Greenhouses provide a warm indoor environment that protects plants when temperatures fall. Essentially, when it comes to buying a greenhouse, having one of these will enable your plants to survive all year round.
Greenhouse structures are naturally warmed through solar radiation during daylight hours, but heat escapes rapidly during the night. Central-heating systems are one means to warm them, but there are some simpler more cost-effective ways to keep the prices down.
1. Thermal Water Storage Tanks
Solar heat can be captured throughout the day by rocks and water-storage tanks strategically positioned throughout the greenhouse. Water is the cheapest and most affordable solar heat collector.
Fill black or dark-coloured water drums and place them along the north wall of your greenhouse, to collect heat throughout the course of the day. Even if you employ additional heating methods, water drums make any heating more efficient.
2. Ditch below Frost Line
Greenhouses can be situated partially underground where there’s a lot of thermal mass available to store energy. Excavate a pit in which to situate your greenhouse. Dig down to just below the frost line, where the soil temperature remains near 50 degrees °F all year.
This allows the solar energy that’s stored below the frost line to warm the walls of the greenhouse, even at night.
3. Save the Heat
The easiest technique to heat a greenhouse is to conserve the heat that is already in it. It’s essential to insulate the wall that receives the winds in the winter. This could be the north, east or west wall depending on where you are.
Buy reflective thermal material that is sold for insulating mini-greenhouses, and lay its foundation by digging down at least 2 feet and placing 1 to 2 inches of Styrofoam board up against the soil.
Double or triple glaze the windows, or retrofit single-glazed windows or panels. Seal the nooks and crannies of the greenhouse, ensuring that it is air-tight everywhere. Use a night curtain of polyethene film or vinyl, to cover the top and sides, preventing heat loss at night.
Every plant species contained by your greenhouse has a special set of heating and humidity needs. With standard electricity so costly, finding an economical and effective form of heating is an essential aspiration for budget-minded gardeners.
But if you do implement some of these techniques, you can ensure that all your plants and flowers will continue blossoming throughout the winter.
Notice: Please note that this guide is intended to present general information regarding greenhouses for sale. All information indicated are representative and not exhaustive which means that the results may vary depending on your item, its size, complexity, and other circumstances. You may or may not follow the guide. By following the guide, you accept the risks and acknowledge the possible invalidation of your manufacturer’s warranty. When in doubt, please ask your manufacturer before proceeding.
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