What's the Best Way to Heat a Small Greenhouse?

comments (11) October 19th, 2009

Chris McLaughlin, contributor

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Whats the best way to heat a greenhouse? This would not be my small greenhouse...but its cool, right?

Photo by substack under the Creative Commons Attribution License 2.0.

This actually is my greenhouse. Heat, anyone?

What's the best way to heat a greenhouse? This would not be my small greenhouse...but it's cool, right?

Photo by substack under the Creative Commons Attribution License 2.0.

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A while back I mentioned that I'd like to add some heat to our small, 6x8 greenhouse this winter for the first time. The planning stage is one of my favorite parts and I tend to drag it out as long as I can. Should I grow orchids in there? Pretty houseplants like poinsettias? Tomatoes? Or encourage my fascination with the man-eaters, grow a little shop of horrors all my own? Yes, beginnings hold all the promise and I'm keeping a list of some exciting possibilities.

On a more practical note while I do want to keep the greenhouse toasty inside, I'm also interested in keeping my electric bill down to a manageable size. Which isn't as simple as it sounds. Here in Northern California we pay in spades for our gas and electric, and "manageable size" in other states translates to enough power to run a small corporation. So, my first goal is to make sure I'm using the most efficient heating source.

Some gardeners heat their greenhouse by building a hot compost pile smack-dab in the middle if it. I've heard some great things about using this technique and being the compost freak that I am - seems like the natural way to go. The problem is that my greenhouse is paved with brick and I intend to keep it that way. Our low-class cats, Puma and Nike (so named after tennis shoes brand names while we went through our gym phase) seem to enjoy using the greenhouse as a kitty-potty. So, a brick floor it is.

What's the best way to heat a small greenhouse? Greenhouse enthusiasts, shout out your thoughts here. How do you heat it, and why did you choose that heat source. Also, if you had it to do again, would you have done it differently?

posted in: heat a small greenhouse, greenhouse heating

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Comments (11)

ChrisMcLaughlin writes: Harrisdog43: Yes - thanks! This is the one I was going to go with but I wanted to see what other ideas gardeners came up with.
Posted: 9:05 pm on October 27th

Harrisdog43 writes: Try one of these: http://www.amazon.com/DeLonghi-EW7707CM-Oil-filled-ComforTemp-Technology/dp/B000TGDGLU/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1256643635&sr=8-6

Other than being a customer, I have no monetary interest in Amazon or the maker of the oil-filled space heater. In a prior life, we heated our bedroom in an uninsulated house once with one of these. It used much less electricity than the window ac/heater did.
John
Posted: 7:43 am on October 27th

ChrisMcLaughlin writes: xoxommc - Good point - thanks!
Posted: 12:33 pm on October 24th

xoxommc writes: adding a layer of floating row cover (over plants or greenhouse) helps a lot
Posted: 10:50 am on October 24th

ChrisMcLaughlin writes: kandella: Ooooohhh...how much do I love this idea? Functionality AND festivity! I'm a Christmas light freak anyway and love having little white lights lining my back porch over-hang all year round.

I know that the old-fashioned lights do get pretty warm...let's see if I can find some still out there for sale...thanks!
Posted: 4:42 pm on October 22nd

ChrisMcLaughlin writes: JadaE: *gasp* That is like the Holy Grail of greenhouses, LOL!
About the space heater - yes, that's my first inclination to use. I'm just hoping to get several ideas to choose from as to keep my bill decent. Plus, it's great to see everyone's ideas!
Posted: 4:39 pm on October 22nd

kandella writes: I live in the Sierra foothills and I've heated my 6x7 greenhouse with a string of Christmas lights - the old fashioned large ones - not the little twinkle lights. I have a key lime and a mango tree in large pots that overwinter in the greenhouse as well as several hibiscus, various tender succulents and a tender bouganvilla. The heat from the lights kept everything alive and frost free. My electrical bill goes up about $30/month in the winter, but I also hang strands of Christmas lights on my orange and lemon tree that are not in the greenhouse to keep them from frost damage, so I'm not sure how much the greenhouse lights actually cost in electricity.
Posted: 8:40 pm on October 21st

JadaE writes: I forgot the original intent of my post! LOL I've got to stop daydreaming...
My coworker has a 6x8 greenhouse, that he heats with a small spaceheater with a timer. He also heats his garage, which acts as a 2nd greenhouse. (The garage has windows.) He tells me that his electric bill doubles in the coldest months! Usually a total of $120-180 a month total! WOW!! I never realized how much energy those spaceheaters use. That dollar amount is probably a low figure for you in California...here in Georgia I think we pay much less.

Hope you get some good ideas! :)
Posted: 3:19 pm on October 21st

JadaE writes: Since you posted that FAB-U-LOUS greenhouse, I just HAD to post this link of my dreamhouse. Notice the fireplace, that will keep YOU and your plants nice and toasty. I suspect that this owner doesn't worry about electricity bills all that much!
When I get rich and famous, I will have this house! I'm working on the rich and famous part... :)

http://www.greenhousemegastore.com/Luxury-Greenhouses/products/1098/
Posted: 2:56 pm on October 21st

ChrisMcLaughlin writes: * As a reminder, if someone wants to try lettucegrow's idea in their greenhouse, be aware this is an open flame and every consideration needs to be taken into account before attempting to use an unsupervised open flame.
Posted: 1:09 pm on October 21st

lettucegrow writes: Disposable turkey roasters. Aluminum, deep pans you can get at the dollar store for a buck each. Take two of them, poke a small hole at one end of the lip on each one. Wire them together...kinda like a hinge. Next, use a sharp knife to poke holes in the top and a few on the side, top pan and sides of bottom pan. (So the candle flame can breath)
Buy cheap candles at the dollar store. Melt wax to hold two candles in the bottom pan. Light the two candles and shut the lid. Place on floor away from stuff.
The lids heat up nicely without the worry of the flames escaping.
I have used them a lot. They keep the frost out without a heating bill. You won't grow maters and squash but lettuce, kale and other cool weather veggies benefit greatly.
I find them to be very safe.
You asked, that's how I do it in my greenhouse.
Posted: 2:57 am on October 20th

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