Opinions on small Deluxe Greenhouse/Plant Stand?

I found a small greenhouse/plant stand on Overstocks.com (http://www.overstock.com/cgi-bin/d2.cgi?PAGE=PROFRAME&PROD_ID=224495#) and wondered if anyone has tried this product before. What did you think?

It has all the features I want--plant shelves, upright/compact, and covered in plastic--but I'm wondering how sturdy it really is and whether it will just blow away in the wind.

I don't have a spot for a full greenhouse right now and really just want something compact and upright that can be used for seedlings.

Tracy,
Check out this thread...it looks something like the one you are looking at...Maybe this person could give you some opinions! Good luck...

http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/433404/

I bought that one at the end of last summer and I love it. I use it in the sunroom inside the house, though. It's a nice compact place to over-winter small plants, grow my winter herbs, and its where I start my seedlings. It does have one very nice feature that you can't tell from the photo - the shelves are actually half shelves that are removable, so as your plants grow, you can remove the shelf or half shelf above it, rather than having to remove the plant.

I'm not sure I'd use it outside, though, unless you have a somewhat sheltered area like they show in the photo.

I did just purchase a walk-in greenhouse from Plow & Hearth 6'x4' (x6' 3" tall) that seems a bit sturdier. I'm going to assemble it on my patio, up against the house for extra support and warmth, in the hopes that it will extend my growing season, on both ends. It doesn't have shelves or anything in it, so I'm going to use what I have around the house (like the potting table and wheelbarrow) for this first season. If it works out, I'll add something more permanent next year.

Hope that helps?

Thanks for your response, Sequee. I'm glad you liked it, since I went ahead and ordered it the other day!

I was planning to use it outside against the house. We get mainly rain during the winter, so I was hoping to keep my seedlings warmer and drier. Do you think it's not sturdy enough for outside?

I think if it's up against the house you'll be fine. The one I'm putting up now has stakes and tie-downs, so I feel a little more comfortable with it...but then I'm in NY and you're in CA! And just think, you'll be able to leave your hond tools in there too since they won't get wet. Now that's handy!

Lilystorm,
I came home one day and found mine toppled over - dirt and pots everywhere..... I had it up next to the house in what I thought was a sheltered spot -- the wind caught it just right. After that I 'bunge corded' it to the railing on my deck and it did ok.... It worked great starting seeds, after I secured it good.

vs71099,
I had the same thought yesterday after I set it up. I told my husband, who is more handy than I am, that he would have to think of some ingenious way to anchor the greenhouse before the storms come. It is pretty lightweight, and I can just imagine coming home to find seedlings, dirt, and pots all blown around.

Were you able to anchor it at the top? My only concern is that there is nothing to grap onto at the top once the cover is on. If I anchor it only at the bottom, will it still blow over?

I used bungee cords on the top, middle and bottom. I just wrapped them around the deck post and hooked them around the GH like a belt...... I had to unhook them everytime I needed in to water but at least it didn't blow over again....... I had two really heavy pots on the bottom shelf and even that didn't keep it from toppling over.... so I suggest some sort of anchoring.

Lily, check your big-box type stores. I got 3 of these last year at Big Lots @ 19.99 ea. HD and Menard's has them too.

I have several of these, used them exclusively last winter..we added grow lights to the under side of the shelves for what was on the next shelf down, worked great. I am getting a hoop house this year so not sure how much I will be using the portable ones this winter..but, by all means...get one..they are great.

Kris

I've got it all assembled now. I just need to find a way to anchor it before we get some winter storms. I might just have to use a bungee cord!

It seems like many of you are using it inside. I don't have a sunroom or other area to put it, so it's going to have to live outside. Maybe there's a way to stake it into the ground and then anchor the top.

Tracy...winds 30-40mph are predicted for Sat. evening and Sun. with gusts up to 50 mph...so you might want to get it fastened quickly!

If you don't get it anchored put something good in it lilystorm.... that way when it ends up in Kansas I'll have good stuff already started...... 50 mph sounds like bungee time to me......

hi lily, that seems like a very high price. i got a couple of them with three shelves at big lots and they were only $19.99 each. you definitely want to tie them down somehow as they are very light weight. and if you have them outside in the winter you will need to insulate the bottom as there are numerous air leaks. but for the price i paid it was worth it. if you don't have a big lots near you do a search for one. i think they do some mailorder. or else try harbor freight tools.

Unfortunately, I already bought it so it's too late to comparison shop. If I decide to get another one, I'll check at Big Lots. I already have this one almost filled, so you never know.

I have it tied down with a bungee cord and will add another one soon. It's in a sheltered spot and I can pile up the rocks around it to insulate the bottom a little more. It doesn't get super cold here for the most part. So far, it's working out well.