Propagator - please help

[Catherine]

I have a propagator which only needs plugging in and there is no temperature gauge so I dont know what temperature it runs at. The problem is that I have no instructions and I have no idea what to do with it. There is a felt sheet in the bottom. Do I wet it? Or fill it with compost or just put the trays in. Last year everything I put in there seemed to get leggy. This year I would like to use it properly. Can anyone advise.

[richard p]

hi, ive got a couple of cheap plastic propagaters, they were designed to take one standard seed tray. but i normally use 15 single portion yogurt pots, 18 will fit at a push. there is a clear plastic cover. like yours they plug in to a socket and there are no controls or thermometer.
after 24 hours running the base feels warm to the touch.
i sow into damp compost , pop the wee pots in the propagater, put the lid on with the vents closed, and leave them to cook. i only add more water if the compost starts to look dry, but find its not usually required. the important thing is to remove the emerged seedlings to the conservatory windowsil as soon as they have emerged. if they are left in dim light in a warm propagater they will become leggy growing up searching for light.
after removal from the propagater the seedlings in their yogurt pots are transfered to trays trays on the windowsil . i keep a couple of green appletise bottles of water on the windowsil, which are pored into the trays to water the seedlings from the bottom with warmish water.
when the seedlings grow to big for the yogurt pots they are potted on into 3 inch pots and transferrred to the polytunnel, where they are stood in trays so they can be kept moist.

[PLUMPUDDING]

The propagators without a thermostat usually raise the temperature by about 12 degrees above the surrounding temperature, but don't turn off, so it is best to switch them off if they are on a sunny windowsill in the day time or the seedlings will get too hot and just have them on when the sun moves off them, at night and on cloudy or cooler days.

The seeds usually germinate quickly, but I find it best to pot them on fairly soon and not leave them in the propagator for long.

[Lurganspade]

At this time of year,I use the "hotpress" for germinating seedlings.(seed trays inside poly. bags)

I use the propagator (no therm) to root cuttings,like fuchsias,chryths etc.
I cover the base with about 1/4 inch of sand which is kept damp, and place small plastic pots directly on the sand!
I get 18 to fit in each time. Have just removed 18 rooted chryths plants,and now have put 18 fuchsias in!
I have it on a west facing window,but have to remove it once the sun comes round (about 1 oc)as it then gets too hot for the cutting and they would be killed with excess heat. ( and I have lost some in years gone by!)

One other thing, I have cut a piece of 1 inch thick polystyrene foam and place that under the propagator, this helps keep the heat in the prop. and not in whatever surface it is standing on.

Cheers

[vivienz]

I have a cold greenhouse (just about kept frost free with a small paraffin heater). In there, I have on of those mini, zip up greenhouses on the bottom shelf of which I have an electric propagator. Since most seeds don't need much light to germinate (if any), I germinate stuff in the propagator (vents closed) and as soon as the seedlings are up move them out of the propagator onto one of the mini greenhouse shelves where it is still nice & warm, but much brighter. I find this stops them getting too leggy.
As soon as the seedlings are large enough, I prick them out into modules if necessary, and gradually move them up the shelving till they then move out into the main greenhouse & eventually outdoors. It sounds convoluted, but its really a production line where the amount of heat goes down and light goes up. Also saves having to try & heat the entire greenhouse.
Hope this helps,
Vivien