Warming seeds to help with germination?

[lostinthewoods]

Hello all!

I have a problem, I can't seem to keep my pepper seeds warm enough to get them to germinate. Once they do they are fine but I'm at a loss as to the best way to keep them warm. Our house can be very difficult to keep at a constant temp and regulated (old block, etc) and we don't keep it 80 degrees either. ;)

Here's my thought. I was thinking about buying one of those cheap Styrofoam coolers like you'd get at a stop and go. I could put my starts in there with a small light bulb ( I have a CFB that draws about 4WAtts but will equal a 40 watt incandescent bulb). I would think that this bulb would throw just enough heat inside a cooler to heat the seeds to a nice even heat but not cook them or the cooler as this bulb does not get hot. The Styrofoam cooler would breath too, which is also good. Once each plant germinates then I could move them out one at a time to the grow lights.

Any thoughts?

lost

[Deberosa]

Hello all!

I have a problem, I can't seem to keep my pepper seeds warm enough to get them to germinate. *Once they do they are fine but I'm at a loss as to the best way to keep them warm. *Our house can be very difficult to keep at a constant temp and regulated (old block, etc) and we don't keep it 80 degrees either. * ;)

Here's my thought. *I was thinking about buying one of those cheap Styrofoam coolers like you'd get at a stop and go. *I could put my starts in there with a small light bulb ( I have a CFB that draws about 4WAtts but will equal a 40 watt incandescent bulb). *I would think that this bulb would throw just enough heat inside a cooler to heat the seeds to a nice even heat but not cook them or the cooler as this bulb does not get hot. *The Styrofoam cooler would breath too, which is also good. *Once each plant germinates then I could move them out one at a time to the grow lights.

Any thoughts?

lost

THis is the way they germinate giant pumpkins. I gave up on growing pepper plants and will buy mine this year. Tomatoes, basil and everything do great but peppers are just too finicky for me except for cayenne - I get lots of those plants!

Debbie

[AlchemyAcres]

Peppers love bottom heat.

I put hot active compost in a large Rubbermaid tote and place trays of sand above that so the temp stays nice and even. I set my seedling trays on the sand.

A friend uses a rope light germinator to accomplish the same effect.

http://www.gardengrapevine.com/BottomHeater.html

~Martin