So I have some seeds coming (Golden Barrel, Blue Torch and San Pedro) and was wondering if a heating mat was something that I should get.

However I am kinda tight on money right now and would prefer to get a cheaper one - this usually often means no temperature control. Usually these have a safety measure that keeps the temp at a maximum of about 18°F above the room temperature (or so I've read).

The temperature of where I will be keeping the seeds ranges between about 74 at night, to 85°F in hotter days. That means the mat could reach 100+ degrees... And I'm afraid it might actually be too hot for the seeds.

Is there anyway to controll the temperature somehow on these cheaper mats? Or should I just invest on one with temperature controll? Or might the mat not even be necessary in the temperatures the seeds will be kept in?

Advice would be greatly appreciated!

Skip the heating unit. The temperatures you have described should be just fine.

Baja_Costero said:The temperatures you have described should be just fine.

Yeah I thought they might. I've just read that seeds have a higher germination rate if they get heat directly from the soil than from the room. But I guess that wouldn't do them much good if they end up cooked.

For your temperature ranges I wouldn't worry about a heat mat. During the summer months I don't use heat mats, but if it was the winter months I would say yes.

Unless it's a seed that expressly needs constant high temps like when I tried my seed hand at Tacca chantrieri which needed constant heat for months regardless, I would not ever worry about it in the summer.

Good lucky with the seeds!!