Hi
and welcome to OrchidGreenhouse.com. DIY Greenhouses are one of the
most rewarding activities that you could do for yourself. A greenhouse
means the gardening season doesn't have to end with the onset of winter.
It provides a light-friendly location for growing flowers, vegetables
or other plants. Enjoy plump, juicy tomatoes in winter and decorate
your home with tropical flowers throughout the year. A greenhouse can
be built big or small, and designed to suit the casual hobbyist or serious
gardener.
Thanks to technological advances in building materials and available
features, constructing a high-quality greenhouse doesn't necessarily
require a lot of money or time. But careful planning is key before starting
the project.
Think about using salvaged materials if you want to build a large DIY
Greenhouse. This will keep costs lower, so more resources can go into
heating and irrigation systems. Also take your climate into account.
If you live in a temperate or cold region, then you'll want to build
an insulated greenhouse. If you live in a warmer climate, then you'll
want to have shade control as well - and in a desert region, you'll
need both.
First and foremost, decide on a proper location for the DIY Greenhouse.
The whole point of a greenhouse is exposure to sunlight, so locate the
building to maximize light exposure. Exposure to sunlight all day is
ideal, but morning sunlight is usually sufficient for plants.
Morning sunlight is most desirable because it initiates the plants'
food-production process early in the day, maximizing growth. Also, consider
what type of plants you intend to grow. Reproductive fruiting plants,
such as tomatoes and cucumbers, require more heat, light and control
than vegetative plants like herbs and lettuce.
Greenhouses protect crops from too much heat or cold, shield plants
from dust storms and blizzards, and help to keep out pests.
The design possibilities for a greenhouse are endless. When it comes
to size, plan the interior layout on graph paper, accounting for the
width, number and spacing of plant benches, as well as the walkways
between them.
Allow for storage space, and consider room for a small table and chair.
First decide how much room you need to create your DIY Greenhouse, and
then add more square footage to the plan. It is much easier and cheaper
to account for future expansion at the beginning than to add the needed
space later.
A wide selection of frame kits and raw framing materials are available
for greenhouses. They're commonly made of wood, aluminum or galvanized
steel. Plastic frames are generally considered too weak to meet wind
and snow-load requirements.
A concrete foundation is recommended, but a concrete floor may not
be a good idea. Water and soil can make a greenhouse floor a slippery,
soupy mess. Instead, many greenhouse floors are covered by several inches
of gravel to easily drain water from the structure. A 2- to 3-foot stone
or paver walkway can be installed between benches for easy access to
plants.
Make sure you take into account all of the procedures noted above.
The last thing you want is to invest a lot of time, money and sweat
and end up with a mess on your hands. Thank you for visiting OrchidGreenhouse.com
and make sure to refer back to this site often as we are continually
updating and keeping the site flowing with the most up to date information
possible.
