Brooke Martin
There are many ways to heat a greenhouse in winter without breaking the bank. One such method is to use candles to warm up terracotta pots, which will then radiate the heat outwards. This is a simple, inexpensive, and accessible method to heat a small greenhouse or individual plants. Other methods include using hot beds or composting hay and straw bales, harnessing the body heat of livestock, solar heating, and bubble wrap insulation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Setup | Place a candle on a non-flammable surface, then cover it with an upside-down terracotta pot. Surround the candle with bricks to add thermal mass. |
| Heat Output | This method is ideal for small greenhouses or individual plants. |
| Safety | Requires monitoring. Candles need to be replaced and should not be left unattended. |
| Other Considerations | Horticultural fleece can be used to cover plants during cold spells. |
| Alternative Methods | Solar heating, compost heating, hot beds, bubble wrap insulation, insulated water barrels, and keeping livestock in the greenhouse. |
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What You'll Learn
Using terracotta pots and candles
Terracotta pots are a simple, cost-effective, and eco-friendly way to warm a greenhouse in winter. The thermal properties of terracotta help retain and slowly release heat. This method is ideal for small greenhouses or individual plants.
To set up a terracotta pot heater, you will need:
- A candle that will burn for at least eight hours, such as a pillar candle or extra-large tea light
- A safe, non-flammable base to stand the candle on, such as a dish or bricks
- Two terracotta pots, one small enough to fit inside the other
- Pebbles
- Coins or terracotta fragments
Place the candle on the base, ensuring it is secure and in a heat-resistant holder. Then, place the smaller terracotta pot upside down over the candle, blocking the drainage hole with a coin, pebble, or terracotta fragment. Next, place a few pebbles on the upturned base of the smaller pot to create space for air to circulate. Finally, place the larger pot upside down over the smaller pot, also blocking its drainage hole.
The candle slowly heats the inside pot, which in turn heats the outer pot, creating a small radiator. This setup can provide enough warmth to protect plants from the worst of the chill, but it is important to note that open-flame candles can be a fire hazard. Ensure the heater is placed on a non-flammable surface, keep flammable materials away, and do not leave it unattended.
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Solar heating
If you're looking for a solar-powered heater, solar panels are the way to go. You can install them on the roof or ground, depending on your setup. EcoFlow Rigid Solar Panels, for example, are ideal for permanent roof installations with their durability and 23% conversion efficiency. If your roof can't support panels, you can install them on the ground or opt for portable photovoltaics panels that you can move around to optimise sunlight absorption.
The number of solar panels you'll need depends on your energy usage and the size of your greenhouse. A small greenhouse may only require a single 400W solar panel, while larger ones will need several. You can calculate your energy usage by adding up the watts from each piece of equipment, such as heaters, lighting, and pumps for automatic irrigation systems.
Additionally, you can increase your greenhouse's thermal mass to absorb, store, and release heat more effectively. Materials like stone, concrete, water, and gravel increase thermal mass. These materials heat up during the day and slowly release the stored heat at night, keeping your greenhouse warmer for longer.
While solar panels are a great option, they do have some drawbacks. Initial installation requires a financial investment, and if you're using a grid-tied system without a battery backup, you're dependent on the power grid. A power outage could be costly during the winter. However, solar heating can help combat climate change and save on electricity bills, making it a viable option for those looking to grow food year-round.
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Compost heating
The process of decomposition generates significant amounts of heat. Compost piles can reach 140 degrees Fahrenheit or more during the hottest phase of decomposition. This heat can be captured and used to warm your greenhouse. One way to do this is by creating a hot bed within your greenhouse. You can use existing compost bins or implement trench composting to stagger row plantings while keeping the heat up.
To create a hot bed, add your compostable materials, such as hay and straw bales, and then top them with a mix of soil and compost. The ratio of heat-producing material to growing medium should be 3:1, with the growing medium of soil and compost around 20-30cm deep. Cover your hotbeds with cloches or row covers inside your greenhouse to keep plants warm.
Another method is to use compost bins on rails, constantly feeding in new material from one end while removing decomposed material from the other. You can also build a simple compost bin using two empty barrels, wire, and a wood box. Upend the barrels a few feet apart inside the greenhouse with the tops closed, and lay a metal wire bench top across them. Place the wood box between the barrels and fill it with compost materials—a mix of two parts brown to one part green, with water.
Safety is important when using any heating method. Ensure that your compost heating setup is on a non-flammable surface and keep an eye on it, never leaving it unattended.
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Hot beds
To create a hot bed, you will need to gather hay or straw bales, or a pile of manure, and a compost thermometer. The process is simple: the organic materials are layered and begin to decompose, generating significant amounts of heat. This natural heat is then used to warm the greenhouse. The ratio of heat-producing material to growing medium should be 3:1, with the growing medium being around 20-30cm deep. You can use compost and soil for the growing medium, with a 1:1 mix being ideal. It is preferable to use homemade compost, but if you don't have any, you can buy a peat-free variety.
To speed up the decomposition process, you can water the bales or pile. Regularly monitor the temperature with a thermometer and turn the pile to ensure even decomposition.
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Keeping livestock in the greenhouse
Other types of livestock can also be kept in one part of the greenhouse, while plants are grown in another. Again, the body heat given off by the animals can help keep the greenhouse plants warm during the night.
It is important to consider the ventilation of the greenhouse, as proper airflow is crucial for the health of the animals. Greenhouse barns typically employ natural ventilation using manually adjusted openings in the sidewalls. The height of the side walls will depend on the type of animal housed inside—for example, side wall height for calf greenhouse barns can be as low as 3 to 4 feet, while mature dairy cows are usually housed in 12- to 14-foot eave height barns with mesh openings on all walls.
To maintain a comfortable environment for the livestock, it is essential to manage the temperature and humidity. During cold weather, the temperature difference between the outdoors and the inside of a greenhouse barn can be significant due to the "greenhouse effect" of trapped solar energy. As the barn cools down with decreasing sunlight, it is crucial to ensure that the warm, moist air is exhausted from the building to prevent condensation.
Additionally, when keeping livestock in the greenhouse, it is important to choose animal-safe materials and take precautions to prevent animals from coming into contact with any heat sources, such as candles or heaters.
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Frequently asked questions
Candles can be used to heat a greenhouse in winter by placing them under an inverted terracotta pot. The pot absorbs the candle's heat and radiates it out, warming the surrounding area.
Other ways to warm a greenhouse in winter include using hot beds or composting hay and straw bales, solar heating, insulated water barrels, and keeping livestock in the greenhouse.
It is important to always place the setup on a non-flammable surface and never leave it unattended. Ensure that there is proper air circulation and be careful when lifting the pots as they can get very hot.
Using candles to heat a greenhouse is a simple and inexpensive method that can be effective for small spaces or individual plants. However, it requires monitoring and may not be sufficient for larger spaces.
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