Heating and cooling a small greenhouse

Рет қаралды 150,030

8 жыл бұрын

Simple, effective, and efficient temperature regulation for small greenhouses, and why greenhouses are great for starting transplants.
1:10 Heating strategies
5:32 Cooling strategies
8:37 Why a greenhouse is great for starting transplants
If this has been helpful, please let me know by clicking 'like' or leaving a comment. Thanks for watching, and good luck!
Exit music: Keyboard sonata in G major (K. 547) by Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1757)

Пікірлер: 67

@lavernabouzspain 23 күн бұрын

Hi Erik, great and informative video! Thank you for sharing.

@snookanookazoo3268 7 жыл бұрын

Great Job.We didn't see your face but you speak and very well, you were very informative and no loud music in the back ground which is a big plus in my book.

@smurfy181 6 жыл бұрын

Thanks! I do my best to keep it simple and clear :)

@dkbkmk01 Жыл бұрын

Excellent video! Thanks for making the effort to share the details.

@heidigilman1941 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing! Just getting a greenhouse started in MN so this is helpful information!

@amberzenner8491 6 жыл бұрын

Great ideas! I'm going to try the straw bales on the north side of my own greenhouse, and see if I can rig at least some heating mats for seedlings. Thanks!

@gimesamis 3 жыл бұрын

The computer fan setup is just brilliant!

@TheArtisanbard 5 жыл бұрын

Thank you thank you thank you for this video!!! I used your solar to thermo regulated switch to computer fan for venting and it works great!!!!! I actually made 2.

@smurfy181 5 жыл бұрын

I'm so glad it worked for you too! And I've often wondered whether a second fan at the other end, flowing inward, would give better results. My next project perhaps ;)

@coolbreeze8572 3 жыл бұрын

Love all awesome ideas thanks

@JamesEndo1 Жыл бұрын

Great video! You are very tech and love the gadgets but I dont know squat about the power load and requirements. This is great idea for us backyard growers. I have a small 3x5 greenhouse in my garage with heat mats and T5 lights on timers and 9 shelves for my 1020 tray seed and cutting starts.

@urbantone 4 жыл бұрын

Great video What i heard its more effective to blow cool air in to a hot area. Cold air is smaller when you blow cold air it expands and higher pressures, when it gets warmer and better ventilation as long it has way to get out

@georgepappas3790 3 жыл бұрын

Straw wall, brilliant

@gaetanproductions 7 жыл бұрын

nice job

@aftech7268 11 ай бұрын

Water drums will retain heat in the day and release them in the night, i like your fan mod

@kingofkleen1 2 жыл бұрын

Good ideas. But what about the roof vent with an auto-open and close for hot days and cool nights?

@he7is7at7hand 29 күн бұрын

Thanks

@douggibson9084 3 жыл бұрын

Great video. Could you please send me the information on the thermo switch. Thanks 👍

@juliegogola4647 4 жыл бұрын

I have a plug in device that will tern on and off depending on what the temperature is, THAT WILL help with the cost of heating my GH. I also must say that sure the Straw bales will help with heating, BUT< where I live straw is REALLY expensive like $5. 00 a bale. As for my GH being too hot, I just remove anything that could overheat.

@rg-ms3po 3 жыл бұрын

Great information. I just purchased an external thermostat controller to set a narrow temp range for heating and cooling. However, I am finding that most heaters, once turned off with the switch will not turn back on unless you manually push the on button. That defeats the purpose. I notice that the heater you show in this video has dials and not on/off buttons...so I am assuming that makes it workable with an external theromostat controller. I hate to buy another heater only to find out it will not work with an external thermostat controller.

@AdvanceGreenhouses 6 жыл бұрын

You are overlooking a circulating fan for your greenhouse. These are slow moving fans that will circulate the air and contribute to a healthier seedling. They will also help to keep the temperature more uniform throughout the greenhouse while it is being heated. Tammy

@josh2232 5 жыл бұрын

Advance Greenhouses TAMMY!

@smurfy181 5 жыл бұрын

Yes, that is a good point! If I upgrade my space heater to one with a built-in thermostat, I can have the fan running w/o heat until the temp drops and turns on the heating coils. Maybe next spring....

@JohnGuest45 7 жыл бұрын

I`d recommend using the soil beneath the greenhouse for heating and cooling. Its much cheaper than running a power hungry heater and much more effective than drawing in warm outside air when cooling. Sink a tube to 4ft and drop a temperature sensor down, you`ll find its warmer than 45F ;)

@smurfy181 7 жыл бұрын

This is a small greenhouse, and I've found that the space heater works very well for our purposes. If you watch the video, you'll see that it comes on and turns off in a few minutes (even at 20 degrees), and wouldn't be on during the day (for obvious reasons). And the exhaust fan is blowing the hot air out, just like an attic exhaust fan- this draws air up from the gravel below the greenhouse. Even if it does draw air in from gaps in the panels, the air outside will always be cooler when this system is running- and as I state in the video, it won't be used during the hot summer months, because our crops will be planted outside the greenhouse by then. There is also the matter of building the heat sink infrastructure, which may be prohibitive for a lot of people. But if you can do it, more power to you :) Thanks for watching and commenting.

@InnerLifePhotography 7 жыл бұрын

are those polycarbonate sheets or what? i am building my own indoor rain-forest with some exotic birds in it as well (just like dubai green planet) but my question is would this kind of greenhouse is be best for rare and sensitive plants as well for all year around? what you do to make it cool (like 26 degrees to 28 degrees) in summers? i hope you understand what i want to ask.. please help!! thanks

@smurfy181 6 жыл бұрын

Yes, those are corrugated polycarbonate panels. For keeping a rainforest-like climate, you'll need a much more sophisticated system than I have. You'll need shade-cloth inside the panels, and a humidifier/fogger. And depending on where you live, you'll also need a heater for winter. You will need lots of insulation of some sort- I've seen folks use bubble-wrap. Keep checking around youtube- people are very creative- good luck!

@juliegogola4647 4 жыл бұрын

I wonder where are you? I also wonder what IF a person would plug in an electric blanket and then put a thin piece of plywood? Would that provide some nice heat without causing a fire? BTW< I have a 12 X8 GH, would that be cheapo to heat with your methods?

@CrashingJustice 3 жыл бұрын

Can you post links to heating mats etc

@juliegogola4647 4 жыл бұрын

I used to own a GH like yours BUT, I didn't buy all the extra clips that were needed to make it REALLY stable, mine was a Harbor Freight GH 6X8 and it had blown apart before I had it all siliconed into place, I could only reach some of the places it needed siliconed together. I had paid for it to be put together, and a base of a wood platform to be put together. I had seen it all seem to be all done to perfection, BUT, I had to order extra clips, and I had to try to silicone it all together, basically it was all a big bunch of crap, a strong storm that came through blew many of the panels out, it was just a big disappointment to me. I have NOW paid for a Amish built Greenhouse that is all "put together" and site delivered. It will take a tornado to blow THIS GH APART. Maybe IF I were a "handy" person, I could have put a kit GH together, BUT, I am NOT handy at all. I am full of Arthritis, so, I am happy that THIS GH is fully put together and NO air is coming in, it is a great GH, I am just hoping to keep my semi tropical plants warm enough throughout winter, well, REALLY, they aren't REALLY semi Tropical, maybe just zone 7a hardy, so, a zone hardier than I am. Now IF I CAN keep temps in that "semi-tropical" zone I can keep some more "tropicalesque"plants alive and well in my GH in winter. BUT, I am going to just see how much warm air will stay in the Gh THIS winter. IF I can keep it warm enough to be a 2 zones warmer THEN maybe I can have some more "tropical" plants in my GH over wintered. BUT. I am truly only wanting to acheive a zone warmer for NOW in my GH.

@rebeccah8912 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you Erik for the video! How thick is your polycarbonate on your greenhouse? I'm about to purchase a greenhouse and will probably use the fan and straw bale trick. Thanks!

@smurfy181 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching Rebecca! I believe the paneling is about 1/4 " or 1/2 cm thick. Have fun!

@balefulsolstice9402 2 жыл бұрын

Can you link the products or similar products you've used? Thank you much love!

@nickguthrie9309 3 жыл бұрын

Such a setup with 120 volts or so needs a GFCI to give safety with moisture and fertilizers or wet soils Those heater wires are risky electrically. I start seeds in our unfinished basement which never gets colder that 16 C. A 6000 K bulb is almost free to run; a cheap timer gives 16 hours a day.

@d.b.sorensen827 3 жыл бұрын

excelent video! where did you find the temperature controlled power strip? I have looked high and low for a good one.I know it has been 5 years but if you happen to remember it would be a help. I also make compost in my greenhouse in a GeoBin.

@paksaoify 3 жыл бұрын

Google thermo cube

@bellaspatiogarden3493 6 жыл бұрын

I love your small greenhouse. It's a dream for me to have something similar. I also really like your heating and cooling set up. What kind of cost are you using in electricity?

@smurfy181 5 жыл бұрын

Sorry for the late reply! I've actually never tracked it, because my top priority was keeping my plants alive, whatever the cost. But that said, we only used it in this way early in spring and late in fall to extend the growing season and moderate the temperature extremes that we see at those times of year (below freezing at night to perhaps above 60 during the day, which ends up being much hotter in the greenhouse) - we never used it in the dead of winter, which would probably use a ton of electricity....

@ValConB Жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing! Do the straw bales scratch the plastic panels? Do you think they have been effective? I was thinking of doing the same.

@smurfy181 Жыл бұрын

They don't scratch the panels, and even if they do it's not that bad. Definitely effective! In addition to insulating, they help block the wind. Thanks for watching!

@marlinesimington254 6 жыл бұрын

I like your setup. My mini greenhouse is having heat issues, 100+ some days. Can you provide the link to to purchase the device that controls your solar panel and exhaust fan. I already have some old CPU fans. Thank you!

@LowEndMarauder 5 жыл бұрын

Shade cloth helps a lot on days like that

@smurfy181 5 жыл бұрын

Sorry for the extremely late reply - but yes, as Daniel mentioned, a shade cloth is huge. We also use one later in the spring and in early fall. All of the other stuff, I found on Amazon - but I'm sure you can find them other places online by doing a search. Another way to maximize fresh airflow is to have one fan blowing in while the other blows out. Though be careful when using a fan to suck air in - you'll want to install a screen that prevents bugs from getting in (which you may have to clean regularly), but won't strain the fan motor. Best of luck!

@denisefontaine-9398 2 жыл бұрын

Where did you by tour aération système ?

@luvublueable 6 жыл бұрын

34 degrees up to 45 degrees in less than 3 minutes?

@juliegogola4647 5 жыл бұрын

I see what looks like a spruce in the background on your video,so, you likely aren't in any warmer than zone 7b, BUT, what zone are you in? And where are you as far as what state? I have a 12X8 and am in zone 6a Pa. I am new to greenhouse gardening. I want to overwinter a couple zone 7b plants and was wondering about how to heat my greenhouse.

@smurfy181 5 жыл бұрын

Yep, that's a blue spruce, and I'm in the Finger Lakes region of upstate NY. According to the hardiness zone map we should be 5b, but we dip below -15 at least 2 or 3 times every winter, so that would technically make it 5a. What plants are you trying to overwinter?

@juliegogola4647 5 жыл бұрын

@@smurfy181 The only tender-ish plant I have so far is a Windmill palm baby. This being my first year with the greenhouse. I will soon be trying some acorns from Live oak trees, NOT the Quercus Virginiana BUT the Quercus Fusiformis that are, once grown to be pretty large, about a trunk girth of a half inch or a bit more will be zone 6a hardy, BUT, until then, they are about zone 7a or 7b hardy as whips. I will likely use small mini greenhouses inside my greenhouse and use lights that give off a bit of heat, more like little cloches that are about 2 ft by 2 ft or a bit larger. I can't expect to heat my greenhouse and NOT spend alot of money to do so. I will be trying the water barrel thing where you fill a barrel painted black with water and HOPE it will give off some heat overnight. BUT, the lights wrapped around a wire cage with the plants inside in a small shelter is likely going to be my best bet. I don't want to have a high bill for electricity, and, I only will have a few plants so far. I NOW have mostly hardy to zone 5 and 6 "desert plants' in there. BUT, the palm and the Live oaks, IF my acorns sprout, will be my most "tender" plants this winter. Thanks for replying to me.

@rossr277 3 жыл бұрын

I wonder if I could rig up a solar panel to power a small space heater?

@ValConB Жыл бұрын

This is not feasible. We have an 8 x 12 greenhouse that needs at least 1200 watts to keep it from freezing starting in March. A typical solar panel is only rated at 250 or so watts, so you'd need at least 4 of them. Also, in order for this to work, you would need battery storage in order to run the heater after the sun goes down.

@Standingearth 7 жыл бұрын

Can you tell me what kind of greenhouse kit you bought and where you found it? It seems really nice.

@smurfy181 7 жыл бұрын

The brand is Palram, and I found it on Amazon. Ours is the 6'x8'x7' model (Nature Series), and my wife and I were able to put it together in 2-3 hrs. It does not come with shelves, but you can buy special hangers (the green things holding up the fan switch in the video) that fit right into the frame so you can hang plants or shade cloths, etc. It's lightweight, so you will have to either strap the whole thing down with ropes and stakes, or like me, stack straw bales around it to keep it from scooting across the ground in high winds. But yes- it is really nice, and worth it!

@kaybenoit8432 5 жыл бұрын

@@smurfy181 I have a greenhouse just like yours and I have really searched for a informative video on how to heat and cool mine. Thank you very much for your video, it has really helped.

@macclark4112 2 жыл бұрын

Remember RIGA greenhouses are insulated for winter use.

@randyebastian8186 6 жыл бұрын

What is your elevation?

@smurfy181 5 жыл бұрын

We're around 680ft above sea level.

@moebetta5561 3 жыл бұрын

Dam in April ? Where tf do u live bro ?

@smurfy181 3 жыл бұрын

Haha upstate NY! Sometimes spring misses its wake-up call

@jamiebutler1762 4 жыл бұрын

Power strips and space heaters can be dangerous.

@smurfy181 4 жыл бұрын

That is true. You need to be sure that you're using an outdoor-rated extension cord that would most likely connect to GFCI outlet. And of course you would take the same precautions with a space heater that you would elsewhere. Above all, you would only use these as temporary measures to get you through a cold snap, or to ensure you don't lose seedlings that you've sown early. You would definitely not use what I've shown here to get you through an entire winter.

@charlesrichardson1020 6 жыл бұрын

@user-vq9ss5rs7m 6 жыл бұрын

#PalramApplication

@Free_Falastin2024 2 жыл бұрын

Dude, centrigrade. Come on, man.

@VanderlyndenJengold 4 жыл бұрын

If you really have to start seedlings early keep them on a windowsill at home. Cost = 0 effort = low result = the same.

@smurfy181 4 жыл бұрын

True! If you have (a) enough sill space at a south-facing window, and (b) pets and young children who behave themselves near your precious seedlings ;)