Seedling Dilema

Hey guys just looking for a bit of advice here, I have been having varied results with seed germination it seems to be my main problem. I have recently built a seeding box which comprises of 50ml kingspan insulation I have the top open as in tests it just got too hot. I have a 125 watt CFL mounted on timber that sits nicely into the box. With just the CFL I can get temperatures from 18 to 22 Degrees C depending on the position I use for the light. I have a heat mat in the box also but when I used it the temperature went bananas in there 50 degrees or something. I did these tests before I put in my seeds. I am using the plagron cutting tray and sowing the seed direct as I just have had problems with the paper towel method in the past. The main problem I was wondering about is that even though the box is at say 20 degrees C the plugs in the tray feel cold to the touch. The plugs are in a propagator which is sitiuated in the insulated box, and I have a stat in there which is also reading the temperature at 20 degrees. Is this ok? it is the first time to try the box as the last batch of seeds was a disaster 2 came up out of 15. My house is VERY cold hence the germination box.

Any help would be appreciated
Cheers guys

seeds don't need light to sprout. if i was you i would turn off the light and use the heat mat till they sprout 7 to 10 days then turn on the light and use 24/0 till they get older to handle the cold temp. better.

I was going to use the heat mat but it just gets mad hot ill try it again though and see what the temp is like. I was just using the light because it seems to operate at the right temperature for seeds from what I have read

is it a plane heat mat or is it made for plants

I Never use a heat mat to germinate seeds it cooks them..I built a shelf over my t5s,works like a charm for seedlings and clones.I just put seeds in well rinsed coco no dome,sprouted 100s of beans this way..

Flash63 said:

I Never use a heat mat to germinate seeds it cooks them..I built a shelf over my t5s,works like a charm for seedlings and clones.I just put seeds in well rinsed coco no dome,sprouted 100s of beans this way..

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Hey there what temperature would the space they are placed in be? also do the root cubes feel cold to the touch? I think that what you described with the heat mat could be what fucked up my last batch

Temps range hi 60s- mid 70s it is in my garage.(my veg).i grow in coco so seeds go right into coco,no paper towel,no cup of water,just into the coco

I dont understand "problems" with the paper towel method. It couldn't be any more simple. cracking seeds is the easiest part of the entire start to finish process.
A cereal bowl, a damp paper towel, a piece of Saran wrap and thats it. No, you cant bake them or freeze them out for crimy sakes.