Even though many plants can be grown under glass all year round, winterizing the greenhouse is one of the routine jobs that needs to be done in the fall. Plants also have certain requirements in winter, especially when it comes to air conditioning, ventilation and lighting conditions.
In the fall, the greenhouse needs to be prepared for the winter
When there are fewer leaves on the trees in late autumn, it is also time for the greenhouse in the garden a winterization has come. There is still a lot to be done before the potted plants and all non-frost hardy plants find their home here for the winter. We have already reported on everything that needs to be considered in terms of order and cleanliness. If you want to keep your glass house ready for operation and under steam over the winter, you have to take a little more time.
Check heating and ventilation for function
Even if no plants are reared during the cold season and only frost-hardy winter vegetables are grown, potted plants and many other exotic plants often do not tolerate sub-zero temperatures. That is why you should also make provisions in the cold house just in case, because not every winter is necessarily mild. temperatures below 2 °C are already critical for many plants, so that a separate heater for the greenhouse is required for extreme sub-zero temperatures. Insulating insulation protection is also better, because it will help to reduce heating costs by up to 50 percent during the winter months. And even if the plants are in their completely natural dormant phase over the next few weeks: the ventilation systems, starting with the tilting windows and doors through to fans or any blowers, must work reliably.
When the days get shorter
In order to make your greenhouse winter-proof, you will probably have to help with artificial light in the coming months. The plants need it for their growth process and to stimulate flowering. However, the 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 ideally equipped with the appropriate measuring devices will.
Usually in the weeks that follow after the greenhouse has been winterized, there is less to do than usual. What you should do from now on:
- Regular control of all climate values in the house and, if possible, also outdoors;
- inspection of overwintering plants for possible pest infestation;
- air thoroughly at least twice a day;
- with too strong and prolonged exposure to the sun, be sure to work with shades (full or local);
tips
Especially in an unheated greenhouse, it has proven useful to have a roll of winter fleece or bubble wrap within reach in the event of extremely severe night frosts, which can be used to quickly protect particularly sensitive plants from possible frostbite if necessary.