Heating mats for cutting propagation?

[JoeR]

I see... I basically only have interest in hard wood cuttings. I do it as a method for producing more mature stock quicker than you can from seed... I prefer rooting larger branches.

I am also going for larger stock.

 

[Stickroot]

I see... I basically only have interest in hard wood cuttings. I do it as a method for producing more mature stock quicker than you can from seed... I prefer rooting larger branches.

Oh yes! BIGGER! FASTER!
The American way.
Here is a 2 1/2" diameter branch that caught my attention.On the back side off the branch I'm holding is a neat piece of dead wood coming out of a knot whole!

 

[0soyoung]

Here is a 2 1/2" diameter branch that caught my attention.View attachment 83291On the back side off the branch I'm holding is a neat piece of dead wood coming out of a knot whole!

What is the species?
How long was it to produce those roots?

 

[Stickroot]

What is the species?
How long was it to produce those roots?

Euro Hornbeam, two weeks of roots.

 

[Eric Group]

Euro Hornbeam, two weeks of roots.

What is your rooting medium? Peat? Never had a European Hornbeam... That is a Big hunk of tree though! Sweet!

 

[Stickroot]

What is your rooting medium? Peat? Never had a European Hornbeam... That is a Big hunk of tree though! Sweet!

Yes, I sift the peat through an 1/8" screen.

 

[JoeR]

I use a queen size electric mattress heating pad that has ten settings. It is on two 6' folding tables, side by side with a sheet of plastic on it. I have used as far as I know every type of prop pad known and I love the set up I have now.

How do you keep this protected from water outside? As in the cord and controlller part?


I think I may be buying a twin size pad.

 

[Stickroot]

How do you keep this protected from water outside? As in the cord and controlller part?


I think I may be buying a twin size pad.

I don't use it outside. I have it under lights in my basement, and I cover the cloth part to keep the dirt off. These thins are water proof. As I said they are protect from peeing the bed.

 

[JudyB]

How do you keep this protected from water outside? As in the cord and controlller part?


I think I may be buying a twin size pad.

There are other options for outside heat, mostly cables which you tie wrap in zig-zag pattern on the bottom of hardware cloth or stiff screening, then you can put that under the plants, or even under the mulch. They are waterproof.

 

[0soyoung]

How do you keep this protected from water outside? As in the cord and controlller part?

I put the controller in a plastic bag. I just close it with the ziploc, but one can also use a twist tie to close it around the cables going in and out. I sit/tie the controller to something that holds it so the cables run (and the bag's opening faces) downward from it - rain water won't get in.

I put the heating pad on some styrofoam sheet cut to be slightly larger than the pad. I dig a shallow slot into it to hold the thermometer sensor so that it won't slide around. Then sit the pad on top, and cover with a sheet of visqueen (some water bed heating pads have a metal backing - heat spreader).

 

[JoeR]

There are other options for outside heat, mostly cables which you tie wrap in zig-zag pattern on the bottom of hardware cloth or stiff screening, then you can put that under the plants, or even under the mulch. They are waterproof.

Thanks for the reply,

That may be a good idea, but the main goal here is a cheap solution to heat a good amount of cuttings- and I would think that after buying the wire stuff you mentioned and a thermostat, I am back at just buying a pre made one.


Whats the name of the wire stuff?

 

[JoeR]

I put the controller in a plastic bag. I just close it with the ziploc, but one can also use a twist tie to close it around the cables going in and out. I sit/tie the controller to something that holds it so the cables run (and the bag's opening faces) downward from it - rain water won't get in.

I put the heating pad on some styrofoam sheet cut to be slightly larger than the pad. I dig a shallow slot into it to hold the thermometer sensor so that it won't slide around. Then sit the pad on top, and cover with a sheet of visqueen (some water bed heating pads have a metal backing - heat spreader).

Do you use a twin/queen size matress pad too?


Anyway, thats what I was thinking but I was not sure I could get away with it.

 

[0soyoung]

Do you use a twin/queen size matress pad too?

If you've got the vinyl 'tub'/liner, you could use it instead of visqueen. Tyvek would also work. I'm only after a dirt & moisture barrier.

If you are talking about some sort of cushion/buffer between the heater and the pots, I think it undesirable.

Optimum bottom heat temperature is 70F-75F.

 

[JoeR]

If you've got the vinyl 'tub'/liner, you could use it instead of visqueen. Tyvek would also work. I'm only after a dirt & moisture barrier.

If you are talking about some sort of cushion/buffer between the heater and the pots, I think it undesirable.

Optimum bottom heat temperature is 70F-75F.

I was asking if you use a twin or queen mattress heating pad too

 

[0soyoung]

I was asking if you use a twin or queen mattress heating pad too

I have two from a retired king size waterbed. Since king = 2 x twin, I assume I've been using a twin heater. One is wide enough to put two rows of hexagonally packed (3 pots nestled as an equilateral triangle) 1 gal pots on.

 

[JoeR]

I have two from a retired king size waterbed. Since king = 2 x twin, I assume I've been using a twin heater. One is wide enough to put two rows of hexagonally packed (3 pots nestled as an equilateral triangle) 1 gal pots on.

Cool, well it looks like thats probably the option I am going to choose then