Greenhouses are meant to protect the plants within them and
to provide a warm indoor environment when the temperature outside falls. To
enable the plants within to survive during cold environments, it is essential
that they are kept warm; and a greenhouse does just that. Greenhouse structures
are warmed through the sun’s rays during the day but, the heat continually and
rapidly escapes as the sun sets. So, there are central heating systems
installed within to keep them warm throughout the day. However, these systems
can get quite expensive. For those of you who have greenhouse building as a
hobby, you would be looking for lesser expensive options to keep your
greenhouse warm. This blog helps you know the different ways to achieve the
same.
Thermostats
You can save not only money but energy too by only heating
greenhouses when necessary. Electric greenhouse heaters come with an in-built
thermostat which helps you set your greenhouse heaters to come on only when the
temperature drops below a certain point.
Water storage drums
Water is the cheapest method of capturing and collecting
solar heat. So, you can strategically position water storage tanks within your
greenhouse so that they can capture enough heat throughout the day. You can
fill black or dark coloured oil drums of 30 gallon capacity with water and
place them along the North wall of your greenhouse. These water drums make for
an efficient and affordable heating method.
Bubble wrap
insulation
Clip a layer of bubble wrap to the inside of your greenhouse
frame. This will reduce heat loss and block the chilly winter colds. You can
opt for horticultural bubble wrap insulation because this kind of wrap is UV
stabilized and toughened. The larger the bubbles, the more light is let in.
Improved ventilation
If you have increased humidity in your greenhouse, you will
have lesser opportunity of keeping it warm. Good ventilation will help you to
have a healthy growing environment by preventing the spread of fungal diseases.
Prevent moisture from building up – the moisture will trap and encourage a cold
environment.
Below frost line digging
Situate your greenhouse partially underground because this
is a place where there is a lot of thermal mass available that can store
energy. Dig a deep pit to just below the frost line in which you can situate
your greenhouse. The soil temperature here remains near 50°F all the year
round, which allows the sun’s energy stored to warm the walls of the greenhouse
at night.
With electrical energy getting so costly, it is becoming
vital to find an economical and effective form of heating the plants in a
greenhouse. Budget-minded people or those who have greenhouse building only as
a hobby can use the above mentioned tips to save on their money while
satisfying their inner self.
Whatever kind of greenhouse you wish to build, whether it is
for fulfilling the desire of your hobby, or it is for commercial purposes, you
must get your polycarbonate greenhouse panels from Tuflite Polymers if you want the best-in-class polycarbonate
materials.
