Gardeners looking to extend their season, start seeds or those who want to create an indoor oasis may consider a greenhouse as their next home remodeling project. Greenhouses provide a great place to grow your plants, and can offer some other surprising uses as well. Whether you’re an avid gardener, or just a lover of nature, greenhouses can add life, warmth and comfort to your home.
A Brief History of Greenhouses
The idea of growing plants in a controlled environment has existed since Roman times. Roman emperor Tiberius ate a cucumber-like vegetable every day. Needing to make sure their emperor was kept happy, Roman gardeners constructed an artificial garden in order to ensure the emperor had his preferred meal. This garden was certainly not a modern greenhouse, but it is one of the first examples in history of temperature controlled gardening.
The first known description of a heated greenhouse comes from Sanga Yorok, a Korean cookbook from 1459 compiled by a royal physician of the Joseon dynasty. It contains detailed instructions on constructing a greenhouse to grow vegetables, flowers and fruit within an artificially heated environment. They used ondol, a traditional Korean underfloor heating system, to help heat the greenhouse. Cob walls were used to retain heat, and semi-transparent oiled hanji windows were used to allow light into the greenhouse whilst providing protection from the outside environment.
The “Golden Age” of greenhouses took place in Victorian England. Members of the wealthy upper class constructed large and lavish greenhouses. They did this to compete with each other and flaunt their wealth. Those greenhouses followed the same models used by the Koreans, but on a much grander scale.
Modern, at-home greenhouses first proliferated in the 1960s, in large part due to the introduction of wider sheets of polyethylene film, which offered greater protection to greenhouse windows. This wider film allowed small greenhouse owners to create a better and more consistent climate at home.
Freestanding vs. Attached
When deciding what kind of greenhouse you want for your home consider usage, lighting and available space. If you are an avid gardener, you may want to consider a freestanding greenhouse. They can be any size, shape or style and you are only limited by your imagination. They can also be expanded if you find that your initial greenhouse was not big enough. Freestanding greenhouses should be located facing east or west to maximize the light, and given Wisconsin’s winters, be sure the location you choose avoids harsh winter winds.
Attached greenhouses are easily accessible as they are attached to your home, or another structure. This makes connecting water and power to your greenhouse easier. Attached greenhouses retain more heat than freestanding greenhouses because there is less exposure to the outside elements. Attached greenhouses can provide health benefits because they naturally add humidity to your home during the winter, helping alleviate dry skin and other ailments related to dry air.
Starting From The Bottom
Once you have picked a style of greenhouse, then construction can begin. Choosing the right foundation for your greenhouse is very important. The foundation contributes to the greenhouse’s ability to retain heat and humidity. There are many different types of foundation to choose from, however, we recommend concrete. This is an ideal choice as concrete provides a permanent and level surface for your greenhouse.
The DIY method for building a greenhouse is generally anchoring a metal frame into the soil, but this can create problems. It is harder to clean a greenhouse that doesn’t have a solid foundation, and framed or hoop greenhouses are not permanent structures and are therefore susceptible to numerous structural problems. The concrete foundations we install provide structural integrity, and can be clad in stone, stucco and many other materials to achieve the desired look. At LaBonte Construction, the greenhouses we install are of heirloom quality and built to last a lifetime.
Heating
Maintaining the proper heating for your greenhouse is a must. There are several ways this can be done:
- Hotbeds – Hotbeds are raised beds that you can install in your greenhouse. Fill the beds with layers of decomposing straw and manure (or other organic material) and top that with a thin layer of growing soil. You can then plant your seeds in the growing soil, and the natural warmth from the layers will give your plants a safe space to grow.
- Hot Water Heating – If manure isn’t your thing, a hot water heating system may be the way to go. It is a little trickier to install so this should be left to the professionals. For this option, you will need hot water plumbing that is attached to the plant beds in your greenhouse. If you want an eco-friendly option, you can install solar panels to heat the water.
- Radiant Heating – Radiant heating systems work by radiating heat from a hot surface to cooler surroundings. This piping is installed under the greenhouses foundation and connects with your home’s boiler to heat your greenhouse from the ground-up.
- Rustic Heater – This one is probably the easiest to do yourself. If you have a small greenhouse, simply place a candle (or candles) below a ceramic plant pot. This essentially creates a tiny space heater for your greenhouse.
- Heating With Livestock – Keeping chickens in a part of your greenhouse, or in an attached coup, can naturally warm the greenhouse. The body heat the chickens produce, as well as the heat from their manure, can be quite effective in keeping your greenhouse warm during the colder months.
Humidity
Humidity is another key component of a well-maintained greenhouse. Ideally, the humidity in a greenhouse should be above fifty percent. While this number can be easily achieved and maintained during spring and summer, Wisconsin’s winters provide a tricky challenge. Thankfully, there are a few ways to keep your greenhouse humid during harsh Wisconsin winters.
The simplest way to add humidity is by placing buckets of water in your greenhouse. When the greenhouse warms, the water evaporates, increasing humidity. You can also use your mister to keep the plants moist. Although these are simple, DIY methods, they can be time consuming. We recommend avoiding this problem by having an automatic window and temperature control system included upon installation of your greenhouse. It is just one of the many accessories that can help your greenhouse flourish.
Greenhouse Accessories
Greenhouses can take a lot of time and energy to operate. There are many different accessories and products you can use to keep your greenhouse running smoothly with less physical effort. One of our favorite options for a greenhouse is the self-cleaning glass from Hartley Botanic. This self-cleaning glass has a special coating that reacts with the UV rays from the sun to break down organic matter. Then water, or rainwater, runs down the glass to wash away the loosened dirt. Self-cleaning glass can save you a lot of time and energy when it comes to cleaning your greenhouse.
Another beneficial accessory that you can opt for in your greenhouse is a partition. This is an internal glass wall that separates your greenhouse into different areas, allowing for different climates in separate areas.
Victorian roller blinds can help regulate the internal temperature of your greenhouse. Roller blinds protect your plants from sunlight damage and can provide an attractive environment while working in your greenhouse.
Shelving is another key component of a greenhouse. We prefer aluminum, staged shelving as it provides strength and allows for more space within the greenhouse.
By including some, or all of the aforementioned accessories, you can ensure that your greenhouse is of the highest quality for you and your plants.
Other Uses For Your Greenhouse
If your greenhouse has year-round heating and plumbing, it can be used as an “outdoor” dining area. Granted you will still be inside, but the combination of warmth and greenery can give you the feeling of being outside in nature. Additionally, greenhouses can be used as a lively studio space for those who enjoy painting, playing music, or doing any other hobby in an outdoor environment. If you miss being outdoors during Wisconsin winters, your greenhouse can provide a small oasis.
Final Thoughts
Adding or remodeling a greenhouse can be a great way to add warmth, and a touch of the outdoors to your home. Whether you’re looking to attach a greenhouse to your home, or add a detached greenhouse, LaBonte Construction can help. Please contact our home remodeling team with any questions regarding adding a greenhouse as your next home remodeling project.