Germination Issues?

Hello folks

I seem to have few issues with germination from my unheated propagators however my heated one isn't yielding much at all.

I appreciate there are a number of factors however my question is around watering, what's the score, do I make sure the soil is always moist?

What kind of heated propagator do you have? Is it thermostatically controlled? What's the ambient temperature of the room it's in? How high above ambient is it supposed to raise the temperature? (It could be anything between 8 and 12 degrees, depending on the model.)

I ask these questions not as an expert, but as someone who has had patchy success in the past and wants to up her game this year!

Edit: I know you asked about watering, but knowing your setup might help with answers

I dampen the soil before sowing and putting in the propagator, then no more until germination has happened and shoots appear.

What kind of heated propagator do you have? Is it thermostatically controlled? What's the ambient temperature of the room it's in? How high above ambient is it supposed to raise the temperature? (It could be anything between 8 and 12 degrees, depending on the model.)

I ask these questions not as an expert, but as someone who has had patchy success in the past and wants to up her game this year!

Edit: I know you asked about watering, but knowing your setup might help with answers

Hiya Eyren

I'm not sure about the ambient temperature of the room but the product description states - This unit is not thermostatically controlled and is designed to increase the ambient compost temperature by around 8°C.

I originally had it sitting on the windowsill with a radiator underneath, the soil was looking very dry so I re-sowed and moved it to a location away from the window to see if that would help.

That's about all I've got really.

I find sitting it on a radiator or near such a lot of heat can dry things out too quick. I would give the seed tray a good soak. Put seed on top and then add some on top.
Lid on the prop and try it away from the rad. I have no issues adding a little warm water to keep the seed tray moist.
I have some hot spots in my house - one windowsill has a rad under it and I get most failures there due to the trays drying out too fast.

I dampen the soil before sowing and putting in the propagator, then no more until germination has happened and shoots appear.

Same here.
One person's "moist" is another one's "sopping" or "barely damp"!

How much condensation do you get inside the lid?

I find sitting it on a radiator or near such a lot of heat can dry things out too quick. I would give the seed tray a good soak. Put seed on top and then add some on top.
Lid on the prop and try it away from the rad. I have no issues adding a little warm water to keep the seed tray moist.
I have some hot spots in my house - one windowsill has a rad under it and I get most failures there due to the trays drying out too fast.

Hi Scarlet

Here is the propagator, are you saying I could/should put water in the tray?

https://www.waterirrigation.co.uk/catalo...ory/16738/

Usually you keep the capillary matting moist and the seed trays absorb it that way. I haven't used a propagator like yours.

What are you trying to germinate? Unless it's peppers/chillies/tomatoes/cucumbers etc. or anything that likes it hot, most things germinate OK at room temperature. I think a windowsill propagator like that would cook plants on a sunny day. I germinate lots of stuff on windowsills but generally uncovered unless it's seeds sown on the surface.

As far as watering goes, after I've filled the modules/pots with compost, I water very well before sowing then don't water again unless the surface is getting very dry.

Usually you keep the capillary matting moist and the seed trays absorb it that way. I haven't used a propagator like yours.

Agreed, I have the similar unheated one below..

https://www.dobies.co.uk/garden-equipmen...=GAresults