How do you keep the root zone warm in the winter?

[ViparSpectra]

It is necessary to keep temperatures in the root zone in the ideal range to provide chemical reactions. These reactions are the mineral uptake from the nutrients we give plants for use in photosynthesis.

In the winter how do you keep the root zone warm?

 

[Peat_Phreak]

By keeping the room temp above 65F. Water with 80F. Tent temp is about 80F with lights on. Keep the pot off the cold floor.

 

[BigBlonde]

I keep the temperature inside the tent at about 80F using a small oil heater and an Inkbird controller when the lights are off. The lights provide most of the heat when they are on. The fabric pots are sitting on trivets with saucers for air flow at the bottom of the pot. The room temperature is set to about 70F, but that probably doesn't matter for my setup. The water is at room temperature.

 

[Madmax]

Agree with above..the oil heater is the saviour.my watering temp is a little cooler.63.5-68f which holds more dissolved oygen..

 

[PipeCarver]

I keep the temperature inside the tent at about 80F using a small oil heater and an Inkbird controller when the lights are off. The lights provide most of the heat when they are on. The fabric pots are sitting on trivets with saucers for air flow at the bottom of the pot. The room temperature is set to about 70F, but that probably doesn't matter for my setup. The water is at room temperature.

Keeping it warm 24/7 in veg is great but I only want the heat on through the day when in flower at night I like to let it drop to bring out the colors in the plants. Not too cold or my wife would be upset but 63f upstairs and 61-62f for a few hours in my corner basement flower room. I like my winter buds looks and its better temperatures for drying

 

[BigBlonde]

Keeping it warm 24/7 in veg is great but I only want the heat on through the day when in flower at night I like to let it drop to bring out the colors in the plants. Not too cold or my wife would be upset but 63f upstairs and 61-62f for a few hours in my corner basement flower room. I like my winter buds looks and its better temperatures for drying

I'll keep that in mind when I flip to flower.

Here is the 24-hour temperature chart from one of my sensors, starting and ending at 7:30 AM. My lights come on at 6:00 AM and turn off at midnight. The temperature is lower at night. The heat from the lights is different than the heat from the heater, though. I'm not sure what difference that might make, but it seems like it's something to consider.

 

[PipeCarver]

I'll keep that in mind when I flip to flower.

Here is the 24-hour temperature chart from one of my sensors, starting and ending at 7:30 AM. My lights come on at 6:00 AM and turn off at midnight. The temperature is lower at night. The heat from the lights is different than the heat from the heater, though. I'm not sure what difference that might make, but it seems like it's something to consider.

View attachment 1310840

Those look like good temps, I've read its best to stay within 10*f lights on - lights off and you have that covered......My winter temps don't get above 80f lights on, right now its only 77f and I've 8 plants at various stages of flowering..If it wasn't for me using a 1000w hps I'd have to use a heater in my tent that I'm also flowering in using led's

 

[GuySmiley]

If your pots sit directly on the floor, a piece of 1" or thicker styrofoam insulation under them will help a lot.

 

[AnimalHouse]

Electric space heater or heat from lights and keeping my 55 gallon water supply in the room so it's always at room temp works well for me

 

[BigBlonde]

Those look like good temps, I've read its best to stay within 10*f lights on - lights off and you have that covered......My winter temps don't get above 80f lights on, right now its only 77f and I've 8 plants at various stages of flowering..If it wasn't for me using a 1000w hps I'd have to use a heater in my tent that I'm also flowering in using led's

I have read that about day/night temp, too. It makes sense for the temp to be lower at night. I let the temp and humidity controllers do the work.

 

[BigBlonde]

From time to time, I ponder building a floor for the tent that has ducting for conditioned air flow. Someday I might do some drawings. It makes sense to me to move the support machinery outside of the tent to make more room for the plants.

 

[AnimalHouse]

A few years ago I put down anti fatigue flooring in my grow room and love it. Helps insulate from the cold concrete but is also nice if I have to get down and crawl to the back of my plants or for trimming when I prefer to stand I don't get worn out standing on a hard surface. It can be spendy but Harbor Freight has a decent option for less than anybody. I did my 10'x10 room for less than $100. It's also nice if I drop something fragile it wont break with that flooring down.
I used duct tape on all the seams and can run a vacuum or mop over it when it needs a good cleaning

 

[ViparSpectra]

By keeping the room temp above 65F. Water with 80F. Tent temp is about 80F with lights on. Keep the pot off the cold floor.

Will 80F water too hot for root?

 

[ViparSpectra]

I keep the temperature inside the tent at about 80F using a small oil heater and an Inkbird controller when the lights are off. The lights provide most of the heat when they are on. The fabric pots are sitting on trivets with saucers for air flow at the bottom of the pot. The room temperature is set to about 70F, but that probably doesn't matter for my setup. The water is at room temperature.

That is a really helpful suggestion!

 

[ViparSpectra]

Keeping it warm 24/7 in veg is great but I only want the heat on through the day when in flower at night I like to let it drop to bring out the colors in the plants. Not too cold or my wife would be upset but 63f upstairs and 61-62f for a few hours in my corner basement flower room. I like my winter buds looks and its better temperatures for drying

Not keeping it warm at night to bring out the colors in the plants, is worthy of inclusion for consideration.

 

[ViparSpectra]

From time to time, I ponder building a floor for the tent that has ducting for conditioned air flow. Someday I might do some drawings. It makes sense to me to move the support machinery outside of the tent to make more room for the plants.

Sounds like it will be a very useful device, looking forward to your sharing.

 

[ViparSpectra]

If your pots sit directly on the floor, a piece of 1" or thicker styrofoam insulation under them will help a lot.

Thank you for your sharing! Easy to get started with!

 

[ViparSpectra]

A few years ago I put down anti fatigue flooring in my grow room and love it. Helps insulate from the cold concrete but is also nice if I have to get down and crawl to the back of my plants or for trimming when I prefer to stand I don't get worn out standing on a hard surface. It can be spendy but Harbor Freight has a decent option for less than anybody. I did my 10'x10 room for less than $100. It's also nice if I drop something fragile it wont break with that flooring down.
I used duct tape on all the seams and can run a vacuum or mop over it when it needs a good cleaning

Those who have a budget in this area can refer to this piece of advice!

 

[ViparSpectra]

Electric space heater or heat from lights and keeping my 55 gallon water supply in the room so it's always at room temp works well for me

Thanks for sharing! Easy and helpful method!

 

[Peat_Phreak]

Will 80F water too hot for root?

It hasn't been a problem. The pot is 65F before adding 80F. The sum of the two is in the 70s.

The 80F water contains less oxygen, but I supplement with peroxide.