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I'm starting an indoor garden, b/c I live where its constantly cold, and snow/freeze danger doesn't go away until late May. I have purchased a plant sprouting system, as well as a heat mat, some containers and a plant light.

I'm having an issue with heat though. Inside the thin plastic sprout container, the heat mat can get through and supply heat. However, the other containers are too tall for the heat to travel to supply heat to the plants. I plan to keep the plants inside the sprout container for a bit, but its cold in the room I'm doing it in. I have a old halogen lamp that get very hot, but its a fire hazard; I can't leave it on for more than an hour.

I don't want to invest (or hang) a large heat lamp array from my ceiling, nor put specific bulbs in my ceiling lights. I have looked on Amazon to find a small lamp (like a desk lamp) that can just sit next to the container and supply heat from above.

Should I get another (stronger) heat pad? Any other suggestions?

Thanks!

gardner_CO
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Seeds only need warm temperatures to sprout, you want low temperatures to grow or the plants get too tall. Some years ago I grew my own vegetables and flowers in northern IL, west of Chicago. At that time I used 48' fluorescent shop lights with a few added incandescent bulbs. They were in an unheated, poorly insulated 2 car garage. The lights provided some heat. In a home I think heat could be a problem. I did not measure, but the likely lowest garage temperature was about 40F and average of roughly 50 to 65F. My lights were just above the plants and an occasional leaf got burned by touching a bulb. I raised lights as the plants grew. It worked fairly well. I sprouted seed at about 85 F in the house. Halogen is a good color light but it would need to be on 8+ hours. As I recall, my lights were on 24 hours. I have not kept up with light technology but I have several LED fixtures for aquariums that do well. There are also compact fluorescents. You will find many options searching aquarium lights.

blacksmith37
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