Heating a hobby greenhouse is a challenge for many greenhouse owners.
For many gardeners, a hobby greenhouse is a useful way to start seedlings early and get the jump on the growing season, or to grow plants during cool weather months when the plants would not grow well outdoors. Most hobby greenhouses are small structures made with inexpensive materials such as polyethylene sheeting and PVC pipe. Because greenhouses are poorly insulated structures, heating can be an important part of keeping plants healthy. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
Thermal Mass
1. Purchase black rain barrels from a hardware or home and garden store.
2. Fill each barrel with water and close each barrel.
3. Position the barrels where they will receive the maximum amount of light during daylight hours. The barrels will absorb solar heat during the day thanks to their black color, and they will radiate that heat at night.
4. Cover the greenhouse in polyethylene bubble wrap nightly to insulate the greenhouse and trap heat inside.
Compost
5. Dig a compost pit in the center of the greenhouse that is 3 cubic feet.
6. Layer the compost with manure and sawdust. The layers of sawdust should be twice as thick as the layers of manure.
7. Water the compost in between each layer so that the compost remains as damp as a wrung out sponge. The compost will immediately start to heat and will rise in temperature between 120 and 160 degrees. This will help heat the greenhouse.
8. Test the compost's temperature at the center of the pile daily with a cooking thermometer to ensure that it remains between 120 and 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Turn the contents of the compost pile inside out any time the temperature of the pile falls below 120 F.
9. Remove the compost once the raw materials break down into loamy soil and the internal temperature of the compost no longer rises when you stir the contents of the pile. Build a new compost pile in the pit immediately.
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