We had a beautiful balcony garden this year and want to keep our plants over the winter. I initially thought we should bring them inside and set up a sort of shelf. The issue here is that we have cats and they do eat plants so we do need some kind of enclosure.

Most of the garden is flowers, so the plants we’d like to keep is our hibiscus plant, sweet potato vines, and senecio angel wings. We also have lantanas, begonias, lilies, dahlias, snap dragons, and coral bells all of which I doubt would make it.

The sweet potato vines have gotten pretty big so would not fit what I have found.

What my ideas were so far:

• repurpose a large curio cabinet. 48” wide, 72” tall, 13.5” deep. The plants are currently too large to fit in this without being slightly compressed. I’m not sure how big of a problem this would be. We could look into hanging the light, but it is massive and might be sketchy. I saw you can also do a side mount light which could work if spacing wasn’t a problem. There is a mirror in the back of the curio cabinet which would reflect light. If needed, we could replace the glass on the sides with net for ventilation.

• build a small greenhouse outside. Not sure what materials would be needed. I saw a base is important. I have no problem building something to withstand the winter if I knew what dimensions and items were needed. I could do composting, but am unsure how much would be needed to heat up the space. I also am questioning if ventilation would be needed, I assume so, but not sure how much.

I’m hoping someone can help me with this. Im open to learning so any resources or links anyone may know of would also be great.

Hello I am building a small green house out of old windows. For heating my idea was to heat the green house using a barrel with an aquarium heater at the appropriate size per gallons and an intake for cold at the bottom and exit for heated water at the top. The heated water at the top would travel through a pipe or hose and cycle around the green house going through the soil of the planters and cycling back to the bottom of the barrel. Using heat as the only power for the pumping motion. This would be a closed system and would not water anything.

My question is will that be sufficient for a 10x10 area in the winter and also can I add some radiating metal to the exterior of the barrels such as spirals copper etc to help heat the air. Also considering in addition to a geothermal system small that goes down into the ground and is fan powered on a timer.

Please give me your thoughts and advice.

I'm making some 2x2 cold frames and don't want to buy an expensive roll of 6mil plastic for just a few frames. Is it possible to stack say 3 layers of 2mil or can I get away with using just 2mil?

Is there any greenhouse that expands into a covered swimming pool?? The pool part must be retractable during summer. I cant find anything on google. Wondering if anyone has had this question and managed to find an eye pleasing solution.

I have a lot of options, as far as location and sun exposure. If I put it on the ground, I will have to grade to make a flat space.

I think it should be on the ground but, I do have enough deck space. My only concern there would be maintaining temperature, on the random days that could dip into the teens F. If I put it on the deck, most of the deck needs to be replaced and I'd have to move it eventually.

I'm mostly looking at options on Costco's website, since they have an 8x10 version of the Yardistry Cedar framed greenhouse going on sale next week for $1599... But they have the 6x8 aluminum frame Palram brand that is always around $750.

I had an idea to build one from scratch out of old windows but, it never happened and, I feel like a kit will be the most encouraging thing for me to build.

We get serious wind storms so, I don't think the tunnels are the best idea for me, that said, if I needed to it near a tree for shade, falling branches would be an issue eventually.

I'm absolutely open to suggestions and tips since these options might be more than I need to spend as well.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16dbdLhXjFeE-gB2EPrORfwf1Sui5k0msCxLjCsQ4_pA/edit?usp=sharing

My specs/application were:

• IMPORTANT: Not planning on summer use, mostly to overwinter woody ornamentals and extend the season for bonsai material seed starts and cuttings/airlayers.
• Good quality and long lasting - a step up from PVC or cattle panel frame
• Goals: protect from desiccating wind, add ~10 F to ambient winter lows while preventing too much solar gain that might reduce or break dormancy hours (hence white overwintering film and shade cloth)
• Built into a slight hillside, so need to invest in grading, small retaining wall, and drainage.
• 250-400 s.f.
• Total Budget target $3k (failure)

It's not super comprehensive, but it's about 90% of the way there and maybe it will help someone else save several days of effort. Feel free to clone and use for yourself if it's helpful!

I like to create floor plans and other projects and right now I am making tropical vivarium greenhouse.

Dimensions: around 10x5x3 meters (30x15x9 feet if 1 feet is equal to 30cm) although probably less

The bottom meter would be made of bricks or cider bricks(insulated) that would be covered in earth from outer side + Swedish skirt. There would be pond of at least 3000L(1000gallon) and plants would be planted directly. Glass would be insulated+bubble wrap+wire to prevent animals from escaping.

North wall would be solid, painted black with a large compost pile behind it that would contain pipes to get hot air/water inside.

Area around it would be filled with evergreen shrubs or trees to serve as winbrakes. Southern side would contain large trees(sugar maple, oaks and such) that will block sunlight in summer.

If we ignore finance is this possible to make

I have a 2300 sqft greenhouse in Michigan that is setup by previous owners with 50 gallon barrels, 4 rows down with about 15 barrels per row. I was thinking about composting in every other barrel over the winter and growing hardy crops in the other ones with the hope of spreading enough composting across the greenhouse to naturally heat up the greenhouse that way. As the compost breaks down later in the year those can be used to plant crops and then we would switch the composting to the other barrels. I believe the barrels were placed there for ease of planting and to deter groundhogs from getting to them. There are crops that are on the ground between barrels that don't require a lot of maintenance if only more aggressive harvesting because they do well just under cover.

Thoughts? My sense fesls like that the barrels used for composting may not give enough heat but in the least we have some fresh dirt to use.

Hi! I am looking to design a 10x12 backyard greenhouse/sunroom. Gravel bottom, climate has snow, rain and wind in winter so leak proof. I will also want to have automatic vents for summer. Any direction would be appreciated!

I'm looking at getting a 200-350 sf high tunnel for overwintering woody ornamentals in zone 7 (western NC). I just need to protect new cuttings and some more sensitive species from desiccating winter winds and maybe keep the temps on the ground 10-15 degrees above ambient. Right now I'm choosing between Bootstrap Farmer 12ft DIY kit and Growers Solution 16ft Low Endwall Kit.

All in all, they're quite similar, and budgeting out everything I'd need I think the GS kit comes in similarly priced for more square footage and less time spent constructing - both very important to me. My only concern is that GS does not seem to have as good instructions/customer support, not as many positive reviews (here's a set of quite critical ones), return policy is inflexible, and shipping costs/times are unknown. Also I know BSF will make me a custom kit so I can use my own opaque white overwintering film, and I haven't yet asked GS if they will do so.

Can anyone weigh in with experience on their kits and customer support experience? Thanks!

I've just gotten my 10x20 greenhouse built and ready to use, but I'm learning I will need a lot more help keeping it warm enough to grow tomatoes and cucumbers year round in central Illinois. I was toying with the idea of a small wood stove on one end, and an electric heater/fan combo on the other end of the greenhouse to keep it warm, but will that be enough? Picture of my cat, Ducky, inspecting the greenhouse for good measure 😊

We bought a house that has a greenhouse, however the panels are thinly painted gray. It still seems decently bright but I've never properly gardened before so my question is would I be able to grow anything in here or do I need to completely replace them? I'm in Zone 8

*unsure how to add photos 🥲

Thank you!

It seems like an affordable method. What are the pros and cons? Thanks!

Managed to get one of these pretty cheap but the cover doesnt say what its actual UV resistance is with the only thing I can find is "140g/cm² PE cover".

Anyone had any experience with these types of cheaper internet greenhouses and if an extra layer of shade cloth is needed?

https://preview.redd.it/kno2nw8s33jd1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e2b58c4588923320edced0c6107588b0ab448515

Hi - I have an old (but looks stable) Green house.

First thing I need to do is replace some panes - Any recommendations for suppliers? (UK)

Second, some of the glass is covered in a white substance. Not sure if this is intentional or a build up of something? Should I clean it off?

thanks, and apologies for the simple questions....

First year with a greenhouse and I’ve been battling >95 degree temps here in 7a. I planted things outside and inside the greenhouse to see what they prefer.

Everything I have in 5 gallon buckets is sad. Tomatoes are purple and stunted and 2/3 jalapeños are mostly sad. The one jalapeño in an actual pot is very happy though. I think I need to ditch 5 gallon buckets because I’m pretty sure I have enough drainage holes. I’m curious what a tomato in a real pot would look like inside the greenhouse. The outside tomatoes are going wild. I gave away too many jalapeño seedlings to plant both outside and inside.

1 Summer squash and 1 cantaloupe are very happy but pollination has been less than outside. They don’t mind the 100+ degree highs I’ve been getting during heat waves. The summer squash outside never took off and they have been tormenting me with a slow death. Outside cantaloupe is just as happy but no fruit ready yet.

I have a new solar set up for fans but the 1 100ah battery I have can’t keep it going 24/7. Going to get another to run in parallel next summer.

I was going to grow more seedlings for an extended growing season in July but I missed that. I wonder if it’s too late? I have a bunch of seeds so was thinking of going wild this Sunday with seeds and see what grows into the fall. I have enough table space for seed trays and no life so I don’t see what I’ve got to loose.

Ps: this cantaloupe was perfect

any estimates on heater size needed for ~24x48x13 greenhouse? Double layer 6 mil plastic with blower/inflation. ~1200 square feet.

I'm in zone 6a and plan to heat to ~45 - 50 degrees during winter. propane main source of fuel.

First thought is something ~125,000 BTU output but not sure if that would have enough power for the random REALLY cold nights. Curious to hear others thoughts and if there is any advice you have for heating something that size!