Mini greenhouses?

Question

I live in zone 5 and I'm beginning to get into growing my own plants from cuttings and seed. I don't have room for a big greenhouse, but I'd like some way to continue growing my little saplings and rooting my outdoor cuttings during the winter. Has anyone used those mini greenhouses? Are they for indoors or outdoors? Are they worth the money? Thanks!

Answer 1

I am faced with the same dilemma here in Michigan (Zone 5). I have a new passion for growing lotus plants from seed and I presently have them in several in 20-gal. tubs of water in my backyard. I lost 6 out of 8 plants last year because I brought them (in their respective tubs) into our unheated, non-insulated garage for the winter. They didn't make it because they froze to death. So...this year, I'm ordering a green house from Charley's Greenhouse & Garden catalog and erecting it inside the garage with a space heater to keep my plants just warm enough so they don't freeze. You may want to do the same once your plants go dormant. Charley's offers several different greenhouses, by the way. The one that we are eyeing is just a simple wooden frame (6' x 8') with a heavy vinyl covering over it with a zippered door.

Answer 2

I have one and I find it very useful because I usually start my seed in February. As for indoor or outdoor, I would say that it can be used in both. I'm in zone 7 so in Feb. when I start my seed I move it outside in a full sun location and leave it until late afternoon and then I bring it inside for night. However, if you can get bright light to every level then you could use it exclusively indoors but there would have to have a bright light source on both sides to be effective. Anyhow, I definitely recommend them if you are interested in starting seed before the last freeze of Spring.

EDIT: I just wanted to clarify that mine it a small 5 tiered mini green house with casters and can be easily moved from house to garden or location to location. It's about 30inches wide X 24inches deep X 6ft tall. This may or may not be the mini green house you are asking about.
Good Luck

Answer 3

I am in zone 5 (Nebraska) and am doing cuttings as well.

Those cheapo ones with plastic for glazing are NOT worth the money at all. They rapidly overheat during sunny days--even in winter and lose heat rapidly when the sun goes down. I know because I installed remote temperature sensors that transmit live readings and high/low temperatures since last reset.

The "mini greenhouse"/coldframe that I have been very satisfied with is a 4'x7' aluminum framed with polycarbonate kit cold frame. It is instrumental in overwintering young plant, starting seeds early, and hardening off seedling. Here's a photo of it in action in early 2006: http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/cornucop/gal0316551715652.jpg

It moderates nighttime temperatures by several degrees. You still have to prop it open during sunny days, but the heat gain is nowhere near so bad as with the thin plastic models. If I remember correctly my model was a commercial cold frame costing on the order of $370 from Farmtek Growers Supply http://www.growerssupply.com under patio growhouses.
It was worth every penny. I will NEVER buy a thin plastic unit again. If they're not abusing your plants they're blowing away in the wind!

I sometimes supplement my cold frame with a heating pad just to keep the nighttime temperatures from dropping too low. This winter I'm going to try to grow some winter greens in it as well. I guess if it gets too crowded I'll have to buy another unit when it comes time to harden of seedlings!

Answer 4

distinctive greenhouses use a distinctive form of plastic for the disguise. My MINI greenhouse has a crystal clean vinyl disguise on it, and the clean packaging tape works large on there. I dunno regarding the UV stabilizing stuff that somebody counseled - have not used it. My extra advantageous greenhouse has very thick plastic with reinforcing string shot via it - ripstop form contruction. that's translucent and that i've got forgotten what style of plastic it relatively is - that's an identical stuff used for vapor limitations in properties, i think of, yet lots heavier and ripstop. The clean packing tape does not persist with that, and for that form of plastic, you probable choose a magnificent tarp fix tape. I even have been utilising duct tape as a results of fact i might have had to rigidity 40 5 miles to get the different stuff and it dried up and fell off after approximately 3 weeks, and under no circumstances caught all that safely. you additionally can stitch plastic on your sewing device. I made a liner for my greenhouse a pair years returned, and in spite of the reality that i does not repeat that large project, i might make a clean mini greenhouse disguise if I had to, no project. you like the cloth tape in any respect seams for potential.

Answer 5

See "Jiffy 7"
http://lawn-and-garden.hardwarestore.com/77-seed-starting.aspx

These are great for starting seeds. Wallyworld usually has them in the garden dept. after the christmas junk is removed.

For your cuttings try putting the pots in zip-type plastic bags in a sunny south window. For larger pots, invert the bag, cover the plant and top of pot, good old duct tape. Easy, inexpensive, functional.

Answer 6

Dunno about your zones but in the UK I use them a lot. They last about 4 years outside, if it gets very cold any night it's easy to just throw a blanket over them, I think they're great if you haven't much room. They can blow over easily so be careful where you put it, or put some screws in the wall and tie it in.