Advice and tips on heat mats in green house

Looking to propogate in greenhouse ( as opposed to indoors - poor light) in early Spring. I want to buy a heat mat. Any recommendations? tips on propogating? Also bit nervous about extension lead into greenhouse. I have outside plug sockets in garden but not in greenhouse - any advice?
Thanks, as always.

 

I only have one thing to contribute.
Get a mat or a propagator with a thermostat. The cheaper un-thermostated type heat all the time to about 10ºC above ambient, which is too cold on cold days and too warm on warm days. The thermostat (to state the obvious) keeps the temperature more stable.

 

Is the house with a grow light an option anyone employs?

 

I think heat mats are great. When I had a GH at my old house OH rigged up an extension lead to a socket in the garage. He attached the lead to fence posts above head height so it wouldn't be in the way or get damaged. The cable went through the window in the roof which was never fully shut for a bit of ventilation. I had a socket board inside the GH so I could plug in the heat mat and 3 electric propagaters. It kept the GH frost free and I was able to grow masses of plants from seed which saved a lot of money.

 

I use a propagator box I made years ago using a soil warming cable covered with sand.
I agree whatever you use you need a thermostat.

 

You do not say what scale of propogation you are looking to do and if its from cuttings and / or Seeds ? Just smaller plants like Pelagonium or Fuchsia cuttings etc ?

We tend to use a couple of the full size electric seed tray ones but with a thermostat as once they are well rooted / seeds germinated you need to reduce the heat or move them to somewhere cooler.
For that we have a heating cable (or mat) , again with an adjustable thermostat , on the greenhouse bench, but use a polythene or bubble wrap cover on that whole area to keep the heat in.

How far from the outdoor socket is the greenhouse ?

 

I thought it worth having armoured cable installed on a separate spur, with splash resistant sockets in the greenhouse. That way I can heat it, or power a thermostatic propagator etc.

 

DiggersJo. I use one as part of a unit attached to a plastic water tray with a capillary mat tray fitted above. Electric plug attached to a timer plug as I do not trust inbuilt thermostat controls as one broke and fried all my seedlings.

 

And in this day and age don't waste money on a mechanical timer for the socket end...get a WiFi enabled one so you can switch off power on warm days from your phone. And you can schedule it according to need and conditions and some of them will even monitor the energy consumption.

 

What is WiFi?