Even though many plants can be grown under glass all year round, making the greenhouse winter-proof is one of the routine tasks that has to be done in autumn. Plants also have certain requirements in winter, especially when it comes to air conditioning, ventilation and lighting conditions.
How to winterize a greenhouse?
To make a greenhouse winter-proof, heating and ventilation should be checked, insulation installed and artificial lighting used. Regular climate checks, pest inspections, ventilation and shading are also important during the winter months.
When there are fewer leaves on the trees in late autumn, the time has also come for the greenhouse in the garden towinterizeBefore the potted plants and all non-frost-hardy plants are for If you find your quarters here for the winter, there is still a lot to do. We have already reported on everything that needs to be taken into account when it comes to order and cleanliness. If you want to keep your glass house operational and steamy over the winter, you'll have to take a little more time.
Check heating and ventilation for functionality
Even if plants are not grown during the cold season and only frost-hardy winter vegetables are grown, potted plants and many other exotic plants often cannot tolerate sub-zero temperatures. You should also take precautions in the cold house just in case, because not every winter is necessarily mild. Temperaturesbelow 2 °C are already critical for many plants, so a separate heater for the greenhouse is required for extreme temperatures below zero. Insulating insulation is also better, as it will help reduce heating costs by up to 50 percent during the winter months. And even if the plants are in their natural resting phase in the next few weeks: the ventilation systems, from the tilting windows and doors to fans or a possible blower, must work reliably.
When the days get shorter
In order to make your greenhouse winter-proof, you will probably need to add artificial light in the coming months. The plants need it for their development process and to stimulate flowering. However, different species differ significantly in terms of their light requirements, so the interior space may need to be divided into different zones, each of which ideallyequipped with the appropriate measuring devices.
There is usually less to do than usual in the following weeks after the greenhouse has been winterized. What you should still do from now on:
- Regular control of all climate values in the house and, if possible, outside;
- Inspection of overwintering plants for possible pest infestation;
- ventilate thoroughly at least twice a day;
- If the sunlight is too strong and long, be sure to use shading (complete or local);
Tip
Especially in an unheated greenhouse, it has proven useful to have a roll of winter fleece (€23.00 on Amazon) or bubble wrap within reach for extremely severe night frosts, which can be used to quickly protect particularly sensitive plants from possible frostbite if necessary become.