Electric propagators

**Cadalot** · 07-01-2017, 03:27 PM

The one I have just bought is going in the shed so I'm interested in the answers you get to the question.

**Baldy** · 07-01-2017, 03:28 PM

I'm in a similar position - I've run out of floor and windowsill space after a busy morning - I've got power and space in the shed though.
The ambient temperature is going to have an impact. I guess if you've got a (very) expensive propergater with thermostat control it will cost you more to run. If you've got a bog standard one then it will lose heat more quickly so not maintain as high a temperature.
I might try it with some additional bubble wrapping to try to insulate a bit more.
A physicist or similar will be along shortly to correct my pseudo-science...

**lottie dolly** · 07-01-2017, 03:36 PM

Thanks Baldy,that's what i did wonder,it is only a heated bottom,looks like it wiil have to come in home again,

**Baldy** · 07-01-2017, 03:41 PM

oops

I think I've read that people have done ok by having the propagator in something like a blow away or with additional insulation - basically the heat that escapes from the propagator is held in situ a little longer - a bit like wearing lots of layers when its cold is a better way of staying warm than just wearing now't but a mohair jumper

I'm awaiting someone to this thread with 'experience'

**Cadalot** · 07-01-2017, 03:59 PM

OK looking at the box a little more, mines a doctorgrow.co.uk plug and play i.e. no thermostat and it says it will increase rooting area by 10 - 20 degrees on the outside and I thought that was Celsius but when I look inside printed on the mat itself it says Fahrenheit above grow room temperature.

So that's 5.46 - 11.11 degrees Celsius so that means it needs to be at least 10 degrees C in the shed already for the heating mat to get me to the 15-20 degrees C that is recommended for germination of most plants on the back of the packs.

Looks like another Lidl Thermometer will be needed for the shed.

**Baldy** · 07-01-2017, 04:07 PM

engineer / physicist / psychopath

**Chris11** · 07-01-2017, 04:09 PM

Originally posted by Baldy

The ambient temperature is going to have an impact. I guess if you've got a (very) expensive propergater with thermostat control it will cost you more to run. If you've got a bog standard one then it will lose heat more quickly so not maintain as high a temperature. I might try it with some additional bubble wrapping to try to insulate a bit more.

I'd say that's exactly right, but I won't claim to be a physicist either

Last year I ducktaped some bubble wrap around the base of one of my very basic heated propagators. It doesn't look pretty, but I'd say it has helped maintain a higher temperature.

**Superkeengarden** · 07-01-2017, 04:10 PM

What about thermocol. Can I keep the standard propogator on thermocol Base . So cold won't come from Base. I kept some thermocol from white goods packaging .

**lottie dolly** · 07-01-2017, 04:20 PM

OK,just niped out,got the thermometer out the polly and put it in the shed,will see tomoz,my prop is a stewart with a lid,no thermo,on enering said shed it was 10 ?,if it were to be very frosty during a night time,i would think it to low,so it will defo come inside,see what i think in the morning.

**Cadalot** · 07-01-2017, 04:23 PM

Originally posted by Baldy View Post

engineer / physicist / psychopath

You forgot Velologists until recently when I was forced to throw the collection away by Mrs C. And just because I'm Paranoid it does not mean that they aren't out to get me. You also forgot my OCD tendencies and the huge collection of music I have amassed that occupies most of my small office space.

And yes you would have thought that I should have checked it was Celsius it just goes to prove never ASSUME as it makes an ASS out of U and ME

OK me mainly

**Superkeengarden** · 07-01-2017, 04:27 PM

Originally posted by Cadalot View Post

The one I have just bought is going in the shed so I'm interested in the answers you get to the question.

Could you post a picture please?. I would like to buy one for my shed. I don't have any space left in my house.

**Baldy** · 07-01-2017, 04:34 PM

Originally posted by Superkeengarden View Post

What about thermocol. Can I keep the standard propogator on thermocol Base . So cold won't come from Base. I kept some thermocol from white goods packaging .

Should help.
Heat rises though so you have to do something about the heat escaping upwards.

Goddam it - where's a physics professor when you need one?

**Alison** · 07-01-2017, 04:41 PM

I don't actually use a propagator to start very many things and only use heated ones for early stuff. Probably too tight to pay for the leccy but seriously I find a lot if things do better started more slowly. As to the benefit of a heated propagator outside, depends what you're growing in it. Yes you can insulate but remember that this will restrict lighting to the emerging seedlings and unless they're very hardy they'll need to be kept somewhere warm for a good while yet which sounds like a problem if you're already running out of space.

**Cadalot** · 07-01-2017, 05:02 PM

Originally posted by Superkeengarden View Post

Could you post a picture please?. I would like to buy one for my shed. I don't have any space left in my house.

Here you go the box says www.doctorgrow.co.uk but it's a referral page so looks like someone may be selling old stock on ebay. I bought the 500mm x 500mm as I'm putting it on top of a small freezer in the shed. I'm guessing that why I thought the temperature quoted on the box was Celsius as the measurements were in metric and a UK web site.

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