[Freedom56v2]

.....The soil mix was sterilized in cooking bags and trays were sterilized with a 10 percent bleach solution.

We’ve added heating pads and plastic trays from WalMart. Grow lights and fixtures are from Lowes.

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You mention a couple of things that interest me.

1. You sterilize the soil mix. If it is fresh mix, Why?

2 What type of heating pads are you using that you purchased from Walmart? I believe my squash seed starts have trouble germinating due to my soil mix being too cold, but the horticultural heating pads have gotten very expensive (I am guessing due to increased demand from the medicinal and legal pot movements). If you are using a regular heating pad, wouldn’t that be dangerous with water/moisture from the plant starts?

3. What type of grow lights did you use. I have seen some “broad spectrum” lights which are being marketed as better....

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Cooking the dirt removes one more potential harm to sprouts. Ditto washing the trays.

The heating pads we use are the common variety available at Wal Mart pharmacy.
A little care in placement removes any danger. Humid environment doesn't seem to cause problems.

Wife picked the grow lights based on Master Gardener class recommendations.

I should add, we use plug in timers (also from WM) to turn on and off power to the lights and pads.