Might get kinda cold 1st time greenhouse temp test
 

So I'm getting mixed results from different weather stations and it has been getting cold (40˚ish at night) and my nanas in my greenhouse are showing no stress so far! They are obviously slowing down and unrolling slower.
Either 10/25 or 10/26 it might get as low as 29˚.....But am gonna be ready. I got this the same time I decided to grow vegetables year around. . . or at least try. . . tomatoes and lettuce doing great.

It usually stays around 50-60 this time of year in N.C. I'm glad I don't live in the mountains, they are already seeing snow!
But I have heaters for the pond/pool thingy and might fill up a barrel.
The Christmas lights are not beening kept on all night yet...
Any comment/suggestions are welcome. . . I'm not very interested in hooking up a 1500watt heater. I have no idea how to keep the roots warmer besides investing in heat mats and I'm up for other simple ideas? Maybe I'll put some dryed leaves under the pots? . . . I don't want to attract bad insects.

Re: Might get kinda cold 1st time greenhouse temp test
 

I'd put a Digital Temp sensor out there you can monitor from the House.. I'd put it a foot from the ground so you know your lowest temps in there.. :^)

Re: Might get kinda cold 1st time greenhouse temp test
 

What are you using for foundation & what is the GH secured too?
Looks great !

Re: Might get kinda cold 1st time greenhouse temp test
 

4x4 treated posts painted white but you can see I used red bricks on two sides. This Palram greenhouse is very sturdy and I simply screwed it down to the posts. . . Post were my idea to add a little extra headroom but there was already plenty.
The really great thing about this greenhouse is that I have all polycarbonate panels double-sided taped up- no air leaks and I didn't need to drill a single hole anywhere.

Re: Might get kinda cold 1st time greenhouse temp test
 

Re: Might get kinda cold 1st time greenhouse temp test
 

I'm in the foothills of the NC. built my own greenhouse last year. some nights temperature went as low as 34 degrees, not too often though. all my nanners survived. they looked pretty sad by the end the winter, but they are alive. good luck with your plants!

Re: Might get kinda cold 1st time greenhouse temp test
 

This company sells very reasonably priced heating cables and controllers:
Grower's Nursery Supply, Inc.

Re: Might get kinda cold 1st time greenhouse temp test
 

I used some Coleman catalytic heaters outdoors last winter and they worked great. I have no idea whether there is enough oxygen exchange to keep it going for long periods in a greenhouse. It would help if you are goofy like me to get up at 3 or 4 am to light them or whatever time its getting near freezing. They can run up to 14 hours on one can of propane.
Good luck

Re: Might get kinda cold 1st time greenhouse temp test
 

Hi Justin,

I looked at those but there were a lot of negative adds about the lack of stability. One contributer gave it high ratings but only after he sealed every panel with silicone and added numerous crossbracings. Is this from HD? HF had something similiar but at half the cost. I planning on building a larger one but this could fit the need untill then.

Re: Might get kinda cold 1st time greenhouse temp test
 

Yup, my other post: Palram snap and grow from HD
Ha and as for stability there is plenty of support! I have no doubt it would hold 2" of snow but I would never let it get that high and unlikely. I price beat it with walmart at the time.

Re: Might get kinda cold 1st time greenhouse temp test
 

i keeping the roots warm...set up some tables with a 3 or 4 inch depth and run some PVC tube back and forth..like a radiator. get a small boiler and run hot water through the pipes. cover them up with soil and sit your pots on them. Keeps the roots warm and happy all winter

Re: Might get kinda cold 1st time greenhouse temp test
 

Did you buy the automatic vent openers?

Re: Might get kinda cold 1st time greenhouse temp test
 

No I hear many become faulty an are a $waste. I leave my vents shut the past week and it has Not got too hot or too cold. I have left 1 vent cracked ever since I put the greenhouse together and temp has stayed fine for plants. . . but little too warm for me.
I have thermometers stating 70˚ in the soil 60˚ inside greenhouse and 51˚ outside as of 8pm 10/24. . . Sure it will get colder but still there may be no need for radiant floor heat. But ima DIY'er so you'll see what happens.

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:2738:

Hi-Tech Hobbiest Green House Operation there, pretty cool set-up!

Re: Might get kinda cold 1st time greenhouse temp test
 

My lil pineapples

At Night the Lowest I have seen the temp was 27 outside, 39 in the soil and 43 in the green house. I may have stayed at those temps for about 3-6 hours.

Re: Might get kinda cold 1st time greenhouse temp test
 

OKAY THANK YOU ALL! I have received a lot of great ideas and +FB. I plan to create my own "heat mat". or maybe just a unpredictable hand grenade?
I have got 60 ft. Roof De-Icing Cable off ebay for $35. (Member messaged idea, not mine ;) )
Left over project stuff: 20"x10' sheet metal. 24"x15'x2"thick insulation, 4x8 treated plywood board, plastic, and a scrap parts warehouse lol.
NC will get colder soon so I'm gonna try to get to this project before the weekend.

ANY Ideas on how to put this together? . . . not clueless...
Furniture market just left town but we still gettin' oveR Time! woot woot $

Re: Might get kinda cold 1st time greenhouse temp test
 

Okay so after I got off work today I plug up the De- Icing wire and waited a couple hours and prepped the area I needed for my Heat Mat. After waiting long enough...I found the wire heated very unevenly but not too hot anywhere.

After Spraying With Insect+weed killer I simply laid a board right on top.

Let us see how soon until I cause a fire? ? ?

I will be constantly taking temperatures everywhere for the next week ;)


just check temp between the bags and board and it's right around 90°F 10/31 9:20PM

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It's not cold yet I'm just testing it AND WATCHIN' MY CAMERAS FOR A FIRE! LOL yeah I know this voids the manufacturers warranty.

Re: Might get kinda cold 1st time greenhouse temp test
 

Apparently my post didn't happen. Have you considered adding some containers filled with water to capture sun hour heat and then release at night? Darker and bigger ones are better but empty milk jugs are easily located and cost nothing but some space.

ETA: Hot manure on the ground works very well but if that's part of your living space it can be a little stinky.

Re: Might get kinda cold 1st time greenhouse temp test
 

^This post will show Nov. 8 Night -into- Nov. 9 Morning WITH MY HEAT MAT PLUGGED IN


Yup Yup dat says 73 degrees toward the bottom of the bags


Outer-side of of the bags are saying 50-60ish



Did my best to find the average temps.(stuck soil many times in different spots). I have Tried to Space-out my wire to create more room for my plants BUT it seemed to really loose most all heat made....I won't upload pictures of the actual de-icing wire, as my first pictures shows my arrangement very well.
Mission successful so-far! Leafage is lookin' good no rot ;) lol
Any and all Feed-back Appreciated!!! :)