The Garden Helper

Helping Gardeners Grow Their Dreams since 1997.

No-dash-here, you've found The Real Garden Helper! Gardening on the Web since 1997

Homemade GreenHouse/Hotbox

Gardening Reference » Gardening in 2006
« Prev thread: Homemade Greenhouse| Next thread: Homemade hummingbird food? »
Back to Thread index
by Amigatec on January 24, 2006 06:14 AM
Well I have just about got my little Homemade GreenHouse/Hotbox finished. I added some treated 2X8's to the bottom to keep the rot down. Painted it inside and out, added a small heater, and installed the waterbed heater. Only thing left is to add the sand, I will that this weekend.

I moved my plants outside into the box and checked on them after work. It got down below freezing last night, but the plants are ok. A quick check of the temp showed 85 degrees inside, with an outside temp of around 45.

* * * *
 -
 -
One OS to rule them, one OS to find them:
One OS to bring them all and in the darkness bind them
In the Land of Redmond where the shadows lie.
by weezie13 on January 24, 2006 08:48 AM
Ahhhhhhhhhhh, where's the pictures??? [grin] [kissies] [thumb]

* * * *
Weezie

Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have
done this have entertained angels without realizing it.
- Bible - Hebrews 13:2

 -
 -
 -

http://photobucket.com/albums/y250/weezie13/
by Amigatec on January 24, 2006 10:28 AM
Looks like I need an automatic vent.

Juliana Greenhouse Window Opener - Univent

* * * *
 -
 -
One OS to rule them, one OS to find them:
One OS to bring them all and in the darkness bind them
In the Land of Redmond where the shadows lie.
by Amigatec on January 24, 2006 08:00 PM
Here's the picture:

 -

I will be taking more this weekend when I finish it.

* * * *
 -
 -
One OS to rule them, one OS to find them:
One OS to bring them all and in the darkness bind them
In the Land of Redmond where the shadows lie.
by loz on January 24, 2006 10:12 PM
Wow that is really terrific...I love it! [thumb] [clappy]
by comfrey on January 25, 2006 10:18 PM
Your hotbox, Looks really nice.

* * * *
 -
 -
by weezie13 on January 25, 2006 10:26 PM
Great box!!!!

What is the window part of it???
Do the windows slide back and forth???

* * * *
Weezie

Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have
done this have entertained angels without realizing it.
- Bible - Hebrews 13:2

 -
 -
 -

http://photobucket.com/albums/y250/weezie13/
by Amigatec on January 25, 2006 11:38 PM
It is a old storm door, the window in the middle does slide, but one of the corner pieces is broken. I think I can fix it.

* * * *
 -
 -
One OS to rule them, one OS to find them:
One OS to bring them all and in the darkness bind them
In the Land of Redmond where the shadows lie.
by Wizzard on January 26, 2006 04:34 AM
nice [thumb]

* * * *
Wizzards pics
by weezie13 on January 29, 2006 01:46 AM
Great Job and great recycling job...
Can't wait to hear what you do in it...

*aaaahhhhhhhh, that's with plants, not what YOU DO IN IT [Wink] [Embarrassed] [Big Grin] *

* * * *
Weezie

Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have
done this have entertained angels without realizing it.
- Bible - Hebrews 13:2

 -
 -
 -

http://photobucket.com/albums/y250/weezie13/
by Amigatec on January 30, 2006 02:01 AM
Followup on the pictures.
 -
The WaterBed Heater

 -
Closeup of the WaterBed Heater

 -
The controller mounted on the side of the box.

 -
My plants are added.

 -
Plants again. You can see the heater I am using to warm the air.

* * * *
 -
 -
One OS to rule them, one OS to find them:
One OS to bring them all and in the darkness bind them
In the Land of Redmond where the shadows lie.
by weezie13 on January 30, 2006 02:23 AM
That's a NICE [grin] [thumb] set up....
Really it is...

one suggestion...
Keep saving your gallon milk jugs..
Fill with water and put all the way around the
edge... *that will hold alotttttt of warmth
when the sun heats it up during the day, into the night.. plus, it will take up any empty space you have, as to not make the heater over work..
and will be a buffer from the outside to the inside and will realllllly be warm in there...
And will keep warmth on top of your bricks too!!!

And THANKS [Cool] [grin] [kissies] [flower]
FOR THE PICTURES... they're great!!!!
And Thanks for the updates [gabby] [critic]

* * * *
Weezie

Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have
done this have entertained angels without realizing it.
- Bible - Hebrews 13:2

 -
 -
 -

http://photobucket.com/albums/y250/weezie13/
by Amigatec on January 30, 2006 04:30 AM
So far the sand is warm so the heater is working.

* * * *
 -
 -
One OS to rule them, one OS to find them:
One OS to bring them all and in the darkness bind them
In the Land of Redmond where the shadows lie.
by weezie13 on January 30, 2006 04:56 AM
The water jugs only cut the cost of running the heater, the heater still runs, you just only
have to put it on half the time *(night time)*

Question, in your area...*and I know this year's been different with extra warm temps* but would you normally have cold freezing temps this time of year....in January?? Or does your area not get below like 30*'s?????

* * * *
Weezie

Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have
done this have entertained angels without realizing it.
- Bible - Hebrews 13:2

 -
 -
 -

http://photobucket.com/albums/y250/weezie13/
by Amigatec on January 30, 2006 05:20 AM
We do get below freezing most years, and we had a few days of that, but this year our temps are in the 40's to 60's.

Normal is 30's to 40's.

* * * *
 -
 -
One OS to rule them, one OS to find them:
One OS to bring them all and in the darkness bind them
In the Land of Redmond where the shadows lie.
by Amigatec on January 30, 2006 05:22 AM
I have the waterbed heater set for 75*. And the other heater set for about 50*.

* * * *
 -
 -
One OS to rule them, one OS to find them:
One OS to bring them all and in the darkness bind them
In the Land of Redmond where the shadows lie.
by dodge on January 31, 2006 02:51 AM
Amigatec [clappy]
[flower] [flower] [flower]
Holy toledo.......Your a professional , in my book.....

Lots of work .Buttttt neato..
Now i can cry, [scaredy] why can't I?

dodge

* * * *
 -
 -
''''Those who live in the Lord Never See Each Other For The Last Time!''''
by Amigatec on January 31, 2006 02:59 AM
I have plans for this.
 -
 -

 -

This is a scale drawing. I did use the scrap piece and made braces out of it.

* * * *
 -
 -
One OS to rule them, one OS to find them:
One OS to bring them all and in the darkness bind them
In the Land of Redmond where the shadows lie.
by Amigatec on January 31, 2006 03:17 AM
This whole project started as a way to use up some material I had laying around.

The house behind me burnt last year, so I bought the property, and tore the house down. I saved quite a bit of wood from the house. Almost everything in the Hotbox is from that house.

I did have to buy the paint and the screws I used to put it together, my total cost is about $15.

* * * *
 -
 -
One OS to rule them, one OS to find them:
One OS to bring them all and in the darkness bind them
In the Land of Redmond where the shadows lie.
by Lady Blackchurch on February 02, 2006 12:22 AM
A hot box from a hot house eh???

Nice work!!!

Lady B

* * * *
"Treat people as if they were what they ought to be, and you help them to become what they are capable of becoming." Goethe
by tkhooper on February 15, 2006 01:45 AM
Well I'm way behind everyone. I just made my first ever juice bottle greenhouse/coldframe and stuck it over my yellow snapdragons. They have been trying so hard to survive that I just felt that they deserved to have the very first one. I hope no one pulls it out of the ground. What I wouldn't do for a fence and an acre all my own lol.

* * * *
 -
 -
by Amigatec on February 21, 2006 06:51 AM
I have been keeping a log of the temps, and humidity levels, in my little greenhouse.

We had some temps in the teens last weekend and so far the lowest temps recorded were only 41*.

The inside temp seems to be running about 20* more than outside temps.

My little plants are going to make it.

* * * *
 -
 -
One OS to rule them, one OS to find them:
One OS to bring them all and in the darkness bind them
In the Land of Redmond where the shadows lie.
by peppereater on February 21, 2006 07:50 AM
Man, Pat, it was probably down to 12 a couple of times...you're doing great! [thumb]

* * * *
 -
Dave
Even my growlights are getting restless!
by weezie13 on February 21, 2006 08:36 AM
It 50*'s in my big greenhouse today!!

*and it was only 28* out...
but I did have 8 bunnies inside generating
lo'ts of heat I guess... the sun was out too*

* * * *
Weezie

Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have
done this have entertained angels without realizing it.
- Bible - Hebrews 13:2

 -
 -
 -

http://photobucket.com/albums/y250/weezie13/
by Amigatec on February 21, 2006 08:51 AM
I do have a small room heater in the box, plus the waterbed heater.

I think TV 6 said lows were 10 to 17*.

* * * *
 -
 -
One OS to rule them, one OS to find them:
One OS to bring them all and in the darkness bind them
In the Land of Redmond where the shadows lie.
by weezie13 on February 24, 2006 10:55 AM
Okay Pat, what plants are you growing in there now??

* * * *
Weezie

Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have
done this have entertained angels without realizing it.
- Bible - Hebrews 13:2

 -
 -
 -

http://photobucket.com/albums/y250/weezie13/
by Ironside on February 26, 2006 01:30 AM
Nice hot bed!! I made one about 40 years ago out of old windows and ply wood. Looked like yours. The only thing I insatlled was a wooden bottom that I drilled holes in for drainage. I then stapled a weatherproof heating cable to the bottom for even heat for the trays. They did not have small electric heaters back then. The soil temperature is what is important. As long as the soil temperature stays around 72F, you seeds will germinate out there. I have done it in the middle of February back in New England. I now longer have it when I moved to Ohio. I have grow lights everyhere in the basment. I then move some of the smaller plants in the spring to two mini greenhouses. I use an electric heater in the greenhouses. Looks nice!!!
by Amigatec on February 26, 2006 06:14 AM
quote:
Originally posted by weezie13:
Okay Pat, what plants are you growing in there now??
Well I still have the same stuff, mostly herbs.

I did taste some of them the other day and they do taste like herbs. Imagine that!!

* * * *
 -
 -
One OS to rule them, one OS to find them:
One OS to bring them all and in the darkness bind them
In the Land of Redmond where the shadows lie.
by weezie13 on February 28, 2006 03:48 AM
What have your temps' been running lately, Pat?

During the day and at night?

And when is your "ballpark" time to plant in your area?

I need one of those, I need an area to harden off the plants a bit more, and make room for when I do the flower seeds..

* * * *
Weezie

Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have
done this have entertained angels without realizing it.
- Bible - Hebrews 13:2

 -
 -
 -

http://photobucket.com/albums/y250/weezie13/
by Amigatec on February 28, 2006 09:17 AM
It was in the 70's today. Supposed to be 80's tomorrow. I have opened the sash just a little to help let the heat out.

I must be doing something wrong, my plants aren't growing, my herbs are doing ok, but my other plants have quit growing. I water them every night because of the bottom heat I am using. I have been using a lot of water on them.

I have turned off the heat for the time being.

I have also planted onions, shallots, and garlic yesterday, I plan on planting 'tators this weekend.

* * * *
 -
 -
One OS to rule them, one OS to find them:
One OS to bring them all and in the darkness bind them
In the Land of Redmond where the shadows lie.
by weezie13 on February 28, 2006 10:29 AM
Which ones aren't doing much?

* * * *
Weezie

Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have
done this have entertained angels without realizing it.
- Bible - Hebrews 13:2

 -
 -
 -

http://photobucket.com/albums/y250/weezie13/
by Amigatec on February 28, 2006 11:00 AM
Cabbage, Brussels Sprouts, and all my peppers. The peppers look the best, about 2 inches tall. The cabbage and sprouts are about 1/2 in tall.

* * * *
 -
 -
One OS to rule them, one OS to find them:
One OS to bring them all and in the darkness bind them
In the Land of Redmond where the shadows lie.
by weezie13 on February 28, 2006 11:34 AM
Cabbage, Brussels Sprouts like cooler temps...
So, maybe the heat isn't nessessary for them??

I have never used heating things, so I am not
well versed on that part..
But I do know those mentioned above are cool weather crops... [dunno] [dunno] [dunno]

* * * *
Weezie

Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have
done this have entertained angels without realizing it.
- Bible - Hebrews 13:2

 -
 -
 -

http://photobucket.com/albums/y250/weezie13/
by Ironside on March 08, 2006 09:57 PM
Nice hotbed! I had one years ago that I made out of old wooden windows. The key is soil temperature. As long as your soil temperature is at 72 degrees, does not matter what the air tempertues is. I used a heating cable made for hotbeds. My hotbed looked similiar. Brought back memories. Keep up the good work, and keep us posted!
by Amigatec on March 08, 2006 10:42 PM
I may have to buy a string heater the waterbed heater I think is making to much heat.

The thermometer in the sand reads over 100*.

* * * *
 -
 -
One OS to rule them, one OS to find them:
One OS to bring them all and in the darkness bind them
In the Land of Redmond where the shadows lie.

Active Garden Forum

« Prev thread: Homemade Greenhouse| Next thread: Homemade hummingbird food? »
Back to Thread index
Similar discussions:


Search The Garden Helper: