Plant lovers are on the lookout for methods to extend the growing season of plants. They experiment with various tools to boost their yield. This is one reason why they opt for a mini greenhouse. There are a variety of mini greenhouse kits available at nurseries and catalogs. Else, if you have the right materials, you can build one yourself. Once you are sure about the budget and needs, you can make one easily.
Gardening is made possible all year round using these greenhouses. With the right greenhouse, you can take care of your plants better. You can either purchase them or build them yourself. This will help in reducing the cost. In addition, you will also learn to care for your plants in a greenhouse environment. Mini greenhouses are generally used for growing smaller plants. The indoor greenhouse help to maintain a warm temperature in the air and soil. The greenhouses are usually set up indoors. However, you can also install them outdoors in sunny temperatures. We will discuss the different types of greenhouses and other aspects of the same.
What is a Mini Greenhouse?
The idea of a greenhouse was first known in England and the Netherlands. The early attempt was done as early as the 17th century. It required a lot of work and faced serious problems in the initial stages. Identifying the correct temperatures took a lot of time. In 1681, the first greenhouse was finished in Chelsea Physic Garden. Today, some of the biggest greenhouses are present in the Netherlands. They produce millions of fruits and vegetables every year.
A greenhouse is also known as a glasshouse. If it has sufficient heating, it is called hothouse. The outsunny greenhouse is a system with roof and walls. They are made with transparent material. The indoors are set up with regulated temperatures where plants are grown. The structures vary in size. While some are huge, others are small. A micro greenhouse is also called a cold frame. The interior of the plastic greenhouse is exposed to sunlight. This keeps the internal structure of the greenhouse warm.
A majority of the greenhouse are high production facilities for fruits, vegetables, or flowers. The greenhouses include equipment like screening installations, cooling, heating, lighting. These might be controlled by a computer to set up growing conditions for the plants. There are different methods that are used to control the temperatures for plant growth. We will look into more details in the further sections.
Why are Greenhouses Important?
Greenhouses are built for a variety of purposes. Let us look at how greenhouses are beneficial.
1. Protects from pests
Small pests like caterpillars, rodents, or snails can cause damage to your plants. Even larger animals may be interested in eating the harvest. Building a greenhouse ensures that these pests are away from the plants. They protect the plants and help them grow. Now you don’t need to worry about your plants being damaged.
2. Extend the growing season
Small greenhouses help in extending the growing period of plants. A greenhouse protects plants from temperature swings. They help in retaining moisture and heat. This allows you to sell products that are out of season. In addition, you can also garden during the winter without any worries. You can use greenhouses to grow your own vegetables. Similarly, you can also build them to sell the produce.
3. Keeps plants safe from harsh weather
Drastic temperature changes can cause damage to plants. High winds, hail, dust storms, and blizzards can be dangerous to plants. A greenhouse makes it possible to grow plants in extreme conditions as well. If there are excellent weather conditions, a simple storm can ruin your produce. Hence it is best to get a greenhouse.
4. Prevents soil erosion
The pop-up greenhouse is known to prevent soil erosion. Such conditions occur during rainstorms or flash floods. With greenhouses, you never have to worry about losing your harvest. Your plants will always be safe within the greenhouse.
5. Enjoy gardening all year round
With greenhouses, you can enjoy your hobby irrespective of the season. It does not matter what the condition is outside. Patio greenhouses allow you to plant throughout the year. If gardening is your thing, this is the best way to enjoy it. You can opt from a number of different greenhouses like the plastic greenhouse. You can also keep the gardening tools and store them.
Examples of Greenhouse Structures
There are different types of greenhouse structures that we will discuss below.
1. Terrariums
A terrarium is an open vessel which has a growing environment. It has a small atmospheric space to grow plants. It has a warm sunlight structure. Also, it has a unique climate setting. The set up is usually like a tropical rainforest. It is suitable for growing ferns, mosses, and similar plants. These setups we’re previously used to study rare plants and insects. The structure is sometimes used as a home for snakes too.
2. Propagators
Propagator greenhouses are small growing trays. They are very small as compared to the rest. They have plastic transparent covers on the top. The main purpose of this is to germinate the seeds initially. They can then be transferred onto a bigger setup. In addition, they are planted on south-facing window ledges. This allows them to grow early. There are electric heated propagators available in the market as well.
3. Mini Pop Up Greenhouse
The mini pop up greenhouse is similar to the pop-up tents. It is pretty simple to set up as well. Allow the greenhouse to pop up and you are done. The space allows you to grow plants of your choice. They are portable and convenient as well. In addition, you have to be sure to anchor them well. Else, there is a possibility that it may blow with the wind. These are suitable for growing small plants.
4. Cloche
These are used to cover plants that have been recently planted. Young plants do not grow well when planted outside. Even during the cold seasons, the cloches allow plants to adapt. The main purpose of cloches is to protect from the cold. It does not create any warm temperatures. They are available in a wide range of variety. There are individual plant covers and foldable plastic tunnels. The long planting tunnels are the most popular ones. They are used by vegetable gardeners on a wide scale.
5. Cold frames
Cold frames are tough structures made from glass and timber. They make use of horizontal space. In addition, they have a lid to open and close. This allows you to grow young plants and seedlings outside. This practice ensures that the plants adapt and gain strength. These mini greenhouses make sure the plants grow well. Plants are such settings that are made to adapt to changes. Hence, they are placed out on sunny days and put back at night. There is a wide range of options available in these frames.
6. Walk-In Garden Greenhouse
As the name suggests, the walk-in garden greenhouse allows you to walk in the space. They have shelves and planting areas on either side of the structure. There are different setups of tabletop greenhouses available. It gives you a feeling of walking in your wardrobe but with plants. There are various structures of walk-in greenhouses to select from.
7. Lean To Mini Greenhouse
This kind of structure depends on external vertical surfaces. These surfaces could be a wall or anything similar. This allows you to create an enclosed growing area. If you have any unused vertical space, consider setting these up. While they are placed leaning on a wall, they create the perfect atmosphere. These structures save space and are recommended.
8. Mini Greenhouse Dome
These domes are in fashion currently. They come in a variety of sizes. The sizes range from small domes to larger greenhouses. The larger domes are built with glass and metalwork. However, they aren’t the perfect choice for growing plants. The dome shape can be an obstruction for the plants. The circular walls and edges make it difficult to add shelves to it. Besides, they can be suitable for short plants. In addition, they add a beautiful structure to your gardens. This plexiglass greenhouse is very modern and exciting to look at.
9. Victorian Mini Greenhouse
The Victorian Greenhouse is a modern and decorative structure. The Victorians used to build these in earlier times. They used them to store exotic treasures. Due to its exotic look, there are many greenhouses inspired by them. They are very attractive and beautifully built. They are best for small plants. They are available in a wide range of sizes and colors. You can select the ones preferable to your needs.
10. Mini Greenhouse Shed
Another type of greenhouse is the mini greenhouse shed. They are similar to the shed in structure. The one side of the shed is glass. This allows a warm temperature with good space. The additional space can be used to store gardening tools. You can also store gardening equipments in them. The shed has large windows too.You can grow a variety of plants in the area.
Tips To Grow Plants in Greenhouses
Growing your own produce can be exciting. Here are some tips that will help you grow plants round the year.
1. Seasonal Starting Seeds
Make sure that you have the right tools for seed starting. Some of the important things you need are as follows. Get the right containers for the seeds. Next, you need sterile soil which ensures it avoids pest infection. In addition, you need water and fertilizer. If the temperature is cooler, invest in heaters too. There are many tools available for the purpose.
2. Heating
Heating is quite important in a tiny greenhouse. During the winter seasons, it is best to get one. You can start with electric heaters. They are easy to install and use. In addition, they are affordable and have more options. You can get a heater as per the size of the greenhouse. It is important to keep the temperatures warm in order for the growth of plants.
3. Light sources
Your plants will need sunlight to grow. Hence, you need to also have a supplementary light system. This ensures you have strong and healthy plants. LED glow light and fluorescent lamps are the most popular ones. This is because they can cover a large area. They also have a full spectrum light.
4. Cooling
During the hot seasons, it can be tough to maintain the temperature in the greenhouse. Cooling a greenhouse that is hot can be tough. Hence, it is important to measure the temperature at all times. If the greenhouse gets too hot, you can buy evaporative air coolers. These lock moisture and humidity.
5. Ventilation
During the summer, it can be easy to maintain ventilation. However, during the cold seasons, it can be tough. During the cold weather, you can make sure that the soil is not over watered. You can consider buying an oscillating fan. This will be helpful during the colder months.
6. Water the Plants
It is important to know that there is a frequency to water plants. Plants require less water during the winter season. However, you will have to water them more during the summer seasons. During the winter, you can water the seeds every 10 days. The frequency changes as per the climate.
Conclusion:
Greenhouses can be used for multiple things. It allows you to experiment and grow a variety of plants. You can choose to grow different plants all at once. With greenhouses, you can make a dedicated gardening spot. The greenhouse allows you to store tools and accessories for the same. When you use a greenhouse, your plants are secure from the weather. In addition, they are safe from pests too. You can avoid infestation with greenhouses. You can choose from a variety of structures to suit your needs. Besides, you can also grow out of season produce. Investing in the greenhouse is a great option. They have multiple benefits than you can imagine.
