Greenhouses On The Move

Greenhouses are fast becoming popular with plant lovers. Because of the benefits a

greenhouse has to offer, more and more hobbyists are considering on having one in their

homes. However, most people are likely change residence for a number of reasons, including

better job opportunities. Since a full-sized greenhouses would be impractical to relocate, such

people can make use of portable types.

Portable greenhouses, are required to be light weight so that they are easy to transfer.

Furthermore, they must be compact, east to setup and dismantle. In fact most portable

greenhouse kits can be erected with in 30 minutes. Being compact, these greenhouses can be

easily stored in a convenient location, such as a garage or in a closet when not in used.

Purpose

In terms of functionality, portable greenhouses are required to trap sunlight within their

enclosure, making use of the greenhouse effect. This is exactly what is required of a regular

greenhouse. However, in addition to this a portable greenhouse is required to be light weight

and easy to commission.

Usefulness

Portable greenhouses are well suited for early plantation of seeds, protection of tender plants

from cold weather and growing different plants species not commonly found in the area.

Popularity

The popularity of portable greenhouses in on the rise among gardeners. This is primarily due to

the fact that these models set up quite quickly and easily. Furthermore, they can be pulled down

within no time, allowing the space to be used for some other purpose. Thus the space occupied

by a portable greenhouse does not get locked up, but remains available.

Portable greenhouses are also recommended for beginners since this will allow them hands on

experience on a greenhouse before they decide to build a full-sized one. To top it all, portable

hothouses are also inexpensive to setup as well as to maintain. As a result, first timers can

begin their gardening without spending large sums of money to purchase parts needed to setup

a full-scale greenhouse. Moreover, since their installation is faster and easier than regular ones

so no advanced tools or expertise is required.

Types of portable greenhouses

Portable greenhouses are available in various shapes and sizes. They could be in the form of a

small tent in which only 2 plant shelves can be placed. Others may look like portable closets,

about 6 feet tall. Bigger models, around 7 to 8 feet high are also available. These larger

greenhouses can accommodate up to 3 to 4 larger shelves within.

Operating a portable greenhouse

Weather conditions can fluctuate rapidly. Keep an eye on the weather report that is available on

the internet or broadcast on your local radio and television. During sudden cold spells cover the

greenhouse at night with leaves filled sacks for insulation. This would prevent the ambience

inside from getting cold. .

During hot spells, on the other hand, the portable greenhouse can be moved to a shady

location. Alternately, some form of covering can be used over the frame to prevent sunlight from

being transmitted inside.

Portable greenhouses would be useful for both amateur gardeners as well as professional ones.

Their portability allows you to transport it to a more convenient location. Furthermore, Its

maintenance is not as costly as in the case with permanent, full-sized ones. As a result, every

one stands to benefit from a portable greenhouse.

Types Of Greenhouses

After you decide that you want to build a greenhouse, you have to decide next what type to

build. This should not be a difficult one to address, provided you know what kinds of plants you

want to grow. You will need to answer questions such as:

ð What will my greenhouse be principally used for?

ð Do I want a large or small greenhouse?

ð Will the greenhouse be the main attraction of my garden?

ð Is my garden exposed to strong winds?

ð Are there young children or wild animals in the area?

Factors such as cost and space will determine the type of greenhouse you build. If you do live

in a windy area, it may be worth to spend the extra money for a solid and sturdy greenhouse. If

you live near a large hardware store or a nursery, or even a do-it-yourself home center, go and

visit some models. The customer service representative should be able to provide you with

valuable information before you make a final decision.

So as not to mislead you, while there may be different types of greenhouse designs, we're

talking about the same greenhouse. You get to decide which type you want it to be. For

example, if temperature is the main factor, because of the plant varieties you want to grow, then

there are three types in terms of temperature control. There are also different types of

greenhouses based on structural design. We'll start with temperature control factors.

For temperature control purposes, three types of greenhouses exist:

What You Get From Lean-To Greenhouses

A lean-to greenhouse is perhaps the simplest and most versatile form of greenhouse available.

It lends itself to home construction and can be fitted into a limited space. Its characteristic

feature is that is makes use of an existing structure. It might be built against the wall of a house,

garage or a boundary wall.

A lean-to greenhouse might be a simple temporary structure made of plastic sheeting or it might

be an elaborate permanent structure that could be dignified with the name "conservatory".

Either way it is a lean-to greenhouse. It differs from other types of greenhouse in not being a

free-standing structure.

The lean-to greenhouse has a reputation for being a make-shift structure, but there is no reason

why it should be. The classic vine house of the nineteenth century was often a lean-to structure

build along the wall of the vegetable garden of an English stately home.

Those of us with smaller budgets can still take advantage of the benefits offered by a lean-to

greenhouse. The main advantage that is unique to the lean-to greenhouse is that the wall

against which it is built acts as a heat store. A south-facing wall that receives the sun's rays

throughout the day will give out heat all night. The wall acts as a kind of storage heater. Owners

of other types of greenhouse try all kinds of expedients to achieve the same kind of thermal

properties that a lean-to greenhouse has naturally.

A lean-to greenhouse has greener credentials because it retains heat in this way. Less

supplementary heating is needed for a lean-to greenhouse than a free standing structure. It may

also offer benefits to the house that it is built against. The lean-to greenhouse can act as a

source of solar heating for the house.

The other main advantage of the lean-to greenhouse is its height. Its height is limited by the

height of the wall against which the lean-to greenhouse is built, but even so there is less wasted

space than in many other types of greenhouse. A lean-to greenhouse offers more usable space

than the popular dome shaped greenhouse.

For this reason the lean-to greenhouse is the ideal choice where space is limited. The lean-to

greenhouse can even be constructed on a small patio or balcony. Even a roof garden could

accommodate a lean-to greenhouse. No one need be excluded from greenhouse gardening. A

comparatively small space can yield impressive results with a lean-to greenhouse.

In some cases it is possible to fill the while of a lean-to greenhouse with plants without reserving

any space for an access path. The gardener can access the plants from outside the lean-to

greenhouse if the sides can be opened by means of sliding panels.

As in any other greenhouse the lean-to greenhouse needs adequate provision for heating,

ventilation and watering. You will probably want to automate these systems to some extent. It

may be possible to achieve this more easily in a lean-to greenhouse because of its proximity to

the house. With a lean-to greenhouse it is easier to run in a supply of water and electricity than

it would be at some distance from the house.

Are there any disadvantages to the lean-to greenhouse? Yes, but not many and they can be

overcome.

When constructing a lean-to greenhouse it is important to ensure that the a good waterproof

seal is achieved with the wall. This is particularly essential if it is build against a house wall.

Flashing must be used in this context. Otherwise you will get water seepage and the wall will

become discolored with mould. If you are building against a garden wall this is not such a major

problem.

It may be necessary to check whether your proposed lean-to greenhouse contravenes any

building regulations. The size of structure or the materials may be limited. so find out before you

start and make a costly mistake.

So free-standing structure or lean-to greenhouse the choice is yours. But there are many

advantages to the lean-to greenhouse. The lean-to greenhouse offers the best use of space and

good thermal properties. Do not let the old image of the lean-to greenhouse put you off. It is

possible to develop an aesthetically pleasing design for the lean-to greenhouse.

The Purposes Of Hydroponics Greenhouses

Hydroponics has been practiced for centuries. It is thought that the Hanging Gardens of Babylon

were a hydroponic system. In its modern form it was developed during the Second World War.

US Air force personnel used hydroponics to grow crops at military bases in the Middle East and

Pacific.

With the advent of new plastic materials and new growing mediums hydroponics has become a

practical proposition for the amateur. It is already widely used in commercial greenhouses.

The advantage of hydroponics is that it allows the grower to control the nutrients that are fed to

the plant with great exactitude. Nothing is wasted and plants get exactly the nutrients they need

at each stage in their life cycle.

There are a number of methods that are suited to the amateur and can be set up in a domestic

greenhouse. The most common is probably the flood and drain method but the thin nutrient film

method is gaining in popularity. Both are ideally suited to the greenhouse.

An alternative method is deep water hydroponics. This is less suitable for the greenhouse. But it

may have applications when used in conjunction with fish keeping. The waste excreted by the

fish acts a source of nutrients for plants. This type of hydroponics or aquaculture is perhaps a

little too specialized for most hobbyists but worth keeping in mind.

For most greenhouses a flood and drain system or a thin nutrient film method will work well and

they are not difficult to build. The necessary supplies are available from specialist retailers most

of whom have websites. They will be pleased to advise a novice about the best equipment for

their greenhouse.

Many of the supplies that you will need can be sourced from your local hardware retailer.

Square section rainwater guttering, plastic pipes and water tanks are easy enough to find. A

great deal of a typical greenhouse hydroponic system can be made by an amateur.

The food and drain system involves flooding water into a plant container and then letting it drain

out again. It is as simple as that. Your greenhouse needs to be equipped with a reservoir for

water, pipes to transport it and a pump to circulate the water around the system.

You need a tray or other container with an outlet for the water. The container should be filled

with a growing medium such as perlite, coconut fiber, rockwool or clay pebbles. Rockwool is

most commonly used in commercial greenhouses.

The thin nutrient film works well in the greenhouse. It simply requires a water proof surface.

Even a sheet of glass will do. A steady flow of water is run constantly over the roots.

Special hydroponic nutrients are available. They are designed for general use, for specific

crops, or for particular stages of growth. These must be added to the reservoir in the quantity

specified by the manufacturer. All the plants in your greenhouse can be fed from a common

source through a system of pipes leading to and from the reservoir.

A simple hydroponic system might consist of a series of rainwater gutters running down either

side of a rectangular greenhouse with a reservoir at one end. To make the most of the space in

your greenhouse you can arrange the gutters in tiers. A larger greenhouse might have gutters

arranged across the width of the greenhouse.

A more developed system in a large greenhouse could put the gutters on rollers so that they be

moved. An efficient system of sowing at one end and harvesting at the other can be achieved

using this system.

In a circular greenhouse a system of trays might be more efficient. If they all slope down to a

central reservoir the need for piping will be minimized. The reservoir can be covered with

decking so that you can stand on it tend the plants.

Hydroponic systems work best if the water is heated to about 55 degrees. This temperature is

will be reached in most greenhouses during the summer. But in the winter you may need to heat

the reservoir when you heat the rest of the greenhouse.

Hyrodoponic systems can be used out of doors, but they really come into their own in the

greenhouse. The advantage of hydroponics in the greenhouse is that is allows you to exercise

complete control over your greenhouse. Not only is the temperature, watering and atmosphere

of the greenhouse under your hands but so is the exact level of nutrients fed to the plants.