Does anybody make use of hotbeds?

[RyanSA]

It is a very old fashioned method to propagate, modern times offer much better and faster ways, BUT it offers a free source of heat. It takes a little time and effort to set it up, but I am getting 5°C more than surrounding soil, and my beds are mere weeks old. Does anybody make use of it? What are the negatives to it?

 

[Bonsai Nut]

I'm not even sure what you mean by "hot bed". I use artificial bottom heating for propagating seeds (electric heat pads) but I'm pretty sure that's not what you're talking about here.

 

[RyanSA]

This kind of hotbed..Close to what you have, just, decomposing manure instead of electric heat pads..

 

[Bonsai Nut]

Haven't used it... though I do buy composted manure every now and then and notice how it can sometimes be "hot" even when it is supposed to be fully composted.

I assume you would have to separate the germination media from the manure? For example, you place the manure, put down a screen, and then your germination soil? Looking at your setup, it made me think of two levels where you could have a drawer underneath for manure so you could replace the manure as it aged and broke down.

 

[RyanSA]

Haven't used it... though I do buy composted manure every now and then and notice how it can sometimes be "hot" even when it is supposed to be fully composted.

I assume you would have to separate the germination media from the manure? For example, you place the manure, put down a screen, and then your germination soil? Looking at your setup, it made me think of two levels where you could have a drawer underneath for manure so you could replace the manure as it aged and broke down.

Yes, it has a separate layer of soil atop, just composted soil.. But sadly only loose on top, no drawer.. Great idea though. I am growing from seed and cuttings, building my pre-bonsai, grafting material and root stock up..