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Princeton Kentucky

Just learned a very valuable lesson that I should have been smart enough to see. For the past week out of nowhere I have been having trouble germinating seeds..the ambient air temp in the germ box has been at 95 degrees which is fine but when I checked the "Actual soil temp with a digital candy thermometer, the "Actual soil temp was 107 and higher...I am Baking the seeds..DUH on my part. Best I can figure the fan I've installed to make sure the air is even has turned my germ chamber into one of these oscillating cookers and is consentrating the heat to the center in a vortex pattern. I've lost so many seeds trying to get my "Real Season" going its pitiful. : CHECK your "actual" soil Temps if your not already doing so and it will save you alot of headaches don't rely on ambient temps alone. If you use a fan (air circulation is good) but direct it to the center of the unit not the sides to where you create a center vortex of heat, even in a square or rectangle chamber this can occur..Again DUH on my part and What A Waste!! Good growing everyone. Hope this saves at least one grower out there some hassle. We are our own worst enemys, lol. Now I just need to decide..sea salt or standard table salt on the kin seeds...not laughing at this point.

4/14/2013 12:25:42 PM

43.841677 , -79.086692

Some of us up here in Ontario have been using this for going on 3 years. http://www.zoomed.com/db/products/EntryDetail.php?EntryID=315&DatabaseID=2&SearchID=1

Meant for egg incubation, My success rate is 99% over hundreds of trials.

4/14/2013 4:10:00 PM

Omaha, Ne.

Live, learn and grow again:)

4/14/2013 4:34:13 PM

Webster, NY

I have a thermostat control with a thermocouple on it for my heating mat. Stick the thermocouple in the pot and set the temp and it keeps the soil at the top at 80 degrees.

4/14/2013 5:38:08 PM

Princeton Kentucky

Like the direct thermocouple Idea

4/14/2013 6:39:37 PM

Princeton Kentucky

I tossed the fan even though the egg incubator I have and used last year has a fan that blows straight down. Had 100 % success last year. Just stupid luck on my part introducing the fan and not paying attention. Pretty cool device Chris..simplicity is always best, I'm going back to that..simplicity and a direct thermo couple set-up.

4/14/2013 6:48:58 PM

43.841677 , -79.086692

The reptibator has a proportional thermostat. To sum that up quickly, as it nears the set temp the 50 watt element reduces its output to creep up to temp. If you are set at 80F and the temp drops to 79.9, it will only put out 5 watts (10%) to get you back to 80. Keeps temps within +/- .2F Unlike your typical +/- 2F . Not that the seeds can tell the difference. Still, a very reliable and constant heat source.
The other good thing is it holds humidity well.

4/14/2013 8:29:21 PM

Just add salt and eat!!! Crunchy

4/14/2013 11:02:45 PM

Muddy Waters

A fan would speed evaporation Joesph.It might be good a lower temps but would require a lot of watering.

4/15/2013 6:48:42 AM

Princeton Kentucky

Mark I have water tanks in the bottom of the germ chamber for humidity.works great. No chance of drying out Thanks. Chris that sounds good. I like what I have for now it's just I have to be smarter than what I'm working with, lol. This unit is large, I like that and is thermostaticaly controlled but I do like the soil directed thermocouple idea!! I dropped the fan for now and have seeds popping as I type, Kins and melons..will have to redo my 2013 line-up I posted prior in my diary. Thanks to all for the input. I didn't totally throw out all my seeds that I thought were burnt up so some appear to have survived but some were toast. Thee End

4/16/2013 11:30:44 AM

Minnesota

What temp do you set the Reptibater at for the Germination? I need to get closer to 99 % success !!

4/17/2013 11:13:12 AM