Quote:
Originally Posted by harveyc
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Chong, it is unclear to me why you believe the soil is colder than the ambient temperature (even before aeration), though I can understand why the aeration can provide some cooling effect.
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The soil will be colder because the water, that you pour into it, is usually cooler than ambient. And as the water evaporates from the soil, it cools the soil further. Plus, ambient in your area is definitely colder than the plant's original environment.
Quote:
Originally Posted by harveyc
I do have a propagation mat and could stick a thermometer into the "patient" and keep it at 85F but then I'll have to move it into my shop for that and put up my grow light. I don't think my wife would go for putting the propagation mat in the bay window...it's getting pretty weird already! 
Harvey |
You can use a t'stat controlled heat tape around the pot, with the thermostat in the soil. Then place the pot of the plant in a slightly larger pot, and seal the top opening with some fiberglass insulation. Or, instead of a heat tape, you can use a 25 or 40 watt appliance light bulb under the pot, inside a larger pot that can accommodate both, and plug it into a heat mat thermostat that's available from most hardware or garden stores. Just make sure that you keep the bulb from getting wet.
Or, you can get one of these:
ThermoPlanter: Heated Planter Extends Growing Season for Tropical Water Plants
Logee's Greenhouse-Thermo Planter TM