lack of insulation in potential grow room

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Santaisaninja

Member
I've been planning on setting up a small grow room, but my biggest problem is that it isn't insulated, and the cost of keeping it heated with a small heater (or a large one) would probably outweigh the benefits of growing my own.

I spent about 20 minutes trying to figure out to ask the people who grow indoors or outdoors, as while the lighting I am using would strike me as its growing indoors, the fact that it has no insulation and will be grown in soil (or some variant of that)
Does anyone know of a DIY-esc insulation I could use for the room?

I've been looking through some extremely unconventional ideas such as making a solar heater, and having it circulate heated water through the soil for a few hours before night. The ground is concrete, so it would hold the heat pretty well.

Just to avoid anyone asking where I am growing, its a pool shed that is no longer used for the pool pump. Its been cleaned thoroughly, and still have several electrical sockets to be used.

EDIT:
Just found out that the shed is anywhere from 5-10 degrees warmer than outside. And thats without insulation. I guess the concrete really held in the heat. I'm hoping that if I can get insulation in soon (this weekend perhaps) that the heat won't go away, and I can sustain it with the lights.
If successful, I'll post pics. If it fails, well then I'll tell you what went wrong, or at least what I think went wrong.
 
BigBudBalls

BigBudBalls

Well-Known Member
2 smaller flowering rooms. Both running 12/12 but opposite. This way the heat from the lamp can keep everything toasty.
 
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Santaisaninja

Member
That could work.
I'm not sure what kinda lamps I would need that would give off that kinda heat though?


I'm still trying to convince my roommate that its not going to stink up the whole house if I grow in the closet.
If I can do that, I don't have to worry about the damn insulation issue.
There are several cats in my house, and their litter boxes stink. Yet they worry about a smell. Go figure.
 
BigBudBalls

BigBudBalls

Well-Known Member
Santaisaninja said:
That could work.
I'm not sure what kinda lamps I would need that would give off that kinda heat though?


I'm still trying to convince my roommate that its not going to stink up the whole house if I grow in the closet.
If I can do that, I don't have to worry about the damn insulation issue.
There are several cats in my house, and their litter boxes stink. Yet they worry about a smell. Go figure.
Click to expand...
Test and see. Run for a few days adn keep records of the temps.

As for the cat smell, no one ever got busted for a litter box.
 
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Santaisaninja

Member
He's not even worried about getting busted. He just doesn't want to have the smell in the house.
And I plan on using some form of filter, a carbon one would be my first choice.

I'll have to try it out and see what happens in the shed. The two small rooms makes sense, and I'll use lights that give off a good amount of heat and light.
 
Green Cross

Green Cross

Well-Known Member
There's a product called r-tech - comes in 4 x 8 sheets, and up to 2" thick (get the thick stuff R-value 4.17). It's easy to cut with a utility knife, and you could glue it to the inside, with construction adhesive. It's available at lowe's)

It's styrofoam sheathing, with metal film (reflective) on one side and clear poly on the other.
 
BigBudBalls

BigBudBalls

Well-Known Member
400/600W HPS should do it. You can get 2 full lamp set-ups or just switch to 2 different bulbs from the same ballast.
 
S

Santaisaninja

Member
Green Cross said:
There's a product called r-tech - comes in 4 x 8 sheets, and up to 2" thick (get the thick stuff R-value 4.17). It's easy to cut with a utility knife, and you could glue it to the inside, with construction adhesive. It's available at lowe's)

It's styrofoam sheathing, with metal film (reflective) on one side and clear poly on the other.
Click to expand...
If its at Lowe's it'll be at Home Depot. So I will definitely check that out. If I use that and the two lamps, I may have a decent set up going.

If the ground itself is cold, but not freezing the plants won't die right?
I've heard so many different stances on this.
I just want to know if a plant can handle anything above 32F, or if it has a certain temperature that it dies at, and if so, what is it?
 
BigBudBalls

BigBudBalls

Well-Known Member
Expect purple buds! (cold does that)
Lowes/HD don't carry the 400W fixture (do the bulbs though)
You really don't want the plants to get below 50F. (60F if you can help it) Slows down the growth.

Other option is a veg room @ 24/7 and the flower at 12/12. That can help keep things warm. Keep the veg ballast in the flower room.

Santaisaninja said:
If its at Lowe's it'll be at Home Depot. So I will definitely check that out. If I use that and the two lamps, I may have a decent set up going.

If the ground itself is cold, but not freezing the plants won't die right?
I've heard so many different stances on this.
I just want to know if a plant can handle anything above 32F, or if it has a certain temperature that it dies at, and if so, what is it?
Click to expand...
 
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Santaisaninja

Member
Well purple buds would look quite cool.
HPS is quite expensive, but in this case it may be the best (if not only)option. As it adds head, and tons of light.

Is there degradation of the plant, like THC or any of the flavors that would be present?
I'm not super worried about how good it tastes though, its my first run in this area and my very first time growing by myself. I just want to make sure they survive.
 
Green Cross

Green Cross

Well-Known Member
Santaisaninja said:
If its at Lowe's it'll be at Home Depot. So I will definitely check that out. If I use that and the two lamps, I may have a decent set up going.

If the ground itself is cold, but not freezing the plants won't die right?
I've heard so many different stances on this.
I just want to know if a plant can handle anything above 32F, or if it has a certain temperature that it dies at, and if so, what is it?
Click to expand...
It depends on the home depot, mine didn't have it, but it was worth the trip. I used this stuff to insulate a box for the back of a window unit A/C and it doesn't even get warm to the touch. :mrgreen:

They can take temps close to freezing, but the bud growth may be inhibited in temps that cold, so they would take forever to finish.

You can get a small space heater, but watch your electric bill lol
 
S

Santaisaninja

Member
I'd rather have the lights hooked up than the heater. I am also growing a few plants that require a lot of light (I've figured I can use the same light for both), and can handle the cold I'm expecting it'll get in there. I'm going to try to keep it above 40, and in a perfect world I should be able to get it to stay at a steady 50-55.
This all depends on how well the insulation works, and how much heat the bulbs give off.
Oh, and how long before I put the pots in that I let the lights heat up the concrete below.
 
oj1981

oj1981

Well-Known Member
Try to keep your plants off the concrete floor.
It would take some serious heating to bring a cold concrete up to a warm temp.
Put the pots on wooden pallets or something.
Also if you have a MH or HPS lamp just move it close to the plant till you get the desired temp.
your plant may go into shock from 55f and below and will probably die if exposed for long periods to temps under 40f.
You want to try and keep the roots warm as well for good development which would help if you want a nice sized plant.
You want to achieve temps of around 80f to 90f for good growth.
also for heating when the light are off, look at maybe one or 2 gas burning heaters with the gas cannisters.
this should help keep the room warm whilst the lights are off plus your plants will love the Co2 given off
from them :)
 
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