Cold water
- To: "Propagation List" <propagation@mallorn.com>
- Subject: Cold water
- From: "* A* <P*@email.msn.com>
- Date: Wed, 17 Mar 1999 08:27:00 -0500
Hello List:
Responding to Larry Campbell's question about cool water. . .58F isn't all
_that_ cold, but tomatoes are definitely happier with warmer temps. I have
a small greenhouse I keep at 40-45degF. I also do not have a water line
into the greenhouse, nor a water heater there, so I use a large plastic bin
(this one is round, approximately 2.5' diam. x 2.5' tall, which holds
something between 40 - 50 gallons. I keep this sitting on an old
propagating mat -- the heavy, rubberized type large enough for just one flat
of plants, which has a permanent setting of about 75degF. I fill the bin
with the hose, and after leaving it overnight the water will be 65-70deg.
Most plants prefer the warmer water, and the full bin acts as something of a
heat reservoir (lessening a little the amount of supplemental heating
required overnight). It's also a lot more pleasant to put your hands in.
That type of heat mat costs about $45 new. If you don't want to pay for a
mat, or for the electricity to run one, simply leaving the bin of water in
full sun in the greenhouse will warm it up significantly, particularly if
you use a black plastic bin, or paint your bin black.
If you aren't using the water that quickly, it can stagnate and get algal
overgrowth. A little bleach or a disinfectant like Consan will suppress the
algae.
Best regards,
Phillip Allen
Coastal Connecticut, USDA zone7a
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