Hey guys I just picked up this small greenhouse at a local hardware store. I'm planning on using it for venus fly traps and other temperate plants that need to go dormant every year. I don't need to keep temperatures high in it, just above freezing. Any thoughts on how to accomplish this? Thanks everyone.
by rigrug3
13 Comments
So I forgot to add that I live in southeast Wisconsin and it usually gets a little bit bellow 0⁰F a few times every winter.
Keep it inside
Insulate entire interior w foam foil insulation boards, and put a seed starting electric pad on each shelf under your pots, then cross your fingers.
I use mine in an insulated portion of my shed. When it gets real cold I use a little heater, but the lights I use do a pretty good job of keeping it warm in there.
People are saying it’s not possible. I was able to keep mine at 50 degrees in 12 degree weather.
I did it by wrapping the interior in bubble wrap, then tarped the top, and took apart old pallets to use the boards as a wall outside.
I also kept a heater on that had temperature management.
I did all that for about 60 bucks, I got the greenhouse on a deal, and only bought the bubble wrap and heater and a tarp. You can get free pallets from lots of places. You can keep the pallets whole and line them up around it if need be.
I’d suggest doubling up the tarps, and because I had massive pots in there, they held heat in too. I also put it against my sliding door, so it wasnt losing as much heat from one side.
Good luck!!!!
I keep mine against the south face of my house which is sheltered but outdoors, however it only goes a few degrees below freezing where I live.
You can set up this container indoors in order to regulate humidity
Unless this is a funny looking Tardis you’ll need to keep it inside to achieve those results. It’s small – I’d spend the money on some decent grow lights that you’d otherwise waste trying to make this remotely climate controlled and keep it in your livingroom or whatever til Spring.
Also in WI, one of my employees was telling me about his greenhouse. It’s one of the larger harbor freight houses, and he has been keeping it warm with a diesel heater.
Pretty sure I have this exact same brand. I pretty much just use it to get a few weeks early ahead of spring. Plus I’m in east Tennessee so it doesn’t get too cold over here. Might have a hard time if you’re in southeast Wisconsin. Also keep a ton of weights on that thing. It dinged up my girlfriends car when mine got picked up by some strong winds a while back and flew around the yard.
Even proper greenhouses still go down to the outdoor temps unless heated with another heat source. This has very little insulative value and leaks air like a sieve. It’s more intended for humidity in houseplants.
Put it in a heated greenhouse
Terra cotta heater but I’d only use small candles and a small pot