polycarbonate greenhouses and heating

[jabby]

Dear All

I have a polycarbonate 8 by 6 greenhouse, which I adore and love. I would like to know how to heat it, because I have a feeling that certain heat sources could melt it Any suggestions. Also how on earth do you attach bubble wrap to the inside of the greenhouse and I really need the blond guide to this, many thanks
Jabby

[Geordie]

Bubble wrap

Jabby,

I am assuming your greenhouse is an aluminium frame.....generally fixings are used which you push through the bubble wrap and into the groove of the vertical upright of the greenhouse (the metal bit between the glass!). The fixing is then twisted 90 degrees so it 'locks' against the greenhouse frame. Thats the theory...some are better than others!

I got mine from:

http://www.twowests.co.uk/TwoWestsSi...TING_INFIXAID/


As for your heater can you use an electric one or not?

On same website as above you will find different types. You should also think about an automatic vent opening for a window as well if not got one already.

[poultrychat]

Hi jabby,

I have an oasis greenhouse that is polycarbonate and I heat is electrically. I keep the buble wrap up with some thing I got from Two West Elliot, can't remember what they are called but they come with a putty to attach them with or with screws, I used the screws, takes a bit of time but once they are in place it's easy. Let me know if you can't find them and I will see if I can find an old packet and give more details.

[jaymac92]

Heating polycarbonate greenhouse

Dear All

I have a polycarbonate 8 by 6 greenhouse, which I adore and love. I would like to know how to heat it, because I have a feeling that certain heat sources could melt it Any suggestions. Also how on earth do you attach bubble wrap to the inside of the greenhouse and I really need the blond guide to this, many thanks
Jabby

I bought a pal ram polycarbonate from B & Q, I also bought an automatic opening vent, works like a dream, a pack of greenhouse clips which just twist into the frame also ideal for shading/bubble wrap. My greenhouse regularly reaches temps of 75c in weak sunlight. That's here in chilly Mourne region, County Down. I just bought and installed a 1 metre tube heater from the internet attached to a thermostat plug. This arrangement seems to keep everything happy!
Regards
John

[polc1410]

So you hopefully have your answer about bubble wrap and I'd you have access to electricity are sorted there too.

If you don't have electrucery you are pretty much limited to something that burns. I use a small coldframe heater to take the edge off last year. It was put in the very middle of the house so 3 ft to nearest plastic and the paraffin base section buried in the ground so it couldn't fall over. The flame is enclosed in a wire mesh so the mesh gets hot but no direct flame... However I wouldn't have done it with bubble wrap as I wouldn't have trusted it not to fall onto the wire and that may have melted etc.

[Kristen]

However I wouldn't have done it with bubble wrap as I wouldn't have trusted it not to fall onto the wire and that may have melted etc.

If you have a bench? in the tunnel you could put the heater under that so nothing could fall on it. Used to be popular to put Paraffin heaters under staging made of metal as it heated the metal under the plants, which in turn warmed their soil/roots, and plants are usually able to withstand colder air temperatures if their roots are warm.

[Alison]

You also need to think why you are wanting to heat your greenhouse. I used to keep mine frost free with electic rod type heaters. I never even considered keeping it, say, above 10 deg as I don't think it's necessary for me or cost effective. I don't even do the frost free thing now and keep it as a well insulated (bubble wrap) cold (unheated) greenhouse and it works well as that stage between indoors and out as well as over wintering things that don't line cold and wet.