Greenhouse Heating For Success

There are several ways to plan successful greenhouse heating. Since greenhouses have to let sunshine in, they do not have the same high insulation as other structure such as your home. The greenhouse heating decisions you make are crucial to keep your plants from getting frost bitten during cold nights.



Greenhouse heating should be kept at a constant level. Plants do best when the temperature fluctuates gradually, which is why twin-wall covering is ideal. Greenhouse heating needs to be carefully monitored at all times and in every season.



Heat loss occurs through the covering of the greenhouse on cold, windy and clear nights and this can wreak havoc on your plants without proper greenhouse heating. There are many heaters to choose from to keep your greenhouse at a constant warm temperature. Some may hang from the structure of the greenhouse and others are designed to sit on the floor. It is best to have the heaters at ground level for slower heat loss.



Some heaters have built in fans or distribute the hot air with convection heat. If there are still cold spots in the greenhouse, circulation fans can also help with greenhouse heating needs. There are a variety of fans on the market that will help circulate the air to the places where it’s needed.



Greenhouse heating requires planning. Make sure to consider the location of the greenhouse. If you have a lean-to unit, you might be able to use air from your home. Otherwise plan to wire electricity or bring a gas line to your greenhouse for an energy source for your greenhouse heater. When considering greenhouse heating, you will also have to consider the type of plants or flowers you will be growing. Cool weather crops require far less greenhouse heating than tropicals or tomatoes. So figure out what temperature level you will maintain in your greenhouse. To determine what your greenhouse heater you need, calculate the surface area of your greenhouse and use a greenhouse heating calculator.



Greenhouse heating is one of those areas of greenhouse gardening that requires some planning and calculating if you are striving for success in the greenhouse.



About the author:
Michelle Moore has nearly 20 years experience using and designing greenhouses and is an Oregon State University Master Gardener. You can find additional useful greenhouse information at http://www.greenhousecatalog.com

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