Freezer grow in the garage durning winter?

I live in the midwest and I cut out the shelves of an old stand up freezer and i want to setup a grow. However, I am concerned because the weather is very cold right now and I don't know if my plants would be warm enough when the light wasn't on. Do you guys think the freezer would retain enough heat if I started my grow now? I really would like to start this grow and the sooner I can start the better!

Set up everything for a plant to live in there, lights, vent etc. Now before you put a plant in there put your thermometer in there and give it a 24 hour run on a typical weather day

You can get small heating device. Consider yourself lucky that you are fighting the cold, it seems to be easier and cheaper than fighting heat.

By their nature, refrigerators are well-insulated cabinets.

So a proper light will probably be MORE than enough to keep your cab hot enough during cold weather, so long as you don't overventilate it with freezing air.

Your real problem isnt temperature, its ventilation.
You neglected to mention how you're going to vent your cab.
If you don't vent it with a continuous infusion of fresh air, the plants won't get enough CO2 and will not grow.
Also, if you don't vent it, the plants are likely to die of overheating from a hot light in a small insulated enclosed space.

Jogro said:

By their nature, refrigerators are well-insulated cabinets.

So a proper light will probably be MORE than enough to keep your cab hot enough during cold weather, so long as you don't overventilate it with freezing air.

Your real problem isnt temperature, its ventilation.
You neglected to mention how you're going to vent your cab.
If you don't vent it with a continuous infusion of fresh air, the plants won't get enough CO2 and will not grow.
Also, if you don't vent it, the plants are likely to die of overheating from a hot light in a small insulated enclosed space.

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What is your best suggestion for having proper ventilation?

dcarrier89 said:

What is your best suggestion for having proper ventilation?

Click to expand...

Bluntly, ventilation is problematic.

Again, refrigerators, by design, are insulated boxes designed to keep cold air IN.

If you want to ventilate the box, you'll have to cut at least two holes in the box. . .one to let fresh air IN and one to let hot/stale air OUT. You'll want a fan on at least one of those two holes (to blow air out), and maybe both (one out, one in).

Did I mention that refrigerators are typically made of steel? Refrigerators also contain, well, refrigerant, which is in the form of pressurized freon. I don't think you want it spraying on your skin, let alone your eyes!

So what you will probably need to do is:

a. Bleed off the freon, or have someone who knows how do it for you. (Don't ask me how. . .I have no idea!).

b. Cut two holes into your cabinet. I'd suggest both in the back so they aren't visible from the front of the cabinet.
How do you cut the holes? Again, don't ask me. . .maybe with a hole saw? Sequential drilling?
You'll probably want one near the top of the fridge inside to vent hot air (since it rises). You'll also probably want to vent your hot exhaust through an odor controlling carbon filter.
Make sure the holes fit the fans you select (or vice versa).

c. Once you get your lights in place and your vents installed, then you run the cab for a few hours and check the temps.

Hope that helped a little, or at least gave you food for thought.

Jorgo, i really appreciate it thank you for you advice I will try this out and let you know! Thanks again