Heat Mat suggestions?

[Dean W.]

Does anyone here have ideals for cheap heat mats? I purchased one awhile back and it was about $40. Would somehow using heating cables be an alternative?

[Cameron_z6a_N.S.]

Dean, if you're looking to fill a medium to large area with heat mats, you should consider using FlexWatt heat tape. It's heat tape that comes in different widths, and I've got 24 feet of it here (cut into 6 foot lengths). I've attached dimmer switches to the ends, which control the amount of power going into the tape, and therefore the heat. It saved me hundreds of dollars over simply buying regular heat mats!

[Dean W.]

Cameron, thanks I'll google it and find out more. That's what I was looking for.

[Cameron_z6a_N.S.]

I ordered the tape from "The Bean Farm", and the dimmer switches off ebay, although you could probably just get them at Home Depot.

[Dean W.]

Thanks Cameron, are they water proof?

[Cameron_z6a_N.S.]

I'm not quite sure, but I'm not going to try to find out! I'll just be convering them with like a tarp or something, and put the pots on top of that

[Dean W.]

Okay, good idea. I didn't think of that. Thanks

[lucky1]

Dean, yup, Cameron's is a better idea than this: (I'm just worried he's going to wreck his wood floor with "trapped heat")...

<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2309/236 ... 6053a5.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="DSC01201" />

Too small, can't adjust warmth (feels too cool 24/7), can only hold about 12 four-inch pots.
Might be handy for stuff like flower seeds or veggie seeds. (yawn)...

Barb

[Dean W.]

Yup, I may have to splurge and get a heat mat. I was thinking of possibly making another germination station.

[lucky1]

You'll have more success with Cameron's type/method.

Barb