Difference between revisions of "AY Honors/Hotbed cold frame"

Revision as of 04:07, 6 October 2007

Hotbed can mean:

Hotbed (economics) - A hotbed is an environment conducive to rapid growth or development. Colloquially, it is often heard in the phrase, "a hotbed of activity." The term has varying, specific meanings in diverse fields, such as economics and biology.

Hotbed (gardening) - In biology, a hotbed is a pile of decaying organic matter warmer than its surrounding due to the heat given off by the metabolism of the microorganisms in the decomposing pile. Hotbeds are used by humans for composting and keeping delicate plants warm during the winter. Some egg-laying animals use hotbeds to incubate their eggs.

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-[[Image:Coldframe 1.jpg|thumb|''A traditional home made cold frame'']]
+'''Hotbed''' can mean:
-In [[agriculture]] and [[gardening]], a '''cold frame''' is a [[Transparency (optics)|transparent]]-roofed enclosure, built low to the ground, used to protect [[plant]]s from cold [[weather]]. The transparent top admits [[sunlight]] and relies on the [[greenhouse effect]] to [[Reflection (physics)|reflect]] back [[radiant heat]] that would otherwise escape at night. Essentially, a cold frame functions as a miniature greenhouse [[season extension]] [[device]].
-Cold frames are found in [[home gardens]] and in [[vegetable]] farming. They create [[microclimate]]s that provide several [[degree (temperature)|degree]]s of air and [[soil]] temperature [[Thermal insulation|insulation]], and shelter from [[wind]]. In cold-[[winter]] regions, these characteristics allow plants to be started earlier in the [[spring (season)|spring]], and to survive longer into the [[autumn|fall]] and [[winter]]. They are most often used for growing [[seedling]]s that are later [[transplanting|transplanted]] into open ground, and can also be a permanent home to cold-[[hardy]] vegetables grown for autumn and winter [[harvest]].
+* Hotbed (economics) - A '''hotbed''' is an [[ecosystem|environment]] conducive to rapid growth or development. Colloquially, it is often heard in the phrase, "a hotbed of activity." The term has varying, specific meanings in diverse fields, such as [[economics]] and [[biology]].
-Cold frame construction is a common home or [[farm]] building project, although kits and commercial systems are available. A traditional plan makes use of old glass windows: a wooden frame is built 30cms or a [[foot or (unit of length)|foot]] or two high, and the window placed on top. The roof is often sloped towards the winter sun to capture more light, and to improve runoff of water, and [[hinge]]d for easy access. Clear plastic, rigid or sheeting, can be used in place of glass. An electric [[heating cable]], available for this purpose, can be placed in the soil to provide additional heat.
+* Hotbed (gardening) - In '''biology''', a hotbed is a pile of decaying [[organic matter]] warmer than its surrounding due to the heat given off by the metabolism of the microorganisms in the [[decompose|decomposing]] pile. Hotbeds are used by humans for [[composting]] and keeping delicate plants warm during the winter. Some egg-laying animals use hotbeds to [[incubate]] their eggs.
-[[Category:Greenhouses]]
+{{disambig}}
+[[Category:Composting]]
+[[Category:Biodegradation]]
+[[Category:Ecology]]
+[[Category:Film and video terminology]]
+[[Category:Marketing]]