then fitted the 'rod stat'.

Finally I filled the bed up to the top with more sand then soaked it.

From experience I find it is much better to keep the sand quite damp so that the cable heats up the entire area i.e. the water within the sand otherwise you get 'hot spots' which is not good for the cable and gives off less effective heating & humidity.


Another thing I found out from experience is cover the sand with a sheet of plastic this prevents the sand from drying out as quickly it also keeps the sand free of compost meaning you can use the sand year after year. Otherwise you will have seedlings, weeds & moss (all of which love warm humid conditions) growing through the sand.

Before starting up a new season I soak the sand with a fungicide and herbacide mixture to kill off any disease and unwanted plant life.

oooooooo!!! I hear the organic growers saying.....don't worry!!! there is a sheet of plastic between my seedlings and the sand ;D

[Barnowl]

Thanks very much for the details Tee Gee, if I ever get the space I like to have a go at making one like that.

All that wet sand would give steady warmth (and good heat retention in the case of a power cut) so better than a mat but I suppose I'd have a bit of a hard time trying to roll it up to free up space in the GH. :)

[Larkspur]

Hi manics, yes I have used foil reflectors for years and they seem to work. I think the idea was originally publicised by Geoff Hamilton.

[Merry Tiller]

Surely, nothing is cheap - you only get what you pay for?

You don't subscribe to that old myth surely Tim, untrue these days on so many levels, have you bought a British built car recently?

how much does your lamp cost you to run a day?

Around 40 pence a day I would think

and what kind of light cycle do you have it on?

It will go on some time in late Feb until mid April for 18 hours a day

[GrowingChillis]

Cheers Merry

I have got a few of my bigger pepper plants in it now,
and also a load of seeds I have sown, but have been having trouble with.
So i will see how they get on

Peter

[tim]

Point taken, MT - but you know what I mean? EG 'economical' household heaters - only because they are are rated at 500W!!

Sand. VERY heavy, so build well!  .

Reflectors. Tried them all around last year but can't identify an advantage.

A reminder of our heated capillary bench - 6'X3'.


PS Why couldn't I upload this via A4A last night or this am? Had to use Photobucket.

[OllieC]

Your local Hydroponics shop should stock fluorescent lights. Mine thought I was speaking in code when I asked about growing "peppers". There was a nod/wink moment despite my insistence that they really were for growing legal plants!

[GrowingChillis]

Do you need a different kind of light for growing chillis tho?

What would you ask for in a hydro shop?

[Merry Tiller]

You could also try anaquatics shop ie. tropical fish, they sell lights that cover all sorts of different spectrums.

You certainly don't need anything different for growing peppers

I have never grown "peppers", in fact I haven't even smoked any for about 20 years :o

[tim]

Or mail growthtechnology or the like for advice?

[GrowingChillis]

I have got my prop. nicely setup now.
It is running between 20-25 degrees, but it is still lacking light.
So i have stolen the makeup light from the wardrobe and rested it above the prop.
I have never used lights to grow before,
What times should I have it on?
I think I have read somewhere it is no good putting it by the window in the daytime, and then running the light at night, so I guess use it in the daytime?
Any advice appreciated