Earthtainer Greenhouse????

dfollett · March 29, 2013

As far as warming the air inside the plastic wrap is concerned, I've played with enough different things over the past month that I am convinced nearly any heat source will get that job done. I'm sure cfl lights would work for that. What I don't know (and it is usually what you don't know that bites you) is what the 24-hour light would do for the growth of the plants. I am of the notion that they need a certain period of darkness to grow properly - but that is something the pros on this forum would have to address.

I have completely avoided any form of lights as a heat source for that reason. Quite frankly, that would be the easiest way to do it. My dad and I used light bulbs inside insulated enclosures to keep water hydrants from freezing on the farm 40 years ago. If using a light wouldn't disrupt the growth of the tomato, the solution is simple and the variability of available wattages is almost unlimited.

That leaves us with some questions for the real pros...... Would using lights as a heat source disrupt the proper growth of the tomatoes? What about infrared? Is there any light-based heat source that would work?

Something (I think) I have learned, is that the relationship between wattage and temperature rise appears to be fairly linear. For the size of 'Tainer that I have been playing with it is around .25 to .30 degree of temperature rise per watt. I am confident I can keep the plants from freezing. What I don't know, is will they grow? I am also concerned about overheating during the warm, sunny days. Even with the lid off, the inside gets quite a bit warmer than the ambient temperature. I think I'm going to need a fan I can turn on to blow across the top of the 'Tainers to help cool them down.

Like I've said, We'll see!

March 29, 2013	#19
dfollett Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Utah Posts: 693	As far as warming the air inside the plastic wrap is concerned, I've played with enough different things over the past month that I am convinced nearly any heat source will get that job done. I'm sure cfl lights would work for that. What I don't know (and it is usually what you don't know that bites you) is what the 24-hour light would do for the growth of the plants. I am of the notion that they need a certain period of darkness to grow properly - but that is something the pros on this forum would have to address. I have completely avoided any form of lights as a heat source for that reason. Quite frankly, that would be the easiest way to do it. My dad and I used light bulbs inside insulated enclosures to keep water hydrants from freezing on the farm 40 years ago. If using a light wouldn't disrupt the growth of the tomato, the solution is simple and the variability of available wattages is almost unlimited. That leaves us with some questions for the real pros...... Would using lights as a heat source disrupt the proper growth of the tomatoes? What about infrared? Is there any light-based heat source that would work? Something (I think) I have learned, is that the relationship between wattage and temperature rise appears to be fairly linear. For the size of 'Tainer that I have been playing with it is around .25 to .30 degree of temperature rise per watt. I am confident I can keep the plants from freezing. What I don't know, is will they grow? I am also concerned about overheating during the warm, sunny days. Even with the lid off, the inside gets quite a bit warmer than the ambient temperature. I think I'm going to need a fan I can turn on to blow across the top of the 'Tainers to help cool them down. Like I've said, We'll see!