The Best Heat Mat
Pest Strategies
An easy way to maintain the perfect temperature for your seedlings, a heat mat makes indoor gardening and plant propagation stress-free and enjoyable. To find the best heat mat for your needs, Pest Strategies researched several products on Amazon. Check out our top picks.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00Y27FJ1C
VIVOSUN Heat Mat
What We Like: A good heat mat is easy to clean and should provide a consistent temperature for its seedlings while using minimal electricity. This mat checks all of these boxes and more, serving as an ideal companion to accommodate standard 1020 growing trays. It uses resilient PVC materials that allow the user to wipe the mat clean between grow cycles, and thick insulation between the surface and the heating elements means this mat will work efficiently and effectively no matter where you put it.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08BWZKTM9
BN-LINK Heat Mat
What We Like: Great for sprouting temperature-sensitive seedlings and propagating tricky plants, this heat mat and temperature controller allows you to view and change the heat mat’s temperature with one touch of a button. The digital readout supports Fahrenheit and Celcius, so temperature readouts can be easily understood anywhere around the world. The temperature controller includes mounting holes, making it easy to hang the thermostat next to the heat mat for an organized growing area.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01ISSZZLO
Super Sprouter Heat Mat
What We Like: Sprouting seedlings and propagating various plants should be accessible and enjoyable for everyone. Eliminating the need to buy separate pieces of equipment, novice growers will appreciate this turnkey seedling solution. After deciding on what you’ll grow and picking up a growing medium, this kit will provide you with a start-to-finish setup — just make sure to water your seedlings along the way. The included booklet features expert advice to help you get the most out of your experience.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HCYQ7QS
Ohuhu Heat Mats
What We Like: Made for the avid seedling grower who wants to add more heat mats to their operation, these heat mats are conveniently sold in a two-pack to simultaneously heat seedlings. By adding a temperature controller, you can use these two mats to support seeds with different temperature requirements. The mats are IP67 water-resistant, easy to clean, and include carrying bags for damage-free transport. The five-layer heating structure makes these mats soft to the touch and flexible, but able to put out stable, reliable heat.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074MPQ3NF
VIVOHOME Heat Mat
What We Like: If you have all of the growing essentials to propagate or sprout seedlings, but you’re missing a heat mat, this straightforward option will complete your setup. Able to warm the base of seedlings 10 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit over ambient temperature, this seedling heat mat is designed not to exceed this temperature range to prevent itself from overheating. This mat also functions as a bed warmer or a way to keep mature plants from dying in the cold winter months.
Buying Guide
Heat mats for seedlings and plant propagation all achieve the same purpose, but they aren’t created equally. Here’s a quick guide so you know what to look for before deciding on the best heat mat for whatever you’re growing.
- Size and dimensions: Seedling heat mats are rectangular or square-shaped, and their size varies. You’ll want a heat mat that matches the size of your standard plastic growing tray; the most common heat mat is 10 inches by 20 inches. Larger heat mats can accommodate multiple growing trays at once.
- Waterproofing: Any heat mat you select should have a waterproof rating — spills are inevitable when watering your seedlings or plants.
- IPX4 rating: Mats with an IPX4 rating are water-resistant and will withstand minor splashes, spills, and sprays of water. However, these mats cannot be submerged underwater.
- IP67 rating: Mats with an IP67 rating are fully waterproof. After testing, these mats proved to continue functioning after being submerged underwater for 30 minutes.
- Temperature: Seedling mats are designed to maintain a stable temperature between 75 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Certain heat mats can achieve temperatures upward of 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Some seedlings are more sensitive to temperature changes than others, and if you’re growing plants that require precise temperature stability, you’ll want a heat mat with a good temperature controller. Some mats allow you to select an exact temperature, while others use default heat levels such as low, medium, and high.
- Flexibility: Heat mats are lightweight and easy to transport, but flexible mats allow you to safely roll them up and place them into a carrying bag. A heat mat can also double as a blanket heater when gentle heat is desired.
FAQs
-
When should I remove my seedlings from the heat mat?
Once your seedlings sprout and are visible above the surface of your growing medium, remove them from the heat mat. Not all seedlings will sprout at once across the growing tray, but once you’ve noticed sprouting seedlings, others are likely to follow after you’ve removed the tray.
-
For beginners, is it better to buy an all-in-one starter kit or just a heat mat?
If you’ve never sprouted seedlings or propagated plants before, it’s a good idea to purchase a kit that includes all of the basics you’ll need to get started. Though it doesn’t take a lot of equipment to grow seedlings, a growing kit takes the guesswork out of buying the items separately, and you’ll know that everything is compatible and ready to use. If you’d rather buy a basic heat mat and get everything else separately, that’s also fine.
-
What precautions should I take when using a heat mat?
Heat mats don’t produce extreme heat, and their contained heating elements make them relatively safe to use. However, keep your mat plugged into an outlet away from any water sources, and make sure to monitor your seedlings and the mat itself to make sure nothing looks or smells strange. If anything starts to smoke or smell burnt, unplug the mat.
Pest Strategies provides reviews of select products that are top-selling on Amazon and/or popular in consumer searches. Our team evaluates the products based on industry research, consumer reviews, pricing data, and other objective criteria. Unless otherwise noted, these product reviews are intended to help inform buying decisions for non-professionals. Because pest control products can be dangerous to your family if mishandled, we always recommend consulting with an exterminator, even if just to ask for advice on how to apply pest control products yourself.