Heating Tent w/LED

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rmax

Well-Known Member
Using one side of a 5' x 10' tent in a 67°F basement. Where the plants will be I put some R5 foam down.

I'm going to use two UPDAYDAY LED fixtures that I think "consume 270W" each. I already bought/tested a small heater from Big W but the thermostat didn't work right. I followed the instructions but the temps swung between always on or off. The 270w x 2 will probably be enough ambient heat if i
can heat the floor/root zones.

Then I thought about a 20"x20" seedling mat that I only used once. I might be able to use it in a sandwiched situation.

What would be the best material to layer between the R5 foam and flower pots so that the seedling mat heat will be distributed evenly over a 5'x5' area?

I could put 2"x4"s along the edge of the 5'x5' > put the heating mat in the center of the 5'x5' square on the foam > put a piece of 1/2 plywood onto the 2"x4"s hovering over the mat (not touching). This would create an air space that would be heated & the air should be distributed evenly.

Thoughts/ideas? Could be a mold trap.
 

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LeastExpectedGrower

LeastExpectedGrower

Well-Known Member
rmax said:
No doubt. Will that be enough to keep the root zone warm? The plants are sitting on the foam (R5) which sits on a cement basement floor.
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You should be OK. If you're super concerned about the bottoms of your containers, look into waterproof seeding mats...but I really don't think you need to go that far.

Also, depending on the heater you have, maybe consider an inkbird controller for it rather than whatever wonky thermostat it has. It will probably do better, though note that if it has a digital on/off that they don't play nice with external controllers since they reset to off when the power goes off.


I'm soil in bags and those bags are raised off their saucers by an inch or so, so there's no contact with the cement in my basement at all.
 
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NewGrower2011

Well-Known Member
If I'm not mistaken, those heat mats have warning to not 'cover them'. I've been in similar situation and considered that as well. I bought 2 of the large 2x4 mats for a 4x4 space. Like others pointed out, those oil filled radiators are probably best & safest option imo. You could use a fan blowing towards the pots to help circulate the heat and direct it where you want it a bit.
 
Boatguy

Boatguy

Well-Known Member
rmax said:
No doubt. Will that be enough to keep the root zone warm? The plants are sitting on the foam (R5) which sits on a cement basement floor.
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Are you looking to keep your soil temps above the ambient room temp? 67 doesnt seem too bad to me. I use a piece of that foam under my pots in colder basement temps without issues.
 
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rmax

Well-Known Member
Thanks for the safety tip.

Previously I was using two 1,000w HPS in the tent so heating was never an issue. These LED fixtures are only 167watts. That's a lot less heat.

Right now it's about 67 but will probably go lower into Jan./Feb. I've got the plants in cups sitting on the mat so everything is good now. The atmosphere is similar to the side of an Icelandic volcano.
 
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Bookush34

Well-Known Member
I am in about the same boat.
I have a cool basement. I have a air cooled 400watt ledhood that I biult.
min the summer I have the exhaust for the hood going outside. In the winter I dump the hood air back in the room. Then have a 6” exhaust that runs on a tstat to regulate the tent temperature.

never had a issue with the plants sitting on the cement floor. But run pot risers And drain pans to help with run off
 
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