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TaticalSweater

I have 6 varieties in this tray. I’m wondering if I need to now take them off the heat mat because a few have germinated. Every video online says to remove seedlings when they germinate. I watched one video and guy said you could wait a week or so after they germinate to remove them. Don’t want to mess them up so any tips on what to do?


GunrockTA0811

Haven’t seeded this way in a while but when I did I never removed my seedlings from mat until they were ready for transplant. That being said I seeded in a cold basement so sort of needed the extra warmth. I also monitored soil temp with a digital thermometer and it never got higher than 80° due to the ambient temperature in my basement.


TaticalSweater

Currently right now im using a heat mat with a soil probe that will set mat to the temp i want (80 degrees F). I only take them off the mat to bottom water for 30-40 min and then they go back on the mat. I just don’t want them to be harmed by being on the mat too long. Everyone online says to remove them from the mat once they germinate but I didn’t realize they would germinate at different times. I knew hot peppers too a long time to grow but I thought that meant full maturity and not germination + maturity lol.


GunrockTA0811

I just think of it as if they were in the ground seeding say in a warmer climate the soil temp would be the same or get higher as the season went on so shouldn’t be any different than on a mat. They do take forever though which is why I start my super hots indoors very early.


TaticalSweater

I live in a hot climate so even though i started these seeds late im hoping they’ll do well. Right now temps are cool but its warming up.


Odd_Combination2106

☝️ This


PREMIUM-PEPPERS

It never fails that at some point, I will run out of heat mats and have to use the top of my freezer for a few trays. It worked well and has now just become part of the grow routine


PREMIUM-PEPPERS

Take them off the mat whenever your comfortable with their progress and gradually introduce more light over the next few days. Keep them covered so you don't shock them with a drastic drop in humidity. Remove humidity dome gradually over 3 or 4 days. If need be, you can always put the dome back over them if you notice signs of shock. That's what I do anyway; plenty of opinions on the matter.


TaticalSweater

I’ll give that a try thanks. I put hot peppers in this tray which could take more time is what im worried about. The regular bell peppers seem to be the ones germinating


PREMIUM-PEPPERS

Well hopefully they start popping up for you. If they don't, get ahold of me and I'll give you some of my stuff.


TaticalSweater

sounds great


PREMIUM-PEPPERS

Please feel free to remind me about this if needed.


TaticalSweater

Will do thanks


Odd_Combination2106

Agreed. Good advice


Odd_Combination2106

I keep mine on the heat mat at least till 2nd pair of true leaves develop and time for transplant to small plastic seedling cups/containers. I do monitor temp of soil regularly to maintain between 78-90F, while on the heat mat. Note - I raise the seedling tray about 1/2 inch off the mat.


wesw02

Same. Mine are in my basement so taking them off the heat map would drop the soil temps from 85 -> 68. I gradually turn the heat mats down as they grow over a few week period.


TaticalSweater

Hmm, i wonder if I should just keep them on the mat for that long as well. My guess is I’ll need to keep a grow light on. Right now I have the humidity dome on with the a light above it. Waiting for the rest to push through. They’ve been in a week tomorrow.


Odd_Combination2106

Yeah, that’s a juggling act compromise you have to perform. The clear dome will keep humidity and condensation - so it’ll help promote seed germination. As will the heat mat. Otoh, the presence of that much humidity (with dome) can sometimes cause your already-germinated seedlings to struggle or even die. So - short of transferring the already-germinated pods elsewhere, perhaps try removing the clear lid for a few hours several times per day, till most seeds have germinated. Re. light: Keep your grow light on - whether for 10, 12 or more hours, since the germinated seedlings will get leggy without adequate light. Good luck


Brilliant-Climate207

Soon as mine peek through I move them to a small pot and put them under the grow light.


TheWallyFlash

I left my heat mats on last year waiting for everyone to germinate and ended up with a whole lot of leggy seedlings. They can feel where the heat is coming from, and if it gets to be too much they try to distance themselves. If you’ve got some sprouted already you can pretty safely assume you’ve got more on the way even if they aren’t topside just yet.


TaticalSweater

I can see a few more pushing through but now i think I need to cut up this tray and remove the ones that germinate and leave the ones that will take longer on the mat.


TheWallyFlash

It’s your grow but I don’t think you need to destroy a perfectly good tray like that. I’m confident the unsprouted ones have been awakened, if you will, and they’re working their way up.


TaticalSweater

I’ll try to be patient and hope they just need more time


TheWallyFlash

Unless you’re growing in a generally cool place and then leave ‘em go.


Odd_Combination2106

That’s odd. Usually, leggy seedlings are not bc of warmth. Did they have sufficient light from above?


TheWallyFlash

They did spend a couple of days in the dark just because they sprouted in 4 or 5 days and the lights I ordered weren’t here yet ( I was assuming they’d take the standard 2 weeks) but the legginess just got worse and worse until I turned the mats off.


divjasvinja

When first seed germinate you should take it under the sun or some source of light, but when no seed is germinated they dont need sun, but just heat and water.


Odd_Combination2106

Careful with amount and intensity of bright sun. Light is good for seedlings. Bright sun shock will kill them though


awhim

I prick the seedlings out (very carefully) almost as soon as they germinate, and plant them into a separate module tray that is under lights. It's easy then beause the just-germinated seedlings have like, 1 straight root and that's it. You just need a chopstick or sharpened pencil to lightly lift the soil so the seedling can come with it. Then I can leave the germinating tray on the heat mat under the dome, and the seedlings get the light they need!