Looking for a rewarding new hobby? How about setting up a greenhouse, then watch as it comes to life!
A greenhouse is a great way to extend your garden’s growing seasons as you provide a year-round environment that keeps in the good elements and shuts out the bad. It’s especially well-suited to growing speciality plants, such as orchids, as you are able to mimic the natural environment for these plants. Fruit and vegetables can also thrive in a greenhouse environment – think vine-ripened tomatoes, citrus trees, eggplants, cucumbers and more.
Choosing a greenhouse
Many of today’s greenhouse structures are sold as easy-to-assemble kits. Choose between freestanding or attached structures, with frames made of wood, galvanised steel, aluminum or PVC, and walls made of glass, polycarbonate, acrylic, fibreglass or plastic film. A simple online search will make it easy to figure out which sort of greenhouse set-up will suit your budget and available space. It’s a popular hobby among garden enthusiasts and there are many sites that also offer advice on how to manage your greenhouse – from beginner to ‘greenhouse guru’.
Basic day-to-day care
Greenhouse plant care begins with good soil. Soil mixes for containers, benches and beds should be lighter and more fertile than most garden soils. Good soil mixes drain fast, hold moisture well and contain a balance of nutrients.
Next is fresh air, as pests and diseases love to attack plants that suffer from a close atmosphere, so make sure that your greenhouse is well ventilated (vents and fans are your allies in temperature control, as are screened windows and doors).
Space is also very important – your plants need room to grow. Dense plant growth can interfere with air circulation and contribute to excessive humidity (you don’t want your greenhouse to feel like a rainforest!). If the leaves of adjacent plants start to overlap, it’s best to prune or move them away from each other. On that note, it goes without saying that a neat and tidy greenhouse will thrive much better than a cluttered one. You’ll want as much room as possible work your magic, plus piles of unused paraphernalia provide the perfect home for pests.
When it comes to light, special greenhouse shade fabric panels are available in many sizes. You can choose from screening fabrics that will provide light to heavy shade, or protect plants from both too much light and heat.
Don’t let your plants become too dry, unless you’re growing succulents. Check your pots regularly. When the surface soil is dry to the touch, water them thoroughly. Just like an outdoor bed, watering in the evening is much better than during the day as the water doesn’t evaporate away.
Once you’ve dealt with all the basic essentials – soil, air, space, light and water – you need to put in the time. Like with every new skill, there will be a learning curve and plenty of trial and error. But, no doubt, the most exciting thing about a greenhouse is the unlimited growing options and rewards that come with it.
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