What does it do?

There are 3 main reasons to get a heat mat. Germination for seeds. Speeding up root growth for cuttings. And to help our tropics-loving plants survive winter or spoil them all year round. Why not all 3? This heat pad ticks all the boxes...

Heat = growth! Well, it's not quite that basic. But the closer you can get seeds and cuttings to their ideal temp, the faster they germinate and grow those precious roots. Different plants have different ranges. Most like to be a toasty 20 to 30 degrees. Some won't germinate at all if temperatures are too low, some just slow way down. Once they've got those roots underway, around 10 degrees cooler (an average of 20 degrees or so), and you've found their happy place.

For a typical NZ winter indoors, getting the temp up about 10 degrees higher than the ambient temperature, is a good 'sweet spot' (and the range most heat mats aim for).

It's not just the babies that love the heat. Over winter, our tropics-loving plants can suffer. Use a heat mat to keep them at an ideal temperature to help them not just survive, but thrive through winter. Warmer air also holds more water, ideal for humidity lovers. If you find your plant humidifier doesn't seem to be meeting your plants needs in winter like it did in summer, heat is the likely culprit. Cold air holds less of that precious water vapor. 

Made in NZ, for NZ 

Made in NZ with NZ plug and NZ voltage for safety. Designed to create ideal conditions for indoor plants over winter based on the NZ climate. NZ warranty too.

This guy's crazy cheap to run at just 12 watts. Much kinder on the wallet than many higher-wattage models (and if you're like me, I didn't even know to compare that).

Very popular in winter with the house-plant obsessed so we can keep chopping and propping all year-round. Just pop your seedling tray or grow house on top (like the Small Grow House or Medium Grow House from Elho).


If using with a grow house, you can also get yourself a little thermometer to pop inside to monitor the temperature and adjust the vent on your grow house so it's toasty, but not too toasty!

Ideal size

This chap measures a smidge under 290mm x 290mm (29cm x 29cms - just over 11" x 11"). Extra thin too, at just 5mm. Plus a gorgeous shade of royal blue. I find this rigid style of plastic plant heat mat gives plants a more secure platform compared to some soft rolled mat-style pads. The wee feet underneath and ridged design lifts your mat off the surface slightly for improved air flow which helps avoid overheating. It also lifts it clear of accidental spills. Including his little feet, he comes up 10mm off the surface. 

Temperature 

The temperature is raised 10 to 20 degrees above room temperature (exact temperatures vary a lot based on the environment). I find mine averages about a 10 degree lift, sometimes more, but I do use mine in quite an open environment so there's not much keeping the heat focused. Think warm, not hot. If you have a grow house on top it'll retain more heat around your plants (since heat rises, so a dome or cover keeps more heat in).

How to use it (plus tips)

It's pretty much plug and go. Nothing complicated. You can pop a thin towel or similar between your heat mat and grow house to absorb water and condensation if you're finding things getting a bit wet. Never fully cover any heat mat (the heat has to be able to dissipate into the air).

Although plastic, so more water resistant than other types of heat pads, best toavoid water in direct contact with any heat pad. Wipe clean if you have a spill. Don't water plants while on the pad. Definitely don't submerge in water. Electricity and water do not mix.

My one doesn't sit perfectly even, so I use mine with a bit of thin padding underneath (I use a cut-off from an old thin yoga mat), to make up for any uneven surfaces and add a bit extra non-slip action. Non-slip drawer liners are even better (the same stuff you put under floor mats on wooden floors). Try Spotlight or Mitre 10 for those.

Being rigid plastic, it's super easy to wipe clean with a damp cloth. No chemicals needed. If you've spilled something and left it too long, or have water marks, a mix of water and white vinegar works wonders on a damp cloth.