Did the wrap yesterday. So far there is a 20 degree difference. Right now it is 46* outside and 66* in greenhouse. I'm sure once I turn on grow lights and heat matts I will find the temp to go up a little. I will probably have to turn heat on at night a few times. Hopefully I will save some on heating bill. Now I can't wait to start planting seeds. Need a little more velcro here and there. ( photo / image / picture from Donna S's Garden ) It's so toasty warm inside. ( photo / image / picture from Donna S's Garden )
Hi Jane, I bought the bubble wrap from Charley's Greenhouse & garden. It's the only place I could find the width and length. It has 1 inch bubbles which help with the heating. I used smaller last year to wrap my seed starting racks in greenhouse and it worked very well. So I just thought I'd take it a step further and wrap whole greenhouse. I will still do the racks as a double protection for seedlings. If anyone wants to try this remember bubbles go to the outside.
That's a great idea... added insulation. Curious though... and I think I understand why you'd put the bubble side out, but could you explain the difference anyhow?
I'm really not sure Cheryl. I'm guessing it warms better that way. And the wrap is better protected from damage.
That's what I was thinking... protecting the wrap. With the air cushion facing your frame, etc. I guess I could see how having that air bubble facing the sun could collect more heat?
Very impressive Donna,..i can understand the advantage over the usual plastic sheeting,..how wide a roll does it come in and how do you link the sheets together.
Philip, the wrap comes 24 inches wide x 40 ft. long. There are several ways to install. Double-faced tape, special clips that did not work well ( they kept popping off frame work), Velcro or staples if you have wood frame. I choose Velcro because I thought it would be easier to take down. I used 2 inch wide Velcro on frame to bubble wrap. But then I read that it can be left up year around. A single layer of bubble wrap will increase the R value by 1.6 to 2.1 R-value. Check out charleysgreenhouse.com if you can look thru the catalog it's on page 32.
I think curvature of the bubbles gives more surface area for solar heating. Neat greenhouse! I may try a framework of bubblewrap over a seed bed this year. Or over my lettuce now.
What an astonishing thing, Donna. Chapeau! That thing is beautiful. Really. You've got to be over the moon with that greenhouse of yours. The Velcro seams are inspired.
mart, Walmart sells garden blankets. They cost about $9.00 and are great for covering this time of year. Water and light goes thru, but they keep the frost off. You can cut them to any size you need. And you can use them over and over. I tent them over my wire fence with clothes pins put couple pot or bricks on bottom to hold down and they stay there all winter. So far my swiss chard, lettuce, beets and spinach are thriving. Even at 22* nights Sjoerg, Thank you. And yes I'm over the moon. It's going to be a full moon Tuesday night. We will see how warm the greenhouse stays then.
Hi Donna,..i took a look at Charley's Greenhouse.com,..i think i will go for the double sided tape,..and will get it over here,..my greenhouse is just a walk through but has adequate space for all the seedlings i need plus overwintering some plants,..it comes with a fitted cover which can be replaced,..i will get some bubble wrap for the inside,..good idea Donna.
