April 2020

Benefits of Having a Greenhouse

By Tricia Deed

What is a greenhouse?

It is a multi-functional building for starting, growing, or maintaining plant seeds, young plants, and plants foreign to the current environment. Many seeds from fruits, flowers, vegetables, herbs, and trees will grow in a greenhouse. The building is helpful in providing work space and storage facilities.

Other benefits include:

*No pests:

There is total control over the interior environment for both plants and operators. Plants and people can escape pesky bugs.

Avoid many unwanted pests.

Select plants that have minimum pest problems.

Be aware of dominant insects in your environment.

Use building materials that repel or reduce insect infestation. Examples include cedar wood and treated lumber.

Organic or commercial products provide protective barriers around or in the greenhouse.

Minimize doors opening.

Review building, doors, and screens for any leaks to prevent insect invasion.

Floor inspections for any slight cracks allowing pests to enter.

Roof inspections.

Quarantine new plants before adding them to the general population.

Know your suppliers.

Correct companion plants.

*No heavy garden tools.

We use small hand-held tools.

*Year round growth.

Any seed, seedling, or starter plant grows in the greenhouse for permanent residence or temporary preparation care for outside gardens.

*Temperature and weather control.

Plants grow in near perfect weather. Quality, higher yield, year-round growth, and healthier plants are realized.

*Specialized Planting.

We grow orchids as they are seemingly non-allergy.. Specialty plants are hard to grow, out of season, rare, or are difficult to grow. These plants are in categories of herbs, cacti, succulents, heirloom, organics, palms, and some vegetables like mushrooms and other types of flowers.

*Greenhouses are available for both residential and commercial use.

The size and type of building depends on land availability, building materials appropriate for your climate, types of plants, and residential or commercial use.

Land space will determine the size of a free-standing building, types of plants, or hobby and business use. Commercial growers invest in large land tracts as relates to their horticulture interest. A hobbyist works with space around their residential area.

What are the costs of building a greenhouse?

There are many variables. The low end of an estimate is about $3,500 and the top end about $18,000 for residential locations. Are you a handyman? You may cut these costs from 25 to 50 percent less.

Selection of support systems such as heat and air supply, solar panels, exhaust fans, vents, watering systems, and electricity will determine maintenance costs. Other expenses will include zoning, building permits, and other legal requirements.