How to Build a Small Winter Greenhouse – If you’re interested in building a winter greenhouse, this tutorial will provide you with some excellent ideas. Learn how to add thermal mass, solar heaters, and ventilation to your greenhouse.
You can also make a tunnel out of hardware wire mesh and hang it on a wall. This way, you can remove the plastic cover in the summer and still grow your crops. You can also use old hose sections to clamp the plastic cover to the PVC hoop.
Heating a greenhouse in winter
One way to heat a small greenhouse in winter is to use barrels of water. You can fill up one-gallon plastic bottles with water and place them among plants to soak up heat. Paint the jugs black to improve heat absorption.
Alternatively, place a 55-gallon barrel filled with water on the north side of your greenhouse. Place the barrels near the plants that need the most heat and further away from those that don’t.
To keep the inside of a greenhouse warm, you can put down bubble wrap. If you can afford it, you can purchase UV stabilized bubble wrap. Traditional bubble wrap can also be used for insulation. Make sure to place the bubbles away from the greenhouse walls and ceiling.
In the end, you’ll save on energy and your greenhouse will be warm all winter long. And remember: it’s not easy to heat a small greenhouse in winter! So, you can’t afford to go broke.
Electric heaters are another option for heating a small greenhouse. They are not expensive to buy and operate, and they’re ideal for greenhouses with solar panels. Hotbox Levant 1.8kw heaters can hang high from the structural frame and circulate the air more efficiently than other types of heaters.
These heaters also help control humidity levels, preventing fungal growth. You may also want to consider solar panels if your greenhouse doesn’t have electricity.
Another way to keep the greenhouse at a moderate temperature is to use thermal mass. Thermal mass, also known as a heat sink, is anything that holds thermal energy. Although most materials are capable of storing thermal energy, some are better at it than others.
Water, for example, holds twice as much heat as concrete, and soil holds four times more heat. These two factors will make it easier to regulate the greenhouse’s temperature in the winter.
Adding thermal mass to a greenhouse
One of the easiest ways to add thermal mass to a greenhouse is to place a large barrel of water inside. This will absorb excess heat during the day, and release it during the night. It works like a battery, releasing heat back into the greenhouse as the temperature drops.
The size of the barrel depends on its heat capacity and mass. A large water barrel can be used to provide thermal mass, and can also serve as a storage container.
Another way to add thermal mass to a small greenhouse for the colder months is to place cinder blocks on the north wall. These blocks will absorb heat during the day, and then slowly dissipate it at night.
The addition of cinder blocks will also provide a heat sink, helping to condense heat loss. In addition, a greenhouse with cinder blocks can serve as a south-facing extension of the home.
Another way to add thermal mass to a greenhouse is to make a compost pile. Compost not only warms a greenhouse but also helps reduce greenhouse waste. Fortunately, many avid gardeners already have a compost bin in their homes.
By making compost from natural materials, such as dead leaves, food scraps, brush trimmings, grass clippings, and other waste, you can produce an effective thermal mass without using any fossil fuels. There are other natural thermal mass options, though. Water is the best thermal mass of all, but rocks and soil also work well.
Using thermal mass in a small greenhouse for the colder months will help your plants stay warm during the colder seasons. Thermal mass can be made from bricks, stones, or even water. You can also add bricks or stones to make raised beds.
Black barrels of water also makes a great thermal mass in a greenhouse. They will also prevent frost from forming. There are several other ways to add thermal mass to a greenhouse, but these are the most common.
Adding solar heaters to a greenhouse
Adding solar heaters to a small garden greenhouse is a great way to extend your growing season and reduce energy costs during the colder months. Solar heaters operate off of solar energy, so you should install multiple panels on your greenhouse roof to provide enough heat.
One heater can run up to 1,500 watts, which means you would need 15 100-watt solar panels. These panels would also block light from entering your greenhouse. However, if you’re only adding one or two heaters, you should still have plenty of room for several panels.
Solar greenhouse heaters can also be installed on the roof or the sides of the greenhouse. Place them on the southern side, where they are not shaded during the day. The sun’s energy, in the form of heat, will “charge” the concrete slab.
Then, at night, the concrete slab will release that stored heat and keep the temperature stable. You can install solar fans behind the roof vents to further boost air circulation.
The cost of adding solar panels to a small greenhouse for the winter is a considerable investment. A single 100-AH deep-cycle battery costs around $200, while a dozen batteries would cost $2400. Then, you’d need a thermostat and a solar heater.
These components will cost about $12,000 for the entire system. But, remember that your greenhouse needs heating during the winter, and solar heaters can be an excellent way to achieve this goal.
When insulating your greenhouse, you should consider using glass, rather than the usual plastic. Glass is the best transparent material, so it’s important to choose triple or double-pane glass for the glazing.
However, you should avoid single-pane glass, as it’s expensive and not a good insulator. You should also consider installing heat-absorbing thermal mass, which is made of clay or concrete.
Ventilating a greenhouse in winter
Proper ventilation is essential for the survival of your plants. In winter, the temperature outside is cooler than the greenhouse’s temperature, so the ventilation system should be efficient and provide optimal humidity levels.
You can install exhaust fans at the base and near the ceiling of the greenhouse. The fans should be placed three feet above the greenhouse floor. If you cannot afford to install a mechanical ventilation system, you can install a fan at the top of the greenhouse canopy.
The ventilation rate of a greenhouse during the winter is two to three air changes per hour. A good ventilation rate will remove combustion gases from heaters and keep the greenhouse temperature consistent.
It will also prevent hot air from rising and cold air from staying close to the ground. Moreover, good ventilation will help keep your plants healthy and avoid damage caused by excessive heat. Hence, it is important to have a proper ventilation system in your greenhouse.
Ideally, you should have roof vents and side wall vents. The combined area of these two should be at least 20 percent of the greenhouse’s floor area. Moreover, you should use fan heaters that warm up the air entering the greenhouse.
These devices create air circulation and prevent air stagnation, even when the greenhouse doors are closed. Additionally, you should monitor the humidity level in your greenhouse. By monitoring the temperature and humidity, you can minimize your heating costs in winter.
Proper ventilation of a greenhouse in winter will keep it warm. A greenhouse that is overly heated will accumulate a lot of musty air that can slow down the growth of plants. Similarly, a greenhouse with too much humidity will increase relative humidity.
The relative humidity levels in a greenhouse will also rise if you use artificial heat sources like heaters. Ultimately, the plants will suffer. If proper ventilation is not done, plants won’t get the necessary nutrients to thrive.
Choosing a greenhouse for the winter
Choosing a small greenhouse for the winter can be an important decision for both you and your plants. The greenhouse should be built to withstand cold temperatures and provide a protected environment for your plants.
You can find greenhouses that are lightweight and easy to assemble. In addition, you should look for a greenhouse with a transparent top, as this will keep the heat inside and prevent it from escaping.
If you plan to use your greenhouse throughout the winter, you should purchase a greenhouse that can be transported easily from one place to another.
The greenhouse material that you choose should be easy to clean and maintain. You should also consider the climate where you live. A large greenhouse will be more resistant to harsh weather, but a smaller one will provide the same climate control for a shorter time.
If your greenhouse is small, opt for a lean-to, which will save space, and a smaller one that’s closer to your home. Moreover, you can choose a greenhouse with additional features, such as hooks for hanging your plants.
The best type of glazing is glass. Glass is the best material for glazing, but it is also the most expensive. Plastic sheeting will do the job, but it will deteriorate quickly. Polycarbonate, on the other hand, is less expensive but allows less light in.
It is also lightweight and can be used on flat surfaces. In addition to glass, you should also consider the availability of electricity and water.
The location of your greenhouse should face the south, away from big trees and other structures. The location should also be level so that it gets the maximum amount of sunlight each day. The greenhouse should also be oriented so that the largest side of it gets maximum exposure to the southern sun.
Even if you do not have enough space, you can use grow lights to make up for the lack of sunlight. Hydrofarm’s best 4ft T5 grow light is highly efficient and produces more than double the amount of light of normal fluorescent fixtures.***
