This is going to sound ridiculous but does the sensor for the heat mat go into the soil?

The seeds have already germinated but I just got the mat and I figured it's winter and I'd like to give the seedlings a little heat. 75-80°. They're in solo cups right now. Does the probe go into the soil? Any videos I watched they were using seedling trays with covers and they taped it to the bottom of top of the tray then covered it. I'm already in solo cups, I figured I'd pick one and stick it in. We'll the moisture in the soil be okay for the sensor. Also they're a week old already I don't know how much the heat will help at this point but I was pretty excited to use it.

I put the sensor between the heat mat and the bottom of the tray. I wouldn't expose the sensor to moist soil. If anything, use plastic cling wrap to protect it from moisture.

I started putting the probe in a rockwool cube that is lightly wet down. I put it in a Solo cup and it works well for me. I've also used little 2" starter pots of soil and I've never had a problem with the moist soil. It seems to give accurate results this way without over heating the bottom of the cups.

I'm interested to see what others are doing

I've been sticking my probes into the center most plant into the coco coir lol

I stick it in the bottom hole in the pot. As stated before, you get a better read of the medium temp. Ive never covered it up. If it sits in a humid dome, no diff then in moist medium. Never had an issue. When I cut clones I make a 'dummy plug' and insert the probe into it. That way I get an accurate temp of the plugs

I put mine in same soil but no plant
I still get random hot spots on the larger mats

That's very helpful guys thanks

Herb & Suds said:

I put mine in same soil but no plant
I still get random hot spots on the larger mats

Click to expand...

This is what I do as well. An additional pot with the probe about half way in. I also make sure that there's some moisture in the soil so it matches what's going on in my starting pots that do have seedlings in them.