New Grower Mephisto GWK, 4AM, Bubbly Livers, AvT in Coco

The saga continues of trying to grow my first plants in f@cking cold weather!! When I watered them this morning the nutes were warm going in and the runoff was cold! I realized my tent floor is not as warm as I assumed it was and the fresh air intake is down low at pot level. Every time the exhaust fan runs it pulls subzero air into the tent right onto two pots and chills the floor.

So, I kicked everybody out of the tent and put two plants up on milk crates to get them above the fresh air intake and added 2” insulation under my other two pots on the other side of the tent, rearranged my fans, and secured my lights so they don’t twist on the ratchet hanger (I hate that). If it isn’t me trying to kill my plants, there’s always something else!
 
I took my laser thermometer in the cabinet last night and realized the exact same thing, all fabric pots were sitting around 56° at the bottom of the pots. Damn sub arctic temps.


Easy smoking! [emoji869]
 
I wonder if those heat pads that come with seed starter kits would help without using too much electricity? Something like this.......................

61TY5D6WvfL._SX466_.jpg
 
I wonder if those heat pads that come with seed starter kits would help without using too much electricity? Something like this.......................

61TY5D6WvfL._SX466_.jpg

They would for sure, just gotta be careful with their temperatures, I’ve heard they can create hot spots and what not. They’re best used if you get a temp controller with it and can be in charge of the temp.


Easy smoking! [emoji869]
 
I use one for my seedlings, no controller and no issues either, temps at the bottom of the pots are around 80-84° when I checked with a laser thermo. Dunno how a larger pot sitting right on the mat would do? My concern would be the heat mat cooking everything on the bottom of the pot with direct contact to the heat mat.


Easy smoking! [emoji869]
 
Yeah, might want to use a towel or something between mat and pot but I think it would ideal for warm roots in a cool environment. That's kinda the idea behind it for seeds.

I have one but couldn't find it when I popped seed and I planted directly in my pot anyway. But, I've used it for tomato seeds.
 
I wonder if those heat pads that come with seed starter kits would help without using too much electricity? Something like this.......................

61TY5D6WvfL._SX466_.jpg
Thanks for the advice @Time @Garage_Grower I might just do that. Tonight I’ve tried deflecting the cold air intake with a piece of foam insulation so it doesn’t hit the pots directly. At this point I can’t heat my garage but that may happen for next winter.

@Hanzo-hattori I’m maintaining temps with fairly minimal output from the oil heater. The problem I have is my exhaust fan is controlled by a digital thermostat and sensor. When it cycles on, the passive air intake is close to the floor and the subzero air is pulled in and chills my pots. I’ll look at the tent again tomorrow and see if I can arrange my plants and equipment better. If I can’t resolve it, I may have to get seedling mats under the pots. Running an HPS won’t necessarily help as the one I have generates so much heat that the exhaust fan runs all the time to maintain temps. I’m afraid I would just have a constant stream of cold air pulled into the pots.
 
Update: I’ve just checked my plants for their morning feed and they are still plenty moist and pots are heavy. They aren’t drinking. Roots are too cold I think, as every morning for weeks they have needed water. It’s time for heat mats and if that doesn’t work then I’m hooped.
 
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