Heat lamps for overwintering palms?

[sashaeffer]

Looking for options for heating in the ground palm enclosures for the winter.  

 

Have been using C7 & C9 Christmas lights but they are getting harder to find and all made in China now so reliability is poor.

Anyone use regular heat lamp bulbs in their enclosures?  similar to below.

 

[Toddmin]

What about using electric water pipe heat cable?  Has anybody tried that?

 

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Frost-King-6-ft-Electric-Water-Pipe-Heat-Cable-HC6A/202262328#overlay

[sashaeffer]

Yes that is a common method.

 

When I plant a new palm I will wrap the root ball in that heated tape.

 

I do know there are plenty of other people that wrap the trunk and fronds as well.

 

The one thing I don’t like about it is you never know if it happens to fail during the winter like lights will do.

[Allen]

That bulb is less heat than 2 strings of mini lights (80 watts) and you risk it burning out.  That is why people use 2-3 fluorescent or Christmas lights.  You can use it just be aware it could burn out and needs to be on a thermocube .  If a thermocube is cycling it on/off every little while it may blow the bulb.  Any of these methods not on a thermocube and you have a dead palm.   75W close or aiming on the palm in a sealed enclosure may harm it.  

[sashaeffer]

53 minutes ago, Allen said:

That bulb is less heat than 2 strings of mini lights (80 watts) and you risk it burning out.  That is why people use 2-3 fluorescent or Christmas lights.  You can use it just be aware it could burn out and needs to be on a thermocube .  If a thermocube is cycling it on/off every little while it may blow the bulb.  Any of these methods not on a thermocube and you have a dead palm.   75W close or aiming on the palm in a sealed enclosure may harm it.  

Of course I use a Thermocube.  Only one place here sells incandescent Christmas lights anymore Menards.   I have read about people using the fluorescent bulbs but you can't find them anymore unless you go to Amazon.   That being said, I love the idea of fluorescent bulbs but I happen to have a larger one still and put it in a clamp light and left it on for a while and like I thought doesn't put out anywhere near the heat of a incandescent bulb or string of Christmas lights. 

[sashaeffer]

Going to experiment with two different types.

Since typically on larger protected windmills I use two different heat sources inside protection in case one fails.

One a more heavy duty heat lamp and the other s ceramic (no light) screw in device meant for keeping reptiles warm.  Naturally I have wireless thermometers in the enclosure as well.