Fan Cycle Greenhouse Heaters

There are two basic types of greenhouse heaters. A fan-type heater has an internal fan which sucks air in through the back and pushes hot air out the front. These types are very efficient, as they keep the air moving and cycling. As David Oreck says, “You’ve got to move the air to clean the air”. The same is true for greenhouse heaters except that they heat air and not clean it. Larger greenhouses require a bigger heater to circulate heated air to all parts of the greenhouse. for the serious gardener, heavy duty industrial models are available which have a huge capacity. Most gardeners will do well with a smaller, lightweight consumer greenhouse heater. A workshop heater may do in a pinch, but ones designed for greenhouses are the safest for this purpose.

Lamp Heaters

A lamp greenhouse heater works in a different way than the fan heaters. These models have no moving parts, but instead use a heater lamp to warm the area. Commonly called an electric ceramic heater, these models can heat a decent sized area but are best suited to be pointed directly on a specific series of plants. Many of these are only made for indoor greenhouse use, so be sure to check the product details if you intend to put it outside. One drawback is that the lamp bulb will need occasional replacement, although they last quite a long time. A safety guard keeps wandering hands and tools from touching and breaking the bulb. It is not suggested that these heaters be used in mini greenhouses, as they are simply too small and can overheat inside. I suggest using an overhead grow lamp for smaller greenhouses. Any large structure such as a lean to greenhouse can handle a heater just fine.

Additional Features To Look for

Automatic On/Off: A thermostat controller eliminates the need to turn the heater on or off when needed, and also helps to save power. The built in thermostat tells the heater when to turn on or off. As temperatures warm up during the day, the system will shut itself off. As night approaches, the heater will work to keep your greenhouse seeds warm.

Temperature Indicator: A temperature indicator tells users when the system has reached proper temperature. It also informs you when the heater is trying to reach proper temperature.

Safety Tip-Over Switch: Essential for both outdoor and indoor environments, a tip-over switch turns the heater off when it has accidentally fallen over. This prevents fires which may occur when flammable objects come in contact with the heater for extended periods of time. This is especially important for heaters placed in a wooden greenhouse, which can be flammable.

Manual Temperature Control: This simply allows users to set their own temperature settings, overriding the heater “autopilot” mode.

Carry Handle: Pretty self-explanatory, but a carry handle can be quite helpful with heater models bordering lightweight and heavy.

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Design
The innovative design of a lean to greenhouse can be seen just by looking at it. The structure is made of rigid materials oriented in a triangular and square pattern for a sturdy frame. The tallest side sits

A Medium Sized Lean To

up against your house and forms the fourth wall. Large, walk-in varieties can accommodate shelving systems to place plant pots and troughs on. The door can be sealed during and after tending to keep the internal climate optimal. The walk-in varieties can range from a few feet wide to large 8’ x 12’ units and larger. Choosing a size depends on how much gardening you plan on doing. Perform a walk through of a sample greenhouse at a home improvement store to get a feel for what you’ll need. Chances are you’ll like your lean-to so much that you will quickly run out of room. If you can afford it, you can get a greenhouse bigger than what you expect to need to accommodate your changing needs.

By the way, if you’re having trouble finding a place for a full sized greenhouse, consider getting a mini greenhouse. They are very flexible and can even be used indoors.

The lean to greenhouse is a semi-permanent structure once set up, so it may be difficult to move once in place. If you later decide that you need a bigger one, there are expansion lean to greenhouse kits available to increase the size of your greenhouse. Leave some extra space on the side of your house just in case. Inside, shelving can be installed to organize plants and make the most use out of the available space. If your greenhouse kit does not come with shelving, I would recommend purchasing these at the same time you get the greenhouse. This will ensure a smooth assembly.

Lean-to Versus Stand Alone
Some creative individuals have remodeled their homes to include a door that leads directly out to the lean-to. This kind of convenience just isn’t possible with a stand-alone greenhouse. Out in the open, it is directly exposed to powerful sunlight, wind and rain. Up against a house, a lean-to is protected and insulated by your home.

Features To Consider:

Small And Practical

Assembly: Depending on the size of the greenhouse, more than one person may be required for assembly. You will find that the larger units are more complicated to set up. I would highly suggest getting lean to greenhouse kits that offer “easy set-up” There are several reasons for this. Most importantly, these kits offer quick set up to get you gardening as fast as possible. Also, an easy to assemble kit allows people who are not technically experienced to enjoy green housing.

Materials: A greenhouse made out of metal is going to last longer and be more sturdy than one made of plastic. Plastic can degrade and discolor in the sun over time. Also, plastic’s natural lightweight nature makes it more prone to tip-over in the wind. Aluminum is the perfect material for a lean-to because it is not only lightweight and strong, but it resists rust. Steel is an excellent material as well, but care must be taken not to scratch the paint coating, or rust can easily form in rain or humidity. The wall panels of the greenhouse will most likely be made of semi-opaque polycarbonate.

Stakes / Wall Mounts: Even the heaviest of greenhouses can be prone to leaning or tipping over time. Make sure the kit comes with stakes and/or wall mounts to securely fasten it into place.

Heat Vent: A heat vent lets hot air escape out the top of the greenhouse. In hot weather, excessive heat buildup can damage plants. An adjustable vent allows users to control heat levels as needed.

Can Be Placed Against Any Sturdy Wall

Automatic Watering System: If you don’t have the time to constantly tend to your plants, consider installing an auto-watering system that attaches to your hose. A pump opens and closes at set intervals to keep the pots moist.

Greenhouse Heater: Cold nights can be damaging to plants, especially in freezing conditions. If your nights are particularly harsh, consider placing a greenhouse heater inside during these times. This prevents you from having to bring the pots inside.

Gardening With A Greenhouse
So, what makes a lean to greenhouse so special as compared to planting in the bare ground? The secret is the protective qualities it provides to plants. A lean-to holds in moisture to keep plants properly watered. Plants in bare dirt are constantly prone to drying out. The walls act as an insulator to keep warmth inside. UV light blocking polycarbonate wall panels keep the “bad light” out and the good light in to prevent scorched, dried-out leaves. Seasonal plants can be grown off-season because of the ideal conditions inside.

Check out Vegetable Garden Planting for great tips on gardening.

greenhouses, lean to greenhouse, gardening, plants, outdoor

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