Using “grow tent” to overwinter
I was given a couple of grow tents, one is about 8x6x8 and another is 3x3. I live in zone 8b -9a and I want to put some my tropical patio plants in these for the winter. The product pages on Amazon and the manufacturers’ websites tout these as “all year solutions” and that they keep plants warm. However, none of them stare the range of temperatures for which the tent will provide sufficient protection. E.g., if it’s in the 30s, will my tent keep the plant warm enough. Moreover, I’ve read websites that advocate using water bottles painted black to warm the tents. Is this a sufficient means for my climate ? Thx ! #winter #winteriscoming #overwinterzing #CentralTexasGang
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Best Answer
@TexanExpat the heater I used was listed above.
Here’s the link: Bio Green PAL 2.0/USDT Palma Greenhouse Heater incl. Digital Thermosta https://a.co/d/5Ej2qbN
It’s a gentle heat so you shouldn’t get leaf scorch. @SirLiquorice explained how the heating you want is important to you and your plants after I ordered it which I am extremely thankful they shared their knowledge with me.
It’s easy to install and with the thermostat and sensor, you’ll be stress free. I’d add a light via a long extension cord if you don’t want to run a power line below ground like @RJG did. Those cafe lights are excellent if you want dim lighting you can leave on if you need to go out there from dusk to Dawn. Just make sure your lights have a dusk to Dawn sensor somewhere in the line.
For the power line from your house to the greenhouse, get the best gauge you can and make sure it’s rated for the required voltage so you don’t have issues nor loss of power. The further the run, the heavier the gauge you need. I hope that makes sense.
Here’s the link: Bio Green PAL 2.0/USDT Palma Greenhouse Heater incl. Digital Thermosta https://a.co/d/5Ej2qbN
It’s a gentle heat so you shouldn’t get leaf scorch. @SirLiquorice explained how the heating you want is important to you and your plants after I ordered it which I am extremely thankful they shared their knowledge with me.
It’s easy to install and with the thermostat and sensor, you’ll be stress free. I’d add a light via a long extension cord if you don’t want to run a power line below ground like @RJG did. Those cafe lights are excellent if you want dim lighting you can leave on if you need to go out there from dusk to Dawn. Just make sure your lights have a dusk to Dawn sensor somewhere in the line.
For the power line from your house to the greenhouse, get the best gauge you can and make sure it’s rated for the required voltage so you don’t have issues nor loss of power. The further the run, the heavier the gauge you need. I hope that makes sense.
Hey John,
I have a #BackyardGreenhouse which I set up a couple years back. I got a cheap thermometer with memory to test your question exactly.
Mine is plastic windows and a metal frame and without sunlight it's about 5° warmer than outside. With sun it can be 40-60° warmer.
For colder nights I got a heater and that's all I needed.
I have a #BackyardGreenhouse which I set up a couple years back. I got a cheap thermometer with memory to test your question exactly.
Mine is plastic windows and a metal frame and without sunlight it's about 5° warmer than outside. With sun it can be 40-60° warmer.
For colder nights I got a heater and that's all I needed.
@TexanExpat, I turned to AC inFinity for smaller growing conditions. @SirLiquorice - the guru of cacti - and I chatted about greenhouse heating the other day. I’ve also improved heating in my indoor greenhouse cabinet this past week. So I’ll share what I know and have learned via chats and experience:
Your tent is going to keep your plants together and act as an insulated/isolated space for its own climate. The grow tents themselves -depending on which you choose - will always be tied to its working climate control options. A grow tent is only as good as it’s climate control system. So, in my search for the best options and versatility, I would go with AC Infinity. They have inline blowers and ventilation products that work. The controllers are ideal for not just winter but summe and their online blowers are great. They have sensors that are tied to their climate controllers and I feel like you would control the climate to make it what you need it to be as long as they remain indoors. Or your garage is fully insulated. Will any heating system struggle? Maybe but it’s ok as long as you don’t leave the tent open. If you plan to leave them outside, you can add a backup unit that is separate, one that isn’t just glowing red and blowing hot all day. It needs to be on a thermostat so that it doesn’t heat up your plants and burn them.
Indoor tents are not the same as outdoor tents. They are two different things. Indoor ones have more options and possibilities while outdoor ones are “keep them away from freeze burn and heat them with a separate heater”.
An 8x8 should have a true greenhouse heater with a thermostat.
A 3x3 is indoors and can provide a wider range of complete climate control.
Keeping up with the outdoor temperature and heating it to what you want it to be is entirely up to the heater you choose. Per SirLiquorice, no super high heat on a regular basis. It should blow continuously warm air to prevent leaf scorch. And yes, as long as it is enclosed and not left open, your heater will keep up as long as it is a good one and not undersized.
Via my experience with indoor smaller conversions, I’d stick with AC inFinity for year round needs on more delicate plants.
I use this in my garage for 300 sq ft. Bio Green PAL 2.0/USDT Palma Greenhouse Heater incl. Digital Thermosta https://a.co/d/c5PzrkW
In my greenhouse cabinet, it’s a series of parts from here (also found on Amazon)
https://acinfinity.com/
If it’s sold out on line, check Amazon. Thy send most products for storage and sales there too.
Your tent is going to keep your plants together and act as an insulated/isolated space for its own climate. The grow tents themselves -depending on which you choose - will always be tied to its working climate control options. A grow tent is only as good as it’s climate control system. So, in my search for the best options and versatility, I would go with AC Infinity. They have inline blowers and ventilation products that work. The controllers are ideal for not just winter but summe and their online blowers are great. They have sensors that are tied to their climate controllers and I feel like you would control the climate to make it what you need it to be as long as they remain indoors. Or your garage is fully insulated. Will any heating system struggle? Maybe but it’s ok as long as you don’t leave the tent open. If you plan to leave them outside, you can add a backup unit that is separate, one that isn’t just glowing red and blowing hot all day. It needs to be on a thermostat so that it doesn’t heat up your plants and burn them.
Indoor tents are not the same as outdoor tents. They are two different things. Indoor ones have more options and possibilities while outdoor ones are “keep them away from freeze burn and heat them with a separate heater”.
An 8x8 should have a true greenhouse heater with a thermostat.
A 3x3 is indoors and can provide a wider range of complete climate control.
Keeping up with the outdoor temperature and heating it to what you want it to be is entirely up to the heater you choose. Per SirLiquorice, no super high heat on a regular basis. It should blow continuously warm air to prevent leaf scorch. And yes, as long as it is enclosed and not left open, your heater will keep up as long as it is a good one and not undersized.
Via my experience with indoor smaller conversions, I’d stick with AC inFinity for year round needs on more delicate plants.
I use this in my garage for 300 sq ft. Bio Green PAL 2.0/USDT Palma Greenhouse Heater incl. Digital Thermosta https://a.co/d/c5PzrkW
In my greenhouse cabinet, it’s a series of parts from here (also found on Amazon)
https://acinfinity.com/
If it’s sold out on line, check Amazon. Thy send most products for storage and sales there too.
@RJG @FitSedum thx guys. I have this tent, link below. Shelter logic. It was a gift. I’m in the Edwards Plateau and there are so many trees in the back yard it doesn’t get as much heat as I would like. I had read about getting water bottles and painting them black but not sure how effective that would be with my set up. I’m a bit concerned about the draft from a heater killing the plants. How do you mitigate that?
@TexanExpat mine is out on the grass. So I dug the line underground and up inside the greenhouse. Sorry not much help.
@TexanExpat You can put it on a timer with a thermostat. It’ll keep running until it reaches that temperature, then turn off. The thermostat will make it cycle on and off for you so that it is automated and you won’t have to worry. All you have to do is make sure you close the doors and any upper ventilation so that the heat doesn’t escape.
@FitSedum can you recommend a couple of specific units that would be suitable for my growtent ? I looked at ac infinity website I don’t see any obvious heating options
@TexanExpat if you put a small one indoors and want to automate the cooling or heating, you can use the AC Infinity Controller 76. It’s easy to use via the app. It gives you two outlets to control fans of heat mats but you can’t use them individually. They are one complete circuits so if one turns on. The other does as well. I just got 2 of these I had been waiting for. I use it to automate the fans in my indoor greenhouse cabinets. You aren’t tied to using their fans unlike the other controllers. If you want to add a humidifier, you can order this controller to program it to turn on and off for x minutes every hour or until your ideal humidity is reached. This controller comes with a temperature/humidity sensor. You aren’t tied to their humidifier but just make sure the one you buy has a mechanical on and off switch (one you have to flip to on and off manually like a toggle) so you don’t have to switch it on or off all of the time. This is the best way to automate your humidifier as long as it’s not a smart one.
They were sold out on their site but you can find it on Amazon or eBay.
They were sold out on their site but you can find it on Amazon or eBay.
@TexanExpat You can use a larger stepping stone or pave stone to keep it away from moisture and not ignite.