My Greenhouse

Is it really worth it?

Is it a hassle?

Does anyone else care?

If you are like me, and you love to see Oxalis, wild violets, Tibouchina, mini roses, Nemesia, bromeliads and others blooming in January,,, then you have to get a greenhouse~!!!

I built mine three years ago with $150 worth of lumber and plastic. I installed two heaters( cost was $42.00 for both )a 4' shop light with grow bulbs ($9.00) and a few recycled cinder-blocks with 2x6's for shelves, which I got from a construction dumpster. My greenhouse is only 8'X 10' yet when I counted up the cost of plants in there and came up with over $800 I have decided that it IS worth it~!! I have managed to squeeze 78 plants into my greenhouse most of which are valued at over $7.50 ea. I love tropicals, native, and strange original plants in my landscape and I was tired of paying up to $500 every spring for new plants to refurbish my beds that had dead, un-responsive, or perpetually dormant plants in them.
Is it worth it to keep these plants alive for another season? I have found that my plants, that are wintered in the greenhouse, are more vigorous, grow faster when transplanted, and bloom longer than "store-bought"newbies do. So in answer to my own questions I must say,, YES, it's worth it. YES, it's a hassle. And Yes, someone cares.......ME~!!!

Hahhahaha I totally agree about it being worth it. I have a 12x24 greenhouse that was built about 3 weeks ago, lumber cost around $250.00 plastic etc around $100.00 the top is pvc arched and door is 2x2's I just bought a 4' shop light with grow light bulbs ($20.00) I need 2 more thought to adequately light it!!! I bought a small heater also only $18.00, but haven't tried it yet, since we finally warmed back up to 40's for our lows this week... I want shelves sooo bad, but don't have money for those probably til after christmas season!!! I know how ya feel, and I still have beautiful cape coral honeysuckle blooming, walking iris blooming, a few golden dewdrop (duranta repens) blooming, and also have my tropicals that I had on my patio, all which would be brown and yucky by now if hadn't been for the greenhouse!!! I also have my plants in pots because I am not sure this is my permanent residence (we are buying but over an hour from work!) So am scared to plant too much AARGGHH hahahah. Maybe this spring I will put something in the ground... probably not much I have this fear of having to dig up allk my plants to bring to a new home (i did this 3 years ago!!!) so greenhouse ... worth it .... YEEEESSS


katrina

My GH was suppose to cost 300 bucks.
Turns out thats what I paid for the UV plastic
Then the frame was $168
wood for the bottom ,rebar,(to hold it down) and furring strips came out to $ 150

Then the clincher...
Heat
The furnace was $1,750.....
(but it does heat part of the house too)
Would I give it up

NEVER!!!

I don't remember the cost of my gh, I've been asleep since then. lol But I would say that it was well worth at least three times as much as we paid. I just love it. Going to try to add on in the spring. It is like my own little piece of springtime in a box. I would recommend one to anybody that asked.

Our first greenhouse cost $0.00. Yes, everthing was salvaged from somewhere. It started with the town church putting in new windows. They needed someone to haul the old ones away. We took all of them. We ended up with a 20 X 40 greenhouse. Still use it, although most everything has been rebuilt. Now is 88' long. Rebuilt another wall this fall. It is still the easiest one to heat. This pic is the interior of it.
Bernie

Just want to say thanks.. my husband got me a greenhouse 12x18.. its not up yet.. it cost way toooo much and I'm afraid!!! am I going to do it right.. will my plants live..on and on..like that..and its like a tinker toy set out there.. pieces..thousands of pieces..and weve worked on it for 3 weekends so far and just the shell is up.. but your words up there are encouraging..my laundry room, and basement have so many plants that are "hanging in there" so I can't wait to get them in a real greenhouse.. Bon

oh "heck" yes it is worth it just the get away from the BF factere alone makes it worth while he hardly ever goes in there except in the spring when he wants something for in the yard