bottom heat

American  

noun

Horticulture.

1. heat artificially applied to a container in which plants are grown in order to induce their germination, rooting, or growth.

---

Etymology

Origin of bottom heat

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

Pepper seeds may take two weeks to germinate without bottom heat to the seed tray.

From Washington Post • Mar. 2, 2021

Pines.—Maintain a good bottom heat, and encourage the growth of the advancing crop by kindly humidity and allowing them plenty of air and sufficient space from plant to plant.

From In-Door Gardening for Every Week in the Year Showing the Most Successful Treatment for all Plants Cultivated in the Greenhouse, Conservatory, Stove, Pit, Orchid, and Forcing-house by Keane, William

Only the most refractory kinds, which would not grow readily in the field, or such as were yet rare, were propagated from cuttings, by using the single eye and artificial bottom heat.

From American Pomology Apples by Warder, J. A.

Start old and young plants of Clerodendrons, Dipladenias, and Stephanotis, in a sweet bottom heat.

From In-Door Gardening for Every Week in the Year Showing the Most Successful Treatment for all Plants Cultivated in the Greenhouse, Conservatory, Stove, Pit, Orchid, and Forcing-house by Keane, William

These should be pulled off with a "heel," and inserted in sandy soil in a close frame, with brisk bottom heat.

From Trees and Shrubs for English Gardens by Cook, Ernest Thomas