Using heated propagators.

How is the best way of using a heated propagator?
I have an heated one.
For sowing seed mine seems to get too hot, am I supposed to take off the lids to cool down .?
I thought I would be able to adjust the temperature, but it's set .

 

I have an old electric prop. but long since lost its instructions/details. It doesn't have a temp. adjustment and I've never known it get too hot.
As I have to use it in the utility room - chilly and north facing - I sit it on panels of polystyrene to keep the base heat in. I use a couple of layers of Capillary matting inside and place the cells/pots on that. The lid has 2 vents which I leave closed when I first put the seeds in and then partly open after a day or 2. Germination for most things is pretty good.

 

I've never used one without a thermostat, how hot is too hot?

 

Mine is in an unheated greenhouse and I agree it can get very hot inside my heated propagator with thermostat set to 22c.
The sun is now quite strong and when it's out temps can easily exceed 30c inside.
The only solution is to remove the top for a while and replace it before sunset.

When I worked, if it looked like a sunny day ahead, I'd remove one of the top panels and put it back when I got home from work - if I remembered...

I have 2" sand in the base of mine which acts as a storage heater so on a chilly night the temps are easily maintained.

 

If it doesn't have a thermostat maybe a cheap timer, hour on and hour off, but it would need to be in the shade.

 

Agee with @Pete8 if you put the prop on a sunny windowsill or in the greenhouse the temperature easily gets over 30c.
A themostat will only cut the heating off, not the sunlight.
Probably a cheap time switch as @pete suggests to cut the heat during daylight.

Better to put it in good light but not direct sunlight and also , if fitted as most have, open its ventilator or raise the whole cover when you know its going to be sunny.

Also good to place a layer of polysyrene or similar under the whole unit so all the heat goes up into the compost.

 

I have a Ward propagator and never noticed it get too hot. There is no thermostat, but it does have 2 vents you can open at the top. But I only use it for say tropical seeds that may need extra heat. I never put it in the sun.

I find a sunny window sill is just right for most seeds.

I tried to hatch some eggs in it once, but nothing happened!

 

Thank you so much ive found out where ive gone wrong . its on metal benching in the dwarf style green house and direct sun. i wonder if i put it under the staging where it doesnt get the sun would work ???? it would still get light but would have to relie on the heat from the propergator what do you think ?

 

Wouldn't they need to be at chicken temperature, or a particularly sunny could have cooked them.

 

In the greenhouse some seeds I germinate in a propagtor under the bench at the shady end, but even then I have one or two layers of fleece over the top. This gets used for slow germinating seeds that don't need extra heat.
Seeds that need a bit of warmth are on a thermostatted tray in the garage with polystyrene under the tray. I use grow lights on a timer to give them sufficient light and the whole enclosure is painted white.

 

As long as there's good light under the staging it should be fine.
Seedlings need good light to grow without getting leggy.
Too much heat and insufficient light will cause spindly seedlings.
Good airflow is important too to deter fungi.

You're relying solely on heat from the propagator at present during the night, so if that keeps the temps right then it should be fine in the day too.

 

It shouldn't be in direct sunlight. Just needs light.

 

If you are using an electric propagator early in the season ( Nov to March let's say ) then you really only need to site it in good light to ensure germination dependant on what seeds..
If you are using the same in a GH, then you obviously need to take account of the temps during that same period. Fleeced in cold weather and possibly shaded if the sun comes out for long enough.
After that, most will probably succeed in a warm spot indoors or in the GH. Obviously depends on what you are sowing, your location and weather tho.
@cactus_girl I guess you may be talking about Chicken eggs but I can confirm you need a constant 30 C for Tortoise eggs to hatch successfully

 

What a lovely thing to do - hatch some tortoise! I'll have to put my thermo in to see what they temp actually is.

 

To water the seeds I have usually sprayed but am I better in using a watering can .
Which method do you find best ?

I have decided that I will paint a cardboard box white and put this around the seed under the staging. Also with my greenhouses being dwarfs eventually I will paint the brickwork white too.see it this works.