I only have the one heater, here are a couple photos. It's above the lights mounted to the ceiling. The fan is up in the corner to the left of it, so it blows the warmed air through the house. I have never had to replace any emitters as of yet and have had it for years. I suppose since it's only used in one season it takes a while to add up the hours. The fan at the center next to the white fan is the exhaust fan that pulls the cold air across the house when the temp gets above 40, there are automatic louvers in the opposite side, that open at 40 as well. It's worked very well and now that I have digital thermostats, things run a lot less than the original dial type.So where do you have the heaters in your greenhouse? I'm wondering if any plants are directly in the "line of fire" and how much heat these throw. Also, have you had to replace any of the emitters yet? Website says rated for 5000 hours,
I use a standard small space heater in my 10x10 shelter (plastic covered inside the barn). I set it up so the heat rises up in the middle without directly hitting any of the plants.
I keep the air temps around 28 and the heat mat temps at 36. That way the roots never freeze. I get great root growth all winter. The caveat is that you will need to water regularly and it's important to do humidification as well. If the heater runs it can dry the air out, so I keep 3 humidifiers in there, they sit on the heat mats so they don't freeze either. I keep them on timers, they all come on at the same time, 4 times in 24 hours, for 15 minutes each time.Really helpful. Thanks for posting. What temperature do you set on the thermometer for the heat mats?
Thanks! One other question. How often do you water during the winter?I keep the air temps around 28 and the heat mat temps at 36. That way the roots never freeze. I get great root growth all winter. The caveat is that you will need to water regularly and it's important to do humidification as well. If the heater runs it can dry the air out, so I keep 3 humidifiers in there, they sit on the heat mats so they don't freeze either. I keep them on timers, they all come on at the same time, 4 times in 24 hours, for 15 minutes each time.
Thank you for sharing! How do you water in this space? In place? At a sink?The caveat is that you will need to water regularly.
When they get dry... It is dependent on the tree, but on average I'd say every 12 days or so for trees with no leaves. Some azaleas keep more leaves during winter, they might need more often, as well as some of my other trees that keep leaves.Thanks! One other question. How often do you water during the winter?
I have a "spot sprayer" 9 gallon unit that is battery powered, and rechargeable. I use this to water in there and also in the summer. It's just like the one I linked, but if you look around you can get these a bit cheaper than this one is listing. Think I paid 150 for mine. I have a rain barrel in the greenhouse so I use the water it collects in this sprayer. I have a couple more rain barrels outside during summer to fill it in season.Thank you for sharing! How do you water in this space? In place? At a sink?
I use the probe pushed down into a pot. That way I'm regulating the temp of the soil, not the surface temp of the mat. I usually choose a mid side pot for this probe.@JudyB do you use the bayite thermometer with the mats? I read that there is a spot to stick the probe into in the mat. Just want to see if the bayite will work to control the temp for the mats. Thanks!
Yeah I did see the damage, it's sad, as I love Sekka, and can't seem to find one. I don't think they do so well in a lot of climates, so not a lot of them out there. Good luck to you, will be interesting to see what the mat folks tell you. I didn't realize you were doing this in an outside area. You may want to try heat cables instead of a mat. I've done those in an outside config. before I built the house. I zip tied mine in a serpentine pattern to a square of hardware cloth and buried it in mulch under the pots. then mulch around the pots as well. They have inline thermostats in them if I remember correctly. Maybe look into that idea.Nice, really nice setup @JudyB I used controllers on my reef tank for sequential firing of my lights
across the reef (as well as lunar phasing simulation) to simulate Sun travel, + fan on thermostat as well.
However I'm not going to get as elaborate, in fact, my lack of elaboration may be a downfall
for such use, but I have to pick your brain here a smidge...
Outdoors, no supplemental heat besides a mat for the roots, wouldn't it be a trial and error correction
trying to dial in the proper temp to overcome below zero temps? Maybe not, but perhaps 120ºF would not be enough
to overcome frigid outdoor temps enough to keep the root zone from freezing, would make me want to mulch
the pot on the mat. I understand the probe goes into the soil, then if the soil does freeze, the Phytotronic mats
suggest it will overheat, damage and void warranty. I guess a bucket turned over onto the plant would be
a better option than mulching.
I'm pricing the 21"x5' model a no brainer based on cost difference of the smaller 12"x 5' size.
Guess I should call their number tomorrow and see what they have to say since I'm not using it
in a controlled environment as you are. Sorry for bouncing between threads, I did hope you'd
be able to see the damage I was dealing with, with the Seka.
I would LOVE for there to be more info on this Hinoki out there and more folks using them.Yeah I did see the damage, it's sad, as I love Sekka, and can't seem to find one. I don't think they do so well in a lot of climates, so not a lot of them out there. Good luck to you...
You may want to try heat cables instead of a mat. They have inline thermostats in them if I remember correctly.
never thought of heat tape, don't know how they'd do buried, but worth a tryout. I used to put a single 100 watt bulb in a tarp setup when it got super cold before I had good protection, much like they use in chicken coops...I would LOVE for there to be more info on this Hinoki out there and more folks using them.
Bill V. should have some for sale this Spring.
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How about heat tape? I can get that at Lowes or HD any time.
Thanks for the idea, never even crossed my mind
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Supposed to be 22º tonight. Here in the rural area maybe upper teens.
I've never done this before.
My friend does this down in Florida when they have those freak cold spells. The tarp and a clamp light.never thought of heat tape, don't know how they'd do buried, but worth a tryout. I used to put a single 100 watt bulb in a tarp setup when it got super cold before I had good protection, much like they use in chicken coops...