How to Build an Indoor Hot Bed for Plants

Starting seeds in the cold days of winter and early spring is a balm to the impatient gardener. While the snow is still on the ground and the earth is too cold for planting, seeds are sprouting in a homemade hot bed. With a simple heating pad, seed starting trays and a grow light, your vegetables get a head start on spring. While your neighbors are still nursing their seedlings along, your vigorously growing transplants are ready to bloom, providing fruits and vegetables for your kitchen.

Heating pad
Plastic wrap
Seed starting tray or flower pot
Vermiculite
Perlite
Peat moss
Spray bottle
Outdoor thermometer, small
Grow light, fluorescent
Lamp timer

Instructions

- 1
  Wrap a heating pad in plastic. Set the temperature control on the lowest setting.
- 2
  Place the seed starting tray or flower pot on top of the heating pad. Fill with sterile potting soil such as a mixture of vermiculite, perlite and peat moss.
- 3
  Plant the seeds according to the package directions. Mist with water. Place a small outdoor thermometer on the surface of the soil. Cover the seed tray with plastic wrap.
- 4
  Install a grow light 4 inches above the seed flat. Hang a small light fixture above the seed flat and add a full-spectrum, or daylight, fluorescent light bulb. Plug into a lamp timer so the light remains on for 12 to 14 hours daily.
- 5
  Remove the plastic wrap from the seed tray when the seedlings sprout. Move the grow light up as the seedlings grow, keeping it 2 inches above the tallest leaves.

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