How do you make the plastic viv hot enough without lighting?

Hi! I am new to this site, and am purchasing my ball phython today but want to make sure i have all the right still first. I am getting a small (but not too small plastic bin to keep it in ( a baby) and a UTH. I am going to find 100% cypress mulch and get some moss. But as far as lights go? I heard you have to keep the warm side of the tank at about 90 but how do you do this with an area so small?

and with glass vivs you can just set the light on top of the tank, but how do you set a light on a plastic tub?

I don't really think you can safely use lights with a plastic tub or at least not ones that will give off a significant amount of heat.
You're best bet it to probably stick with the UTHs or a full room heater.

What are you room temps?
If your temps are ~75+, then the UTH should be fine to provide a reasonable gradient alone without additional heating.
(~88-91 hot spot, 75-80 cool side)

Thank you! I have not even purchased my BP yet, but want to be really educated before i get it. So what all do i need? its a baby so is a 10 gal to small for a tub? Poke holes in it, get substrate that will hold moisture, get a UTH and put in on one side of the tank and then just keep the room warm enough? water of coarse , and a hide? Is that basically it?

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also.. with a UTH and plastic.. it wont melt the plastic right?

A UTH with a thermostat to regulate heating should not pose any risk to melting plastic.

Welcome to the site, I actually have recently set up a temp. tub for my boa, I have an uth on the hot side and a zoomed infrared lamp for the ambients and to warm the cool side some, I have a lamp stand to keep the lamp up off the plastic it works fine. It just heats through the plastic.

Also it's best to set it all up and let it run for a while so you can get the temps all adjusted.

Do you think you could post a picture?

My room temps are pretty cold. Maybe around 67