I don't use a heated mat to germinate seeds. I am way too paranoid about fire hazards to do it. I think you will be fine if you use low watt light bulbs, a moist enclosed environment like egg cartons, plastic green house or ice cube tray to start the seeds. You can even place the trays on top of the fridge for the same warming effect, or on top of the computer.

Seeds germinate at different rates so you may need to move some under lights while others are waiting to pop. If you try to wait until they're all germinated to move them under lights some seeds will end up really leggy.

Hi bellamama. Incandescent bulbs could give off way too much heat and could be a danger by 'scorching' the immediate parts of the tray and not move enough heat to the edges.

I have 2 kinds of germinator heat: one I bought for seed germinator and one I built for bottom heat. I always wanted bottom heat for germinating lots of seeds as well as stem cuttings for rooting, but commercial heat mats cost a lot. Here is a link to the 2'x4' bottom heat tray I built for a few bucks. I've used it for several weeks now and I couldn't be happier with it. Good luck with your seed starting!
Kris

Kris-

That is so cool! What great pictures and instructions--and your "Basement Laboratory" (I like to say that with and evil-ish Germanic accent) looks strikingly like mine! I just got some seeds in a couple of days ago and I think I am going to try that with some old closet doors (the old 70's slider style) for the bottom and some plexiglass like you had on the top. Hmmmm now I wonder if any place still has rope lights...... maybe I could just use my regular Christmas lights instead.........whoo-haa-haa-haa... .......
Anyway you ROCK!

Marie

*nudging Igor* See. See! There are others out there like us. And they know how to pronounce la-BOR-a-tory. Woohaha!

Marie, yes, Home Depot has rope lighting all year round, back in the lighting/electrical section. As for the bottom warmer, the trick is the styrofoam sheets. The heat can only go UP so the shorter rope with lower wattage works well. Just today I experimented, uh, dismembered, uh you know, cut up some geranium stems to root; I powdered their little bottoms then stuck them there on the heat. *snarkle*

If you can post some pics would love to see your secret lair... ;-)
Kris

I also happened upon the idea of the rope lights at HD. I have a very similar setup using scrap plywood not foam and I just set the trays right on the lights. I went overboard with lights (2 strands for 3 tray setup and it got a little warm so I added a plug-in lamp dimmer for about $8 also found at HD or L and now I can dial in the intensity and adjust the heat as ambient temps rise/fall. Works very well.

Hope this helps. My setup with 2 rope lights, and a dimmer and some scrap plywood is about $25

Here is a link that might be useful: my post about same issue

Kris, that was really inventive! And I got a good giggle out of the name of your blog, because my name is, in fact, Melissa! Thank you for sharing your info with us.

I went ahead and bought the seedling heat mat because I don't have the time or creative resources these days to build something from scratch (*sadly shaking head*), and I found a decent deal on eBay. I also found the perfect spot in my laundry room for starting seeds, because it offers a light-hanging spot that's just the right size and involves no building, so I had to let the incandescent idea go too. It's OK, though, because the spot (under a work table, right by the outlets, out of the way of the laundry) is so perfect that it will make everything else so much easier!

Thanks for all ideas and discussion, everyone. I've ordered my mat, light setups, and seeds, and now I'm getting ready to start germinating in a week or so!

Bellamama, good deal. The 'best' method is one that not only works for you, but one that you will enjoy using. Hope you will post some pics when you get rolling. :-D
Kris

Hi all. Discovered that the link on the thread no longer works. Here's a new link to my my homemade heat tray. I'll be firing mine up within the month.

Kris