Greenhouse insulation - part 2 - inside

[Ralf]

It was the time to finish the insulation for the coming winter. In the following I'll try to share it with you how I handle this.
Because of the construction and the used materials of the greenhouse and the location where I live is this necessary and recommended.

the sight before I've started

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first of all I have to remove the hanging pots, trays and shelves

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after that I put 2 cm (0.8 in) thick styrofoam into the walls/windows
it prevented radiation frost and helps to reduce the heating costs

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then comes a additional layer of the same bubble wrap like outside
first at the south side

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and at the east side

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after that I have to remove the west side shelf and and put also styrofoam and bubble wrap on that side

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now the first half is finished
for the bubble wrap I use the same special holders like outside

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for the other part of the greenhouse I have to do the same steps

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there is only one exception, the north wall gets a complete layer of styrofoam
because the light of this direction isn't necessary for the plants
all margins of the bubble wrap where they overlap will stick together with Scotch Tape

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"Greenhouse insulation - part 1 - outside"
"Greenhouse insulation - part 3 - heating"

[Tiggy]

Very nice and neat job there Ralf. You certainly are well organized. Did you have help with the work? Your plants look beautiful. Well done! Look forward to the next installment.

Susi

[Arjen]

I would be surprised if you had any casualties neat job!

[Ralf]

Thanks Susi and Arjen!

Susi, it was no help needed. Inside it's a "one person thing".
Arjen, you'll be surprised, sometimes I've some casualties.

[majcka]

Susi, it was no help needed. Inside it's a "one person thing".

Obviously I don't have enough imagination. You did this (inside thing) all alone with or without moveing cacti??????????

[daiv]

Ralf, - this series is fantastic. So well illustrated and organized. I suspect you will be sharing temperature figures in the final part 3?

I am very interested in how well the sun heats the greenhouse through the two layers of bubble wrap and the greenhouse wall. I imagine there is a certain amount of loss compared to the heating without insulation.

[Ralf]

Thanks, Daiv and sorry for my late response.

The sun don't heat up the greenhouse between November and February. The greenhouse is shaded by a neighbours building during this time.
So it plays any role how many insulation is installed.
The first step in February is, that I first remove the styrofoam. At this time the greenhouse gets more sun and it will heat up by the sun. Later in March or April first the bubble wrap inside and at last outside. All that depends on weather and temperatures outside.

[daiv]

OK, so essentially, your plants are dormant for the winter, right? You insulate and heat it and this saves you the trouble of moving them, but you would have the same results moving them into a cold basement room like I do with mine.

Does that sound right?

[Ralf]

That's absolutely right, Daiv. I could them also moving into the house but I don't have enough space for all plants. Some of the more heat loving plants are in several windowsills. But all other plants in the greenhouse or in cold frame get a winter rest.
I'll wake them up earliest in February. Then only by spraying with ~104F hot water. In the past years it worked very well.

[daiv]

Interesting! So there really is no need fro the greenhouse insulation to be transparent. For example, a person in a cold climate could, in fact, cover the greenhouse with wool blankets and then a waterproof tarp over that. (in theory) Since dormant plants can get by in darkness.

Of course, your partial removal in spring does allow some light in - so that is one advantage of transparent insulation.

[Tiggy]

Do you use any heating at all in there Ralf? And I am curious to know just how cold it gets during the winter.

Susi

[iann]

Most greenhouses will get some sun even in the middle of winter. Mine gets a couple of hours even in December before the sun goes behind my house. Makes a huge difference. If the sun shines! Any solar heating also allows the humidity to drop with a little ventilation.

[Ralf]

Susi, the greenhouse is heated by a propane heater. That and all other stuff that depends on that I'll explain in part 3.
Ian, if I could placed the greenhouse on another location in my yard, I would do that. It gets almost non sun during the winter. If the sun is shining it gets only some sun radiation on the roof for a couple hours. That isn't enough to heat it up noticeable.

[SnowFella]

Maybe that's a good thing though, constant cold and no direct sunlight during the cold months. I've noticed that even though I keep my plants outside and bone dry during winter I'm still getting etoliated growth as daytime temperatures can reach 20C and where I keep them stored they acctually get more direct sunlight than during summer. Summertime under the awning they get mainly filtered light through some clear roof panels but during winter with the lower standing sun they get hours of direct sunlight peeking in under the roof.

[majcka]

Ian, if I could placed the greenhouse on another location in my yard, I would do that. It gets almost non sun during the winter. If the sun is shining it gets only some sun radiation on the roof for a couple hours. That isn't enough to heat it up noticeable.

GH is not the problem. The house stands on the wrong position!!!!!