Keeping warm during winter?

[Mr.budinski]

Using 8 26watt cfls to do a sog micro (DR.Bud style). Will the heat from the bulbs be enough to keep temps up during the winter with the cab in the garage? Temps outside get below freezing here.

 

[I2KanGrow]

I think you're gonna have a problem doing that, I have a very cool basement, the temps there went into the upper 50's lower 60's sometimes - with a 260W (26W X 10 CFLs) rubbermaid. You'll have a real issue during the "night cycle", if you don't kill them, they certainly will take FOREVER to finish!

 

[Mr.budinski]

Kinda what i thought just wanted to see what others were doing to keep temps up in the winter. I have a fan heater with thermosat control on it that should keep small area temp up.

 

[facelift]

Using 8 26watt cfls to do a sog micro (DR.Bud style). Will the heat from the bulbs be enough to keep temps up during the winter with the cab in the garage? Temps outside get below freezing here.

When you say below freezing, you mean for a couple weeks at a time, right. I would not winter grow in the around here, and we get a few cold days

 

[Dr.NO]

It won't be much of a problem until you get into the 50's. Have your lights come on in the cold nights.

 

[Hella THC]

You're going to need some sort of heater. I don't see the lights being anywhere near capable enough to heat up the box in below freezing weather.

 

[grow1620]

I would create some sort of small enclosed area for the box...like a box in a box to insulate it from the rest of the cold garage, a small area is much easier to warm up and is all that''s necessary... if you exhaust into a small enclosed area like that it would probly be ok during lights on, then maybe during lights off you could run a small propane heater which would also produce CO2 (i think they use CO2 during the days though)..otherwise have a very small heater on a timer during lights out.

As I understand it, a large difference between day and night temps will promote alot of stretch and can stress the plant. When you work it all out try to end up staying close to a 10 degree difference between night and day.

 

[whodair]

the seedling heat mats come in a large size too. i ve slid them under for some cold spells...

indoor basement I T'd into a heat duct, and now have some furnace heat drafting downstairs, during winter

 

[zenoonez]

Depends on your setup. If the cab is insulated in any way and you run your lights during the night you shouldn't have a problem. If your cab has a lot of outside air coming in then you are sol, those little girls are going to be chilly.

 

[Hella THC]

Guys, he's talking about an un controlled area where ambient temps are below freezing. You honestly think a simple heat mat is going to solve a temp issue arising from 32 F and below temps? I don't, but I will admit I don't know much. I do know, however, that I live in the midwest, and if I were to grow in my garage in the middle of winter, my bitches would be rock solid within a few hours from the cold. You're working with water and a living organism which WILL freeze.

You're going to AT LEAST need a space or propane heater. A box inside of a box is also a good idea to keep your grow area enclosed from those temps.

 

[grouchy]

You could try out some autoflowers and leave the lights on 24/7. If it is still too cold just add more lights or less air exchanges.

 

[grouchy]

Another option would be to use an NGB style box. You could adjust the amount of lights in the mother chamber to get your desired temp and use the exhuast from the mother chamber to warm the flower chamber air intake. This way during 12/12 it receives warm air during lights out.

 

[Fuzz420]

First things first you will need a heater of some sort. Also is it possible for you to run higher wattage bulbs. I know my 40w bulbs are about twice as warm as my 26watters. I would run the lights at night and monitor the temps if it doesnt get above 70* use the heater accordingly. During dark hours try to maintain atleast 65*,adjusting the heater accordingly. Goodluck

 

[igrowone]

i'm getting ready for the winter myself with much the same situation
i plan to enclose my grow chamber in an insulated box - insulation will make a huge difference in electric requirements for heat

 

[VladTheInhaler]

I keep my box on the balcony, this is what I do:
there is a heat mat in there working 24-7 when it gets cold and two ceramic heat bulbs (for reptile vivariums) hooked to a themostat. I also cover the box with blankets and I limit the airflow a bit.

 

[Mr.budinski]

Have a few heaters similiar to this that i think one will work inside cab. I use them to keep garage warmer for my dog when it is to cold for him outside. Use them in house also furnace runs alot less and with thermostat on fan in turns on and off at set temp. I live in midwest long cold winters. Cab is made out of a steel locker cabinet about 3 feet wide 2 deep and 6to7 high has adjustible shelf have set up with different levels for veg,mother,flower and clone.