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Eugene,OR

How hot should you allow your greenhouse or hothouse to get with young plants in it? What is the optimal temperature?

3/28/2005 8:53:39 PM

[email protected]

If they're properly acclimated (slowly) & the humidity is correct (70%), then 80-85°F produces good growth.

3/28/2005 8:58:58 PM

Thornhill, Ontario, Canada

Unfortunately, my new wireless weather station doesn't include a hygrometer. So, is there a safe temperature to keep the plants when one is unsure of the humidity? Or, is there something simple (read: cheap) that one could do to ensure humidity without being able to measure it?

What about in a germination box? I am using an insulated cooler with a household heating pad. Anything I can do to ensure good conditions inside the cooler? Right now, at the highest setting, it's only 24.2 degrees celsius at about 8" from the bottom of the cooler. It's probably slightly warmer right on the bottom. But, I am not sure how well the soil (in 1/2 gallon plastic ice cream containers) will absorb and keep the warmth.

3/29/2005 12:35:30 AM

Montoursville, PA

Your half gallon containers/pots will assume the temperature of the box within twenty four hours. Normal emergence at 80 degrees has been three or four days for me.

My heating pad on low creates the 78 degrees that works just fine for me under my cooler which is a metal cased old Coleman 52 quart model. It may take a day or two longer to warm up because of the metal jacket.

The soil could be entered into the box a day before placing the seed into the soil. The planting medium should be dry damp. I soak three hours in water, H202 50/50 with a pinch of dehydrated kelp.

One day a great difference does not make. If you test slower simply start a day earlier.

3/29/2005 5:20:33 PM

Thornhill, Ontario, Canada

:-) docgipe, I appreciate your help. I bookmarked the diary photos of your setup long ago and have modelled mine on it. Ice cream containers and all! I raided my aunt's cupboard for extra "planters."

I also tried using an old coleman cooler. A plastic one, at least 20 years old. I thought that it's aged insulation would make is easier to heat up. But, I didn't get much better performance from it.

Of course, I have not been testing them with soil. I did try putting a bottle with hot water in the cooler. But, that put the temperature at about 100 degrees and cooled off quickly.

Right now my setup is reading 27.7 degrees celsius at the bottom of the cooler, with the heating pad on high. Maybe that's enough?

3/29/2005 5:40:37 PM