Indoor How do I heat up my pot?

[Son of Hobbes]

Why would you want to do that? Is it that cold? Plant roots like an environment far colder than above ground. High heat at the root zone is also an invitation for disease...

Hey bro have you tried a test run with the leds in there yet? Might not get as cold as you think.

My temps out here get to -50 below 0 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter (with wind chill, without the temps still get sub zero.) I'll gladly come hang out in the sun with you chaps this winter :smokebuds: ha! In fact, we're gearing up for our first winter storm this weekend. Brrr! I also have a completely uninsulated basement (plaster walls, limestone in some spots, heaving walls, etc.) So I totally understand the need to run a heater to prevent freezer burn on the ladies :stylez rasta smoke:

Torch,

at this point I don't think any substantial insulation can be done.

I absolutely disagree with your assessment of your own abilities to insulate : I'm going to send you good karmic vibes :karma Cloud: and inspiration that YOU CAN DO IT!

When you say you don't have $$$, is that NO $, or a limited budget? And if so, what is your budget? What kind of access do you have to things like carpet; old blankets, fabric? Are you in or near any cities that have any active housing construction going on? Often times on new houses they'll have those big rolling dumpsters they toss waste material in; if you don't mind some dumpster diving you can actually get an EPIC amount of usable materials that some "don't give a crap" work foreman deemed not worth trying to save. Insulation, tiles, old carpet, etc. Speaking of carpet (it's ghetto but it works as an insulator and it's cheap/free,) I used to install flooring for a few years and every carpet store I've ever been to has a refuse bin they toss crappy carpet remnants and scraps (tear-outs and things like that.) You can also get carpet pad out of them (also a good insulator, usually is thick dense foam, skip it if it's rubber, that stuff is pure nasty VOC's and usually has an oily slick to it.) And of course; best to ask for permission; although there's a saying, "it's easier to ask for forgiveness than it is to ask for permission." Just don't go doing anything stupid, ya know?

Whether you vent in and out of the building makes zero difference in whether you should insulate a cold building or not. I work in small enclosed buildings that have poisonous gas that vents into them in the winter time; but I have to insulate the machinery inside. You have to still crack a window and hold open the door to ventilate, but you can't have that stuff freezing up inside. So these shacks are not much unlike your building with the tent, just minus the poisonous respiratory slaying fumes iggy Hug:

40' Electric Pipe HEAT TAPE Cable w/ Thermostat - New

Heat tape is really nice but you need something to coil it around to transfer the heat (copper or steel pipe.) You could get a metal vessel of some sort, fill it with water or a glycol of some sort and cap it, then wrap the tape around it. Instant metal hot water bottle. Shouldn't build up enough pressure inside to cause any risk nor will it get hot enough to boil, but would radiate heat out.

 

[skrewg314]

If all else fails, you could always try a small personal space heater to take the edge off the temps. That might have already been suggested, idk, I was too lazy to read all of this thread. Works kickn my ass lol

 

[GoAuto6]

I was thinking to rap it a couple raps around the pots?

 

[Bromeo]

Just thinking out loud but waterbed heaters are often a dime a dozen at thrift stores. They have a thermostat and are sealed.

 

[GoAuto6]

is this soil or hydro?

 

[Torched]

Soil. I was thinking a sand box as I have access to sand then running the wire through the sand. The sand would beinplace of wrapping it around a pipe. Water bed heater I'll check those out.

@vaporhiser you are right there are other options I should explore for insulation. I'm a mad craigslist scavenger and do have some things lying around I could work with at least for a start.

 

[Renaissance Redneck]

Torch, have you tried your local pet store?
They make ceramic heaters for reptiles that are pretty slick. A couple of those with reflectors may do the trick.