Description
Gentle Root-Zone Warmth for Faster Germination and Rooting
The Root!T Hobby Heat Mat sits flat under a seed tray or propagator and lifts the temperature of the compost, plugs or cubes above it, so seeds germinate and cuttings root at the pace a warm spring would give them. It comes in three sizes – 11W (35 x 25cm), 30W (60 x 40cm) and 60W (120 x 40cm) – and the largest is also offered as a bundle with the matching Root!T Hobby Insulated Mat. The mat is IP54-rated against splashes, double insulated and runs straight from a 230V mains socket, with a moulded, sealed cable entry at one corner.
Key Benefits
- Warmth where the roots are – heats the root zone from below rather than the whole room, which is far cheaper to run than a space heater
- A real temperature lift – Root!T rate the 30W mat at 10–15°C above ambient, enough to hold a propagator at the 18–22°C seeds and cuttings like
- Sized to common trays – the 60 x 40cm mat suits a single large propagator; the 120 x 40cm mat takes two side by side
- IP54 splash protection – copes with the drips and spills of a propagation bench
- Low running cost – just 11W, 30W or 60W at full output
- Thermostat-ready – plugs straight into a heat mat thermostat for automatic on/off control
Why Is Germination Slow in a Cold Propagator?
Seed germination and root development both slow sharply when the growing medium sits in the low teens, which is normal on a windowsill, in a garage or in an unheated grow room for half the year. Cuttings sit without rooting, seedlings stretch and stall, and a cold, damp medium invites damping off. Warming the root zone from underneath, while the air above stays cooler and humid under a lid, gives faster, more even germination and stronger early roots without the cost of heating a whole space. Laying the heat mat on the insulated mat stops heat soaking down into a cold bench or worktop, so more of it goes up into the tray.
How to Use
- Lay it flat on a dry, level surface; with the bundle, put the insulated mat down first and the heat mat on top
- Stand a tray on it – a propagator or other non-draining tray, ideally with a humidity lid, centred on the mat; avoid leaving large areas of mat uncovered
- Plug into the mains, or into a heat mat thermostat for automatic control
- Aim for 18–22°C in the propagator: Root!T advise switching the mat on when the temperature falls below 18°C and off again at the top of that range, or letting a thermostat do it
- Cuttings do best at about 22°C in a humid propagator; seeds at 18–22°C in the dark until shoots appear
Technical Specifications
- Sizes: 11W – 350 x 250mm; 30W – 600 x 400mm; 60W – 1200 x 400mm
- Power: 11W, 30W or 60W
- Supply: 230V AC, 50Hz, UK mains plug
- Temperature lift: 10–15°C above ambient (Root!T figure for the 30W mat)
- Protection: IP54, double insulated
- Construction: flexible black heating mat with sealed, moulded cable entry
- Insulated mat (bundle option): Root!T Hobby Insulated Mat, Large 120 x 40cm, foil-faced with a bound edge
- Suitable for: seed trays, propagators and plug trays – seeds and cuttings
- Brand: Root!T (HydroGarden)
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a thermostat with it?
No, but it helps. The mat runs at full output whenever it is switched on, so on its own you switch it on below 18°C and off again around 22°C. A heat mat thermostat with its probe in the propagator does that for you and stops the tray overheating on mild days.
Which size fits my propagator?
Match the mat to the footprint of the tray. The 60 x 40cm mat suits a standard large propagator of about 58 x 40cm (the size Root!T pair it with in their own heated kit), the 120 x 40cm mat takes two of those side by side, and the 35 x 25cm mat suits a small seed tray or windowsill propagator.
What does the insulated mat do?
It goes underneath the heat mat and stops heat being lost into a cold bench or worktop, so more of the warmth goes up into the tray. It is most useful on stone, metal or tiled surfaces and in unheated spaces.
Can it get wet?
It is IP54-rated, so splashes and drips from watering will not harm it, but it is not designed to sit in standing water or be submerged. Stand a non-draining tray on it and water into the tray, not onto the mat.
Works Well With
