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Greenhouse heating question
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? Steve |
#2
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Greenhouse heating question
On Mon, 28 Dec 2009 13:10:47 -0800, Steve B wrote:
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? Strange. I always used sunlight to warm a greenhouse. |
#3
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Greenhouse heating question
On Tue, 29 Dec 2009 07:04:43 -0600, AZ Nomad
wrote: On Mon, 28 Dec 2009 13:10:47 -0800, Steve B wrote: 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? Strange. I always used sunlight to warm 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. -- USA North Carolina Foothills USDA Zone 7a |
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Greenhouse heating question
"AZ Nomad" wrote in message ... On Mon, 28 Dec 2009 13:10:47 -0800, Steve B wrote: 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? Strange. I always used sunlight to warm a greenhouse. perhaps you should consider patenting that technique and attach a a switch so you can turn it on at night. |
#5
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Greenhouse heating question
"Steve B" wrote in message ... 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? Steve 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. here are the commericals setup: http://brae.calpoly.edu/CEAE/greenhouse.html |
#6
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Greenhouse heating question
On Tue, 29 Dec 2009 15:05:09 -0800, gunner wrote:
"AZ Nomad" wrote in message ... On Mon, 28 Dec 2009 13:10:47 -0800, Steve B wrote: 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? Strange. I always used sunlight to warm a greenhouse. perhaps you should consider patenting that technique and attach a a switch so you can turn it on at night. Use a layer of rocks on the floor to hold heat from the daytime sun. This isn't rocket science. |
#7
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Greenhouse heating question
In article ss,
"gunner" wrote: "Steve B" wrote in message ... 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? Steve 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. here are the commericals setup: http://brae.calpoly.edu/CEAE/greenhouse.html Hmmm ... Do plants need Oxygen as well as CO2? 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. Enjoy Life ... Dan -- Garden in Zone 5 South East Michigan. |
#8
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Greenhouse heating question
In article ,
AZ Nomad wrote: On Tue, 29 Dec 2009 15:05:09 -0800, gunner wrote: "AZ Nomad" wrote in message ... On Mon, 28 Dec 2009 13:10:47 -0800, Steve B wrote: 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? Strange. I always used sunlight to warm a greenhouse. perhaps you should consider patenting that technique and attach a a switch so you can turn it on at night. Use a layer of rocks on the floor to hold heat from the daytime sun. This isn't rocket science. 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. -- "When you give food to the poor, they call you a saint. When you ask why the poor have no food, they call you a communist." -Archbishop Helder Camara http://tinyurl.com/o63ruj http://countercurrents.org/roberts020709.htm |
#9
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Greenhouse heating question
"AZ Nomad" wrote in message ... On Tue, 29 Dec 2009 15:05:09 -0800, gunner wrote: "AZ Nomad" wrote in message ... On Mon, 28 Dec 2009 13:10:47 -0800, Steve B wrote: 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? Strange. I always used sunlight to warm a greenhouse. perhaps you should consider patenting that technique and attach a a switch so you can turn it on at night. Use a layer of rocks on the floor to hold heat from the daytime sun. This isn't rocket science. 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. |
#10
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Greenhouse heating question
"Dan L." wrote in message Hmmm ... Do plants need Oxygen as well as CO2? 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. I don't believe any of these three points are necessarily true. 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. Good to vent the Carbon Monoxide buildup if people work in the area and I agree bottom heat is better. Electric can be a problem if the greenhouse is not near a power source. So therefore ... propane. and for emergency situations a charcoal or wood grill would help. Enjoy Life ... Dan -- Garden in Zone 5 South East Michigan. |
#11
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Greenhouse heating question
Wildbilly wrote:
Use a layer of rocks on the floor to hold heat from the daytime sun. This isn't rocket science. That being the case then water would be the heat sink of choice because nothing holds heat better than water. Nothing? Really? LOL! |
#12
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Greenhouse heating question
Steve B wrote:
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. The moisture produced will condense on the glass, releasing its heat to the outside through the glass. Efficiency suffers. |
#13
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Greenhouse heating question
In article ,
"Bob F" wrote: Wildbilly wrote: Use a layer of rocks on the floor to hold heat from the daytime sun. This isn't rocket science. That being the case then water would be the heat sink of choice because nothing holds heat better than water. Nothing? Really? LOL! Picky are we? OK, one thing is better at holding heat, ammonia. -- ³When you give food to the poor, they call you a saint. When you ask why the poor have no food, they call you a communist.² -Archbishop Helder Camara http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satelli...cle%2FShowFull http://countercurrents.org/roberts020709.htm |
#14
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Greenhouse heating question
Wildbilly wrote:
one thing is better at holding heat, ammonia. I assume we're talking about specific heat? Is the ammonia allowed a phase change? Gary Woods AKA K2AHC- PGP key on request, or at home.earthlink.net/~garygarlic Zone 5/6 in upstate New York, 1420' elevation. NY WO G |
#15
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Greenhouse heating question
In article
, Wildbilly wrote: In article , "Bob F" wrote: Wildbilly wrote: Use a layer of rocks on the floor to hold heat from the daytime sun. This isn't rocket science. That being the case then water would be the heat sink of choice because nothing holds heat better than water. Nothing? Really? LOL! Picky are we? OK, one thing is better at holding heat, ammonia. A search for R-values via http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R-value_(insulation) Seems related. Bill who noticed that a wet hand is very much colder than a dry one. -- Garden in shade zone 5 S Jersey USA http://www.brasschecktv.com/page/757.html What is Global Dimming?? Less light more shade world wide food implications |
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