Too Cold

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bumbleberry

Member
I'm growing in a 2×2.5 tent in my garage. Right now lights on it is 62f and 48RH. Lights off is low 50s and most likely even lower. I really dont want to have a tiny 400watt heater on all the time in winter when my LED is only 210W. Will a seedling matt cranked on high be enough? Foam board insulation built around my tent? If anyone can help I will be a happier person. Three GG4 babes need your help!
 
Moflow

Moflow

Well-Known Member
Yes, get plenty of insulation around and on top of the tent. It should be an easy job.
Make sure and insulate the floor well too - plants don't like cold roots.
I use a 100 watt heatmat in a 4 x 4 tent. Sometimes it's on a timer.
I've also got veg plants in an uninsulated attic on a heatmat that grow ok for me
I use a 12v 75mm pc fan on a fan speed controller for extraction and a 4" fan and filter recirculates the warm air at the top of tent to the bottom to help keep the temps up. Also a fan above the leds blowing the heat down to the plants.
I can get 22-24°C ~ 74F lights on and 16°C ~ 62F lights off. Growing in cold temps is not the norm but it can be done ;)

You wouldn't think this is a grow tent......
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Lol lol
 
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bumbleberry

Member
I love it! I will get a fan to blow the warm air down and start by insulating the tent with anything available. My 20watt heatmat doesn't feel warm enough, do you have yours with a temp setting controller?
 
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bumbleberry

Member
Thank you Dopesmoka. That is the least power consumptive heater I have seen yet. I still don't want to compromise and use a heater that consumers more than my light. I will however do what it takes in the end so thanks again.
 
Wizzlebiz

Wizzlebiz

Well-Known Member
bumbleberry said:
Thank you Dopesmoka. That is the least power consumptive heater I have seen yet. I still don't want to compromise and use a heater that consumers more than my light. I will however do what it takes in the end so thanks again.
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Ace hardware $30 small oil heater.
IMG_20201213_005705.jpg
Thats in a 2x2x4. Its works extremely well.

Keep in mind inside a tent it heats pretty fast. Even if your getting into the low 50s it will kick on only until it reaches the desired temp then it will kick off.

So yea it might pull more watts but your 240w light being on for 12 or 18 hrs depending on phase will actually be using more energy.

Maybe that will make it feel better for you lol.
 
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bumbleberry

Member
Wizzlebizz,
That is a good point about my light being on for many hours per day. Does your oil heater have a built in thermostat controller or did you plug it into a separate unit? Your plants look healthy! I found it on ace, that is a nice compact design thank you and I do like the idea of an even spread of heat thank you.
Is keeping ambient temp no lower than 50 good enough? it is my first grow so I have no frame of reference.
 
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Wizzlebiz

Wizzlebiz

Well-Known Member
bumbleberry said:
Wizzlebizz,
That is a good point about my light being on for many hours per day. Does your oil heater have a built in thermostat controller or did you plug it into a separate unit? Your plants look healthy!
Is keeping ambient temp no lower than 50 good enough? it is my first grow so I have no frame of reference.
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Both your day and night time temps are an issue tbh.

You said you have leds. If they are white leds your lights on temps should be between 80-86% with night time temps no lower than 65 or so.

The heater does have a built in thermostat but I dont trust it. Lol

I will be running mine on a external thermostat that controls the power of the heater. So once it hits 84 it shuts off. Hits 78 clicks on. They have them programmable for different times of the day as well. So at lights off set to 70 on 75 off.

Its literally on the way.

Right now I have it on a timer as I dont need nearly as much heat during the day as I do at night.

Also keep in mind it has been in the mid to low 30s at night here and I'm also in the garage.

The heater has had zero issues holding it down.
 
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bumbleberry

Member
Good to know and I have been hearing more about higher ambient temperatures needed when running LED for optimal growth. I have been taking baby steps when it comes to buying equipment but I also need to learn when buying bigger is saving me money in the long run. I'm leaning towards buying foam board insulation and cutting it to size for my tent but am unsure if air exchange will cancel out the heat I want preserved. Maybe instead of buying an expensive tent I should have built my own wooden box. I am grateful for all of the responses and suggestions it's reassuring because I want this to work so much.
 
Wizzlebiz

Wizzlebiz

Well-Known Member
bumbleberry said:
Good to know and I have been hearing more about higher ambient temperatures needed when running LED for optimal growth. I have been taking baby steps when it comes to buying equipment but I also need to learn when buying bigger is saving me money in the long run. I'm leaning towards buying foam board insulation and cutting it to size for my tent but am unsure if air exchange will cancel out the heat I want preserved. Maybe instead of buying an expensive tent I should have built my own wooden box.
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I personally didn't bother with insulation for my tent. The heater works great even with the exaust fan sucking heat out. I run passive intake so its not a tremendous flow of cold air rushing in.

But insulation will save you more in the long run on energy costs.
 
Wizzlebiz

Wizzlebiz

Well-Known Member
bumbleberry said:
Good to know and I have been hearing more about higher ambient temperatures needed when running LED for optimal growth. I have been taking baby steps when it comes to buying equipment but I also need to learn when buying bigger is saving me money in the long run. I'm leaning towards buying foam board insulation and cutting it to size for my tent but am unsure if air exchange will cancel out the heat I want preserved. Maybe instead of buying an expensive tent I should have built my own wooden box. I am grateful for all of the responses and suggestions it's reassuring because I want this to work so much.
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Keep in mind the inkbird digital thermostat is about $15-$20. So for roughly $50 you can facilitate your 1st grow with proper temps and then set up a more elaborate gig on your next grow.

Thats my advise. Doing to much on your 1st run generally turns out to be a lot of frustration and money unnecessarily spent.
 
Dopesmoka

Dopesmoka

Well-Known Member
Wizzlebiz said:
Thats a forced air heater. Thats quite dangerous in a small space like a tent. May wanna rethink that.
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I really don’t know but it seems to be working fine for the dude who referred me and temps at 80-86 ??? That’s gonna leave you with buds with no smell I know that for a fact
 
Wizzlebiz

Wizzlebiz

Well-Known Member
Dopesmoka said:
I really don’t know but it seems to be working fine for the dude who referred me and temps at 80-86 ??? That’s gonna leave you with buds with no smell I know that for a fact
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Not with leds.

The temps need to be in the mid 80s for them to transpire. White LEDs dont emit IR/UV. For a HPS light that does emit IR the temps of mid 70s is correct for transpiration. LEDs are different.

Also keep in mind that is veg temps. Not flowering temps.

The issue with the heater is debris falling. It has a fan which forces the hot air out. Which means its sucking air from the backside. If a dry leaf for example gets into the back side it will catch fire in the coils.

Its just more dangerous is all.
 
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Wizzlebiz

Wizzlebiz

Well-Known Member
Dopesmoka said:
Yup whole pound down the drain the drain I wish somebody would of told me that before hand
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Oh I get it. I'm a outdoor grower in Northern California.

People think I'm crazy for pulling my plants into my garage if it goes over 90 degrees outside. I dont want tasteless weed. No matter how good the effects are. Il take a smaller yield due to less than optimal sun time if it will save the taste.
 
Dopesmoka

Dopesmoka

Well-Known Member
Wizzlebiz said:
Oh I get it. I'm a outdoor grower in Northern California.

People think I'm crazy for pulling my plants into my garage if it goes over 90 degrees outside. I dont want tasteless weed. No matter how good the effects are. Il take a smaller yield due to less than optimal sun time if it will save the taste.
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I thought about you guys and how do y’all do it when it’s almost 100 everyday with no shade, I thought it was more nutrients but I’m guessing now everybody that grows dope has some form of way to keep their plants from getting baked rather it’s physically relocating it or by any other means to get job done
 
Wizzlebiz

Wizzlebiz

Well-Known Member
Dopesmoka said:
I thought about you guys and how do y’all do it when it’s almost 100 everyday with no shade, I thought it was more nutrients but I’m guessing now everybody that grows dope has some form of way to keep their plants from getting baked rather it’s physically relocating it or by any other means to get job done
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To a certain extent outside of moving them there is nothing we can do.

We had a full month when added up of over 100 degree days. 2 weeks of that was over 110. One week was 115 for the whole fucking week.

My buddies planted in the ground so the roots were at least kept cooler. He put sun shades over all of his plants.

Still turned a pound into hash due to lack of taste.

Its not easy growing outdoors at all out here if you want it done right.
 
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