In another newsgroup, there's a discussion about heating a greenhouse. Electric heaters were mentioned. Also kerosene, but comments were made about fumes and stickiness. Someone recommended a plain propane barbecue. It was stated that the CO2 would be good for the plants. I was wondering about the CO produced, and what the levels would be.
What is the best/worst ways to do supplemental heat in a greenhouse?
It depends on how cold the nights are. I use an electric heater at night to keep the temperature warm enough to prevent stunting the plants. As soon as the sun comes up I have to watch the thermometer to make sure that it doesn't get too hot.
The only time I run the heater is when I have seedlings in the greenhouse. I do not try to grow stuff during the winter since the quality of produce is not worth the cost.
The best is the least inexpensive method, whatever that is for your setup and area. I have seen setups area in more temperate areas use a closed loop system w/ a hose coiled under compost. Others; water barrels painted black for heat sinks, These tricks don't work here in the cool PNW maritime climate. The C02 could boost plant health, but it would be a waste of time it your plant are dormant as most are in winter. If you are a commerical grower then heating is a cost of business and you usually get a bit of heat from all those 1000w bulbs.
I am building warming benches (bottom heat ) w/ heat cables( ~1$ a foot+ thermostat), but electricity is relatively inexpensive here compared to fuel. I can put plants on the warm sand and if necessary, enclose them with bubble wrap, all inside the house. Old christmas lights wrapped around plants can help, the old 100W bulb is good for a few feet in an open GH, I would use a blower if you use a propane BBQ grill, definate test by temps at various feet away from heat source.
The root growth for new plants I believe needs Oxygen more than CO2. If one puts the propane barbecue heater inside the greenhouse this may be bad for the plants because the heat would use up the Oxygen. If I went with a propane heater it would be a camper style heater in which the heater is outside and blows the heat inside the greenhouse OR has an exhaust vent to the outside. Electric mats under the plants are probably the best way to go. Electric is also nice for the over head watering systems.
Electric can be a problem if the greenhouse is not near a power source. So therefore ... propane.
That being the case then water would be the heat sink of choice because nothing holds heat better than water. Ideally, the container would be a thermal conductor, but fish tanks, or other transparent materials would make it easier for the water to trap the heat.
OK, bad humor. Passive solar applications and man's useage has long been an interest of mine. There are too many varibles for it to be a reliable source of heat, perhaps a good supplement, but the other side of the coin is that heat sinks work in the summer much better, usually to the deterimate of the plants.
Sheesh, I'm gonna have to start carrying my roll of taped up dimes again, when I wander into the garden. I'd say that the group had spring fever, but I know it isn't spring.
Sure, let the ammonia have a dang phase change. Make it plasma if you like. Don't be timid now. Where are you going with this? Is there a planet circling a star in Andromeda, where if one knows where to look, there is this substance under a rock, that makes water #3? (In specific heat that is, not like ice #9.)
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