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blownz281
09-23-2012, 02:57 PM
I have a small storage closet I'm going to have to keep some nanner pups and other plants in. How many watts would I need to heat a small area. 67"L-55"W-84" H. I need something with a thermostat in it. If its a normal winter I shouldn't even need a heater,but who knows. Thanks

brothertom2020
09-23-2012, 11:02 PM
Howdy BlownZ281: Man I think I would place a thermometer in there and see just how cold it gets. That is a very small space, if it is empty, almost a light bulb would keep it above about 65F. which I think would be OK.

I heat with wood, and nighttime temp's here get down to 50-60 most of the times, untill I rekindle the fire in the morning. But this is the first time I too will be wintering over some nanners inside!

Stay Safe, Tom

blownz281
09-24-2012, 09:11 AM
YO, that's true. I do notice on I dunno 80-90* days its cooler in there of course. Not by much. But yes I can get a cheap thermo at Walmart and check it to get a idea. It has been 10 degrees unseasonally cooler these past two weeks here :( So 62* at night will give me a idea next time it goes that low. Thanks

LilRaverBoi
09-24-2012, 02:12 PM
Maybe try a heat lamp bulb (they come in red or white....I prefer the white) in the light socket if there is one in there. We used them for baby chicks and they put off quite a bit of heat.

sunfish
09-24-2012, 03:00 PM
1,500-Watt Portable Electric Fan Heater-HFQ15A at The Home Depot (http://www.homedepot.com/Appliances/h_d1/N-25ecodZ5yc1vZbv1w/R-202025247/h_d2/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&keyword=heater&storeId=10051#.UGC5qFF4qdE)

This will work

Dalmatiansoap
09-24-2012, 03:57 PM
Imagine all spider mites that come with it

brothertom2020
09-24-2012, 11:37 PM
Re-Reply to blownZ: Guess I'm braindead! Regarding use of a 1500 watt portable heater, in such a small space! Too me, two things come to mind:
1. Fire Hazard, even with a thermostat controlled heater, as mentioned
2. You'd make that small space... a sauna in less than 1/2 hour! Hmmm, banana pudding anyone? :-0

Stay Safe,Tom

Abnshrek
09-24-2012, 11:46 PM
Re-Reply to blownZ: Guess I'm braindead! Regarding use of a 1500 watt portable heater, in such a small space! Too me, two things come to mind:
1. Fire Hazard, even with a thermostat controlled heater, as mentioned
2. You'd make that small space... a sauna in less than 1/2 hour! Hmmm, banana pudding anyone? :-0
Stay Safe,Tom

I think if he's hosing down his plants might be an eletrical hazard too.
If he's got a humidifier in there will it short out the heater?
I think a ceramic one might be better w/ a digital thermostat, more reliable than a knob. :^)

blownz281
09-25-2012, 06:42 AM
Thanks for all the replies. Yes Iwas looking at a 1500watt like sunfish posted. That many watts is over kill I feel,but nothing lower I could find. I thought with it have a fuse breaker strip outlet pulled into it,then we should have no problems. BUT that's not always fool proof. I was just planning on use a cup to water them. Sunfish can you post the picture I sent you in this post if you still have it? Thanks.

I guess I will have to play this by ear then and just hope we have a normal winter and that area stays warm. What about a normal fan on low just blowing back and fourth? Would that help with cold,like speeding the molecules up in the air?

sunfish
09-25-2012, 07:17 AM
Maybe some good insulation and a light is all you need.

sunfish
09-25-2012, 08:20 AM
AH-400 NewAir Portable Space Heater With Adjustable Temperature Control - FREE GROUND SHIPPING! (http://www.air-n-water.com/product/ah-400.html)

sunfish
09-25-2012, 08:22 AM
Portable Heating Units - Electric Heaters, Space Heater, Ceramic Heat (http://www.air-n-water.com/heater-ceramic-electric.htm)

sandy0225
09-25-2012, 08:27 AM
is this closet in the house or outdoors or what? because if it's in the house, couldn't you just put a fan blowing from a heated area towards that area?

sunfish
09-25-2012, 08:32 AM
Re-Reply to blownZ: Guess I'm braindead!

Stay Safe,Tom

Guess so

blownz281
09-25-2012, 09:13 AM
I was thinking about the heat lamp thing?? Now how many watts are these bulbs for chicks. What about the color range for the plants? The closet/storage area has power to it inside,with a 65-75watt incadesent bulb on the ceiling.

Sandy - in order to get into this closet area you have to go into the back yard. So its built onto the house,but only door is outside. The bathroom is the wall in front of it and on the sides.

Abnshrek
09-25-2012, 09:56 AM
See your heat up top isn't what you have to worry about ( you still have to worry about it so you don't dry up leaves), its how cold its going to be at floor level is what could bite you now.. :^)

blownz281
09-25-2012, 11:39 AM
Yeah,maybe but with it being a small area maybe that won't be a issue? I could always lay a trap down on the floor. That would insulate the cement for the pots. Its be crazy cool here at night lately. 58* today :( I need to run to walfart and get a thermometer,so when its that cold see what it stays in there.

G.W.
09-25-2012, 12:38 PM
1.21 Gigawatts

Abnshrek
09-25-2012, 01:56 PM
I need to run to walfart and get a thermometer,so when its that cold see what it stays in there.

To funny.. Walfart.. lol :^)

LilRaverBoi
09-25-2012, 09:25 PM
I was thinking about the heat lamp thing?? Now how many watts are these bulbs for chicks. What about the color range for the plants?
The bulbs I just found at Home Depot are 250W. Color temp for the red and the white are both 2700K, so pretty far toward the yellow/red end of the spectrum (even though specs say 'soft white'). I believe higher kelvins are preferred for vegetative growth (4000K-7000K). Not entirely sure what is 'best' for bananas or any plant. Sunlight is ~5700K for reference. Maybe if you were concerned with this you could augment with other fluorescent lighting for LIGHT (since this would produce much heat) and the heat bulbs for HEAT. Either that or you could try the heat bulbs and see if the plants grow well or produce leggy growth.

250-Watt Incandescent R40 Red Heat Lamp Light Bulb-415836 at The Home Depot (http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-202768766/h_d2/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&keyword=heat+lamp+bulb&storeId=10051#specifications)

250-Watt BR40 Clear Heat Lamp Light Bulb*-416743 at The Home Depot (http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-202768698/h_d2/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&keyword=heat+lamp+bulb&storeId=10051#product_description)

blownz281
09-26-2012, 06:47 PM
6500k is what a lot of plants respond too. Gives me something to think about then. Gotta find the time and money to go buy a temp gauge,and kinda play it by ear when it starts to get into winter. Then go out and by something,as I don't want to order something then not be able to take it back or buy it at the store and have any issues.

Abnshrek
09-26-2012, 08:08 PM
So you going to put a T-5 light-set in there? They have 6500 bulb.. That should keep them warm too. :^)

blownz281
09-26-2012, 08:20 PM
Ahh I could.. I put another hood on my 40B reef and put the old 24watt by 4 T5HO hood over my fish only tank. They run sooo cool with the internal fan,no heat there. Just going to use a strip light with two bulbs from homecheapo - or blowes.

Hammocked Banana
09-27-2012, 12:02 AM
That's what light I'm using for my nanners this year!!

G.W.
09-27-2012, 12:09 AM
T5 HO is only HO with ihgh ambient temps, like 90 degrees
in a lower ambient temp T8 runs a very close second with reduced ballast/bulb cost

incandescent is a total waste for photosynthesis

our local electical store sells a 4x32WT8 for $50 with whatever lamps you want

You should be able to get a 400w metal halide ballast, bulb, and socket for under $100
high pressure sodium is MUCH more efficient and a 600w ballast is $100 bulbs are $11 (online)
180 lumens per watt :08:

that should keep em growin

blownz281
09-27-2012, 06:27 PM
Got a thermometer at homecheapo and its in the closet.:08:

blownz281
09-28-2012, 06:20 AM
Okay thermometer reads 77-78* this am. My banner on here says 65* outside. That's from the Airport where its cooler. We are warmer by 3-5 degrees at times. So give or take it seems like it stays warm in there. :08: I have it on the wall near the door too.

blownz281
09-29-2012, 01:38 PM
75* today and the closet is 80* I got a strip light with two 40watt gorw light bulbs. That will be plenty for keeping these guys alive during winter.

blownz281
11-09-2012, 04:03 PM
Just a update. My parents took most of my pups or smaller plants and placed them in there large greenhouse. So I have several in my closet though. Heating shouldn't be a issue as weather channel claimed last two nights it hit a low of 39* and it was still in the upper 60's with no heat source in the closet.

I got a free 30gal breeder fish tank and its full with water,I'm hoping it will help keep the closet warmer as well? Working on getting a used fish tank heater from some where to heat it. maybe if the water is heated it would make even more of a difference? Wonder if I just added a filter to keep the water moving if that would even work instead of investing in a heater?

Also,just to keep my pups alive not worried about growth would a spiral 13 watt grow light be good enough? Its in one of those metal shinny dome things to reflect light.

blownz281
11-10-2012, 08:17 AM
Bump any thoughts guys?

LilRaverBoi
11-10-2012, 02:01 PM
I would think the heater would help a lot....all that warm water would provide humidity and heat. A filter would probably put off a minor amount of heat. Heater + filter would be ideal cause you get more circulation of the water.

blownz281
11-10-2012, 02:05 PM
Now what about the lighting I asked about :)

sandy0225
11-11-2012, 02:28 PM
If its not too cold in there couldn't you just set them on a heat mat and don't use a heater at all, maybe? Plants can do really well in temps just above freezing with nice warm roots. That's why a lot of growers are going to heated benches.

blownz281
11-11-2012, 04:33 PM
I think the fish tank with a heater in it would work fine :). Just curious on thoughts of light intensity ,don't care about them growing just want them to stay alive.