Did you know that the first greenhouse was built in the 1st century AD? Well, greenhouses have come a long way since then in terms of technology, know-how and materials. Back then, the transparent part of the greenhouse was made of mica and its walls were made of stone.
Nowadays it is glass, plastic or polycarbonate depending on the size and budget.
Location, location, location
First of all, figuring out where to put your greenhouse is of paramount importance. It is also important which direction the greenhouse is facing in relation to sunrise and sunset, as you want to maximize the amount of sunlight you get. The east-west facing greenhouse with the largest side facing south is best for maximum sunlight. Grow lights may still be necessary, especially if you live in the northern hemisphere.
Also, you need to take into account the size of the greenhouse you want and the structure will fit in the space you choose on your land. After all, are there deciduous trees that you can take advantage of? Does that mean trees can provide shade in the hot summer months and be leafless in winter to let in more sun? Using your surroundings in this way can give your crops and wallet plenty of energy to cool / heat the greenhouse space.
Freestanding or attached?
The advantage of freestanding, of course, is that they can be built anywhere. This means a more expensive build as you have four walls to build and durability is a bigger concern. That's the downside. Being freestanding can act more as an escape from the home, which might be desirable. That would definitely be a pro. With grown you have more stability as it is attached to your garage or house and you only have to build three walls. In addition, of course, you do not have the freedom to choose the best location.
glazing
As for the materials that you actually make the greenhouse a greenhouse out of, you have glass, plastic, or polycarbonate. Glass is best, but expensive and breakage can be a hazard. Plastic is inexpensive but quickly deteriorates and needs to be replaced sooner. Polycarbonate is the best choice for price and weight. You can even use it colored polycarbonate sheets than the sides where sunlight is not important to capture too. Polycarbonate also stores heat better than glass or plastic, making it ideal for greenhouses. It's also very strong and can be bent for rounded or curved surfaces.
Environmental control
Of course, temperature and humidity are conditions that your greenhouse must take care of in order to have the optimal growing conditions, but you also need to consider insects and diseases. In terms of temperature and humidity, you can buy gauges for both. The challenge can be actually meeting the terms under which they are supposed to apply to your green babies. You can buy underground heating systems as well as heat lamps, but make sure you have proper ventilation and automatic shutdown as well.
In the event of insects and diseases in your plant's house, make sure the building is sealed and screened to keep the nasty insects out. Sometimes the insects are introduced through your clothes or garden tools. So make sure they all stay clean and free of external elements when caring for your plants. This includes any seedlings or potted plants that you bring with you. Visually inspect them to make sure they are clean and free of unwanted elements. Speaking of bugs, Some mistakes are good to have in your greenhouse. These include ladybugs, green lacewings, spider mite predators, or whitefly parasites that the evil beetles eat. Most experienced greenhouse growers advise against using pesticides in greenhouse environments.
Other tips
If you live in a cool climate, you can add stones and / or barrels of water to trap the warmth of the sun and dissolve on the cool evenings. Since you've decided on a greenhouse that should be around for a while, you have the luxury of starting slowly if you are a beginner. First, try growing things like leafy greens like spinach or lettuce. Plus, tomatoes, radishes, and peppers are easy to grow to get your feet wet.
Time to grow!
Investing in a greenhouse can be an expensive undertaking. Especially for someone who has little to no green thumb to draw from. Using articles like this to get good advice so that your plants or flowers are abundant is a rewarding experience for you.
