Is Winter Growing Possible Indoors Without High Heating Costs?

[inlilisimage]

I’m a bit skeptical, but I’m thinking of trying to grow plants through the winter. My garage gets pretty cold, though. If I decide to go ahead, does anyone have tips on insulating or heating efficiently without racking up huge energy bills?

Cheers!

 

[foodcrisis]

er... idk how cold your garage is or its size if a heater is needed..., a HPS or metal halide bulb gets pretty warm in a tent. i've been hearing more people are using LED which i don't think get as hot, but one of those hotter bulbs in a grow tent might be warm enough to grow some weed even in a cold garage.

i would think the temperature in your garage is important to know... maybe someone could estimate if a grow tent would help trap heat in with different lighting to work for you or if there is a kind of heater for your garage.

 

[notsmokeymcpot42088]

It is absolutely possible to grow inside through the winter and harvest a couple lbs a month doing it --- that was inside a residential home - mainly the basement but the clone room and mother plant was upstairs

You WILL HAVE TO CONTROL THE TEMPERATURE (Of course!)

 

[neversickanymore]

Use old school double ended lights and insulate your garage. The lights will heat the room and it will only need minor supplemental heat during the dark phase if you insulate properly. Try and use your veg room to help heat your flowering room during its dark phase.

make sure your ceiling is high enough for the double ended.

 

[notsmokeymcpot42088]

Yes we found best broke into a few rooms. One with 'mother plants' one for veg, one for flowering -- and a little area for clones. That way you have a cycle where you are always harvesting.

Sorry I missed the 'cost' part -- I hear the LED lights are pretty efficient energy wise?? Never used em myself but I hear mostly all positive things

 

[Allylbenzene]

I hear the LED lights are pretty efficient energy wise?? Never used em myself but I hear mostly all positive things

They are very efficient yes with a varied light spectrum.

Btw even with conventional HPS/MH you can add a far red bulb (enough for coverage) and have it turn on for 15mins at sundown. This effectively speeds up the day→night transition and allows you to reduce night duration by 1 hour, which you can add to day time meaning 13/11 instead of 12/12.

Adding a few UV bulbs also helps.

 

[notsmokeymcpot42088]

^Goods shit. We were onto the UV bulbs and light spectrum in general --- 13/11 is new *to me at least*

Had the co2 tank (in flowering) automated HPS on a beam --- used a giant sink in the basement ( I think theres a name for em, drainage sink? idk ) as a resevoir. I was basically just the PH checker --- and the clones were a bitch because the resevoir was way too small and it fluctuated too mch.

Was all about genetics and feminized seeds back than (May still be, cheaper to buy in MI)

PH checker harvester and partaker. Good times harvesting hydro with pa back in the 90s very early 00's. He had a 15 yr run I think, 10 of which ran like a swiss watch --- well a swiss watch with human cogs haha

 

[Allylbenzene]

I forgot about CO2!
With 13/11 that's an additional hour of sunshine per day ×7 weeks = ~50 hours. Not much but it all helps. I'm all for the more natutal methods.

Did you ever try misting with salicylic acid?