Heat bulb - 150 watts or 250 watts?

MFJFIGS

MFJFIGS

Well-known member
Hi friends
Anyone uses heat bulbs to keep covered in-ground trees from freezing to death?
I wonder if these are safe to use? If so, do you think 250 watts is too little, too much…?

Heat Lamp 250-Watt EQ R40 Red Medium Base (e-26) Dimmable Incandescent Specialty Light Bulb https://www.lowes.com/pd/GE-250-Watt-Dimmable-R40-Heat-Lamp-Incandescent-Light-Bulb/1000438359

I intend to place one near a fig tree wrapped with burlap & pink insulation under tarps. It would be controlled by a thermostat .
 

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Overkill. Most people that do this use a 60W or even non-led Christmas lights I believe. Have it come on at 30 or so and off at 40-50. Or just switch it in when temps are supposed to go low. A couple of important points. Make sure to use outdoor extension cords. Make sure the bulb and housing is hanging but not touching wood or wall. Make sure the it is fed in such a way as to prevent moisture from getting on the plug end and bulb receptacle. Good luck.
 
Go low! My cables are 3w per meter(yard). 3 to 4 meters is plenty. You're not trying to heat them... just keep them from falling below a minimum temp. The heating cables I use barely feel warm to the touch when on. Too much heat is bad.... especially if they're wrapped.

When you say, "near the tree"... where do you mean in actual proximity and containment?
 
Joe,
The heat bulb would hang about 10” away from the tree and 24” above soil line.
On another note, the heat cables currently wrapped around the tree are 7 watts per foot (I decided against using them). I wanted to double check… that yours are 3 watts per meter?
So my cables would be way too risky to use…
 
We hit a low of 21 degrees Fahrenheit for two hours starting at 5 AM this morning. Govee registered a low of 34.7 degrees. The thermometer is about a foot away from the tree and “NOT” inside the burlap & pink insulation.
In 2023 and 2018, we had lows between negative 8 and negative 13 degrees… I will keep monitoring as the temperature dips into the teens in the coming days. If I feel it is needed, I will add a low wattage light fixture (or wrap Christmas lights…)
Notes:
There are four separate enclosures in the photo, the very large in the front (left) which includes the area covered with the blue tarp has four trees inside: RDB, Hollier, RLBV, and Tacoma Violet. The smaller one next to it has a MBVS inside. There is a Govee thermometer embedded in each of these two enclosures. In the back, you see two other enclosures, both smaller and house a single Chicago Hardy (no Govee in there).
It seems that the large footprint of the big enclosure is allowing a decent amount of heat to be trapped.
However, the trees are on the north side of a three story house, so sadly the area receives very little direct sun during the winter when the sun angle is too low.
 

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MFJFIGS said:
Joe,
The heat bulb would hang about 10” away from the tree and 24” above soil line.
On another note, the heat cables currently wrapped around the tree are 7 watts per foot (I decided against using them). I wanted to double check… that yours are 3 watts per meter?
So my cables would be way too risky to use…
Click to expand...
Oh…. That certainly wouldn’t harm the tree.

Going my memory, the cables I have shut off automatically at 5°c (40°f)

If your bulbs are maintaining the desired temps at the tree I can’t imagine any issue. I just thought they’d be right up against the tree
 
ktrain said:
I agree with the guys...that thing will put off way too much heat.
Click to expand...
If I understand correctly now.....it'll be far from the trees. So probably won't roast them. Although it may not be super efficient. I originally thought this would be up against the tree. I think keeping a thermometer in there close to the tree would be wise regardless.

You may also want to consider something like this:

Amazon.com

www.amazon.com

I would still say that bulb is pretty intense. I'd be concerned using something so strong. That's just my opinion.
 
I happened to watch the videos of the palm grower that Oak posted, and I was going to look up thermostatically controlled outlets 😀
These can help.
 
MFJFIGS said:
I happened to watch the videos of the palm grower that Oak posted, and I was going to look up thermostatically controlled outlets 😀
These can help.
Click to expand...

I use an inkbird temp controller in the garage just as insurance in case of a super deep freeze. Set to come on only if it goes real low.... to -5c (23f?) but that's a space I can easily access if needed. I would think something like the heat it cubes is more practical buried in with your trees. Probably more moisture resistant as well
 
So if I put some deicing cables around my wife...they take the edge off?... 😂
Just kidding of course, I may end up using those one a few trees in ground.
I'll wait to see how they do this winter.
 
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