How do you keep your stir plate starter warm?

[Wobbler]

Just wondering how everyone else keeps their stir plate starters warm at this time of year? My kitchen is below 16°C at the moment, turning the heating up seems a very expensive way to propagate yeast.

Rather than move the stir plate into the airing cupboard, which is the only place in the house that's warm enough at the minute, I used a spare vivarium heat mat. The starter only needs to be half sitting on it, and at 7w it shouldn't break the bank. Not 100% sure, but I think this is the smallest size available.

Is 22°C an ok temp for a starter?

[Aleman]

22C is fine you are making yeast not beer,

I actually don't bother temperature controlling my starter. I do make sure that the starter is at wort temp before pitching though

[Wobbler]

Thanks DaaB. <edit> and Aleman

I'd already assumed it was ok to go over 18 -20 °C as I wouldn't be drinking the spent starter beer. Although I've no idea how high is to high? Is there an optimum I should be aiming for?

[Aleman]

The optimum is to grow your stater at the temperature that the beer will be fermented at . . . . It does take longer though

[Wobbler]

In the pursuit of excellence then, I'll slip the heat mat out another inch and a half in a scientific sort of way.

[Aleman]

When you use continuous Aeration AND stirring together, it is a good idea to use a drop or two of FD20P antifoam in the starter, or when the yeast kicks off, for some reason it all decides to foam out of the top of the conical over the bookshelf that its sat on!!!

All in all I think I only lost a couple of Hundred ml, but having clean and resanitise is a PITA