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.

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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

The germination of pepper, tomato and eggplant seeds is faster if their seed trays have bottom heat.

From Washington Post

At this point, light isn’t critical, but bottom heat, like placing the pot on a ledge above a radiator or on top of the refrigerator, can encourage the bulb to break dormancy.

From Seattle Times

For propagation cuttings of the rhizome may be taken in August, and placed in pans of light soil, with a bottom heat of 60� to 70� Fahr.; hellebores can also be grown from seed, which must be sown as soon as ripe, since it quickly loses its vitality.

From Project Gutenberg

The seedlings when large enough to handle are placed either singly in very small pots or several in a pot or shallow pan, and put in a bottom heat, in a moist atmosphere with a temperature from 60� to 70�.

From Project Gutenberg