How to Keep Your Greenhouse From Overheating? (2024)

Does your DIY greenhousekit feel like a sauna in the summer months? Are you struggling to keep your delicate plants from wilting, sweating, and drooping despite your best efforts?You are not alone.

Polycarbonate greenhouses are designed to soak up the sun and keep your growing space warm and cozy throughout the seasons. While this works wonders for extending your planting season into the winter, managing the heat on those sweltering summer days can be challenging.

The good news is there are countless ways to lower your temperatures, upgrade your DIY backyard greenhouseand ensure your plants are thriving during the sunniest months!

To kick off this growing season, we’ve compiled our top tips and tricks to keep your greenhouse from overheating.

In this guide you will learn:

  • What Temperature Should Your Greenhouse Be?
  • 5 Ways to Keep Your Greenhouse Cool
    • Regular Watering
    • Install Ventilation Windows
    • Dampen Down The Inside
    • Promote Airflow With Fans
    • Add a Shade Cloth
  • Make Sure Your Plants Flourish This Summer
  • Why Planta Greenhouses?

How to Keep Your Greenhouse From Overheating? (1)

What Temperature Should Your Greenhouse Be?

First and foremost, it’s essential to understand what the perfect temperature for your DIY backyard greenhouse should be. Ideally, anywhere between , 80-85°F (26-29°C) is the golden standardthroughout the spring and summer months.Anything higher than 90°F (32°C) is cause for alarm.

We suggest monitoring your greenhouse temperatures with a good thermometer. However, if you don’t have one – walk inside your greenhouse and see how it feels.

If it’s too hot for you, it’s most likely too hot for your plants as well.

5 Ways to Keep Your Greenhouse Cool

While these tips can alleviate some of the heat on their own, many DIY greenhouse for beginner gardeners find they’re much more effective when implemented together.

1. Regular Watering

We know this tip may seem obvious, but it is the most important. Consistent watering is crucial for your plants to flourish and keep your greenhouse temperatures down..

How does this work? Whenever you water your plants, they’ll release moisture through their leaves and, in turn, lower the inside temperature. This process of transpiration helps keep your garden from wilting and is the easiest way to keep your greenhouse cool on sweltering summer days.

We all forget to water our plants now and then, so having reminders set up on your phone or an automatic watering system will ensure your garden gets the hydration it needs.

How to Keep Your Greenhouse From Overheating? (2)

2. Install Ventilation Windows

Managing the heat in your DIY greenhouse kit is also heavily reliant on adequate airflow.

Ventilation windows are a great way to bring in a fresh breeze from outside and allow the hot air to escape, giving your plants a break from a hot and stuffy enclosed space.

The number of windows you should install depends on the size of the greenhouse kit, the climate you’re located in, and the plants you’re hoping to grow.

The main takeaway is to have enough areas for the heat to get out. However, as an example, the following numbers tend to work well for our Sungrow models:

  • Sungrow Compact (10x6.5) : 0-2 windows
  • Sungrow Urban (10x13) : 2-4 windows
  • Sungrow 20 (10x20) : 4-6 windows
  • Sungrow 26 (10x26) : 6 windows
  • Sungrow 32 (10x32) : 6-8 windows

Are you looking for a low-effort ventilation solution?

Try installing heat-activated automatic windows. They’ll open up when the inside temperature rises to a certain point and close once the day cools down. Not to mention, they’re especially handy if you don’t have time to monitor your greenhouse temperature all day.

How to Keep Your Greenhouse From Overheating? (3)

3. Dampen Down The Inside

Dampening down is another great low-cost trick to keep your greenhouse cool. It’s as simple as grabbing your hose or bucket of water and wetting the floor of your greenhouse.

This easy process helps to increase the humidity inside your greenhouse. As the water evaporates, the inside moisture levels rise, allowing your plants to cope on sweltering hot days.

Feel free to dampen down your greenhouse as often as you need. Just be mindful that if you choose to do this regularly, you will need appropriate ventilation to avoid an excess buildup of moisture.

4. Promote Airflow With Fans

When it comes to air circulation, a good-quality fan or cooler is your best friend. However, while a fan on its own may struggle to dramatically lower your inside temperature, it will work most effectively alongside ventilation windows and watering.

There are countless benefits to having added airflow in your greenhouse. A fan will help:

  • Regulate temperatures by pushing hot air out through windows and any greenhouse door openings.
  • Prevent pests, mildew, and diseases from accumulating due to high humidity & lack of airflow.
  • Improve pollination levels by mimicking the outdoor breeze that many plants rely on to grow.

When installing your fan, it all comes down to what placement you find the most effective. Experiment with your fan near the floor, in front of windows, or in the top corner of your greenhouse to discover what works best for your setup.

How to Keep Your Greenhouse From Overheating? (4)

5. Add a Shade Cloth

A little bit of shade can go a long way to protect your garden from extreme heat. Shade cloths are a handy tool for lowering greenhouse temperatures and filtering out excess UV rays.

Heavy-duty shade netting tends to be made from durable polyethylene. While you can find them with varying shade levels, we recommend opting for a 50% density so your plants can still get enough sunshine to flourish.

You can easily install your shade cloth over the roof of your greenhouse. However, if you need a less permanent solution, try hanging your shade cloth directly over your garden beds or attaching it from a wire inside the greenhouse. That way, it can be unclipped and rolled away on cloudier days.

Make Sure Your Plants Flourish This Summer

For gardeners living in cooler climates, high greenhouse heat levels may seem like a solution to many growing challenges. But the reality is, there can be too much of a good thing.

Your greenhouse is an incredible tool to promote healthy plant growth and extend your growing season well beyond summer. However, it takes regular monitoring and a human touch for your garden to thrive in any environment.

Whether you’re preparing for a new season or troubleshooting the challenges of an overheating greenhouse, these 5 tips will help you ensure your plants flourish this summer.

So what are you waiting for? Plantaoffers Backyard Greenhouse Kits in British Columbia and all the way to Ontario.Regardless of your climate, we'll find the perfect solution for you.

Have any questions? Don’t hesitate to leave a comment below, and one of our greenhouse experts will get back to you shortly.

How to Keep Your Greenhouse From Overheating? (5)How to Keep Your Greenhouse From Overheating? (6)

Why Planta Greenhouses?

  • Wind resistant up to 65 mph(learn more about how ourgreenhouses hold up in high-altitude climates).
  • Withstands a snow load ofup to 98 psf(480kg/square meter).
  • Made with aheavy-duty galvanized steel frame.
  • Polycarbonate panelsprovide100% protection against UV rays.
  • TheSungrow greenhouseisbell-shaped- allows the wind, snow, and hail to slide off the sides.
  • Extendable(Sungrow,SigmaandFarmermodels can be extended beyond 100ft)
  • Made in Europeand are exclusively imported
  • Maintenance-free
How to Keep Your Greenhouse From Overheating? (2024)

FAQs

How to Keep Your Greenhouse From Overheating? ›

Open doors to allow more air in. The more air that can get in will result in more cooling. Natural ventilation is more uniform than fans but will not cool the greenhouse to a lower temperature than ambient outside air. Use open weave interior shade screens.

How do you reduce the heat in a greenhouse? ›

Open doors to allow more air in. The more air that can get in will result in more cooling. Natural ventilation is more uniform than fans but will not cool the greenhouse to a lower temperature than ambient outside air. Use open weave interior shade screens.

How do you keep a greenhouse cool in 100 degree weather? ›

Greenhouse cooling typically involves methods like evaporative cooling, using shade cloth, and employing an efficient ventilation system. Evaporative cooling utilizes water evaporation to decrease temperatures by increasing humidity within the space; this method can be achieved through misting or wet wall systems.

How do you keep a greenhouse at constant temperature? ›

Several methods can be implemented for proper temperature control in greenhouses, such as the use of fans and vents, wet walls to cool the environment in areas with excessive heat, shade cloths, misting and radiant heating.

What is the most basic way of cooling a greenhouse? ›

Ventilating the greenhouse is the easiest and cheapest way to cool a greenhouse, and should be used whenever outdoor air temperatures allow. Methods can be active (using fans) or passive. Passive ventilation requires operable vents (both intake and outtake vents).

How can temperature be decreased in a greenhouse? ›

The only practical way to decrease the greenhouse air temperature is evaporative cooling using a fan-and-pad or fog system.

How do you keep a greenhouse warm without heat? ›

Some simple steps can be used to keep the greenhouse warm.
  1. TIP 1. Hot Bed or Composting Hay and Straw Bales. ...
  2. TIP 2. Adding mass to Absorb Heat. ...
  3. TIP 3. Double Layers. ...
  4. TIP 4. Placing a animal Hutch in your greenhouse. ...
  5. TIP 5. Seal Openings. ...
  6. TIP 6. Utilizing Black Paint. ...
  7. TIP 7. Make Use of a Humidifier.
Sep 27, 2021

How do you ventilate a greenhouse without losing heat? ›

Use Roof and Side Vents for Optimal Temperature Control

Greenhouse roof vent placement and side wall vent positioning are key for keeping the temperature just right by making use of the natural flow of air. If you don't let the hot air out, the temperature inside can soar, making it challenging for plants to grow.

How do I reduce the sun in my greenhouse? ›

Shading is a low-cost method of providing some cooling. It is best done outside the greenhouse over the glazing but can also be done with screen systems inside. Shading will result in lower electric bills if fans are being used. Shading compounds are materials that are brushed, rolled or sprayed onto the glazing.

Should I insulate the floor of my greenhouse? ›

Insulating the soil underneath your greenhouse is an essential (and easy) step for energy-efficient year-round growing.

What is the cheapest way to heat a greenhouse in the winter? ›

Heating a greenhouse with gas is the least expensive option. The cost of heating a greenhouse with gas is the main advantage of gas heating and is the main reason people choose gas heating over other options. Beware of open flame heaters for greenhouse applications.

What is the best cooling system for a greenhouse? ›

One of the most effective cooling methods is the evaporative cooling system.

How do greenhouses not overheat? ›

Ventilation is one of the best and most natural ways of keeping your greenhouse cool in hot weather. It's also important during the spring and autumn months when the sun is still powerful. With the right type of ventilation, you will be able to control the temperature in your greenhouse.

What should you not put in a greenhouse? ›

What not to grow in a greenhouse
  • Giant Trees and Shrubs: ...
  • Invasive Species: ...
  • Aggressive Vines: ...
  • Water-Hungry Crops in Excess: ...
  • Plants with Extreme Temperature Requirements: ...
  • Highly Sensitive Varieties: ...
  • Crops with Pests and Diseases: ...
  • Plants with Excessive Maintenance Needs:
Nov 14, 2023

How do I make my greenhouse less hot? ›

The single most important way to keep your greenhouse cool is to have a large volume of plants in your greenhouse, especially large-leaved plants such as fig trees, or a grapevine. They are both edible, fruit-bearing, soil-shading, and evaporative coolers.

Should a greenhouse be in full sun? ›

The best spot to place a greenhouse is the sunniest spot. It's important that the structure (and therefore the plants within it) receive at least six hours of winter sun exposure.

How do you keep the temperature constant in a greenhouse? ›

Maintain greenhouse temperatures by ushering cooler air in near the ground (where your plants are) and directing warm air out through the roof. This helps your crop establish a consistent, healthy leaf temperature.

What temperature is too hot for a greenhouse? ›

Keeping greenhouse plants at the right temperature is critical to their success. Some plants, such as tomatoes, won't set fruit if it's very hot, while others are so heat sensitive that even temperatures above about 85oF (29oC) will cause them damage.

What is the simplest cooling method? ›

Keep the Windows Closed and Covered

During the hot summer months, the simplest thing you can do to keep a room cool without AC is making sure the windows are shut. For those of us who love the fresh air, this can be a hard sell — but trust us, it works.

How do you manage the temperature in a greenhouse? ›

Air temperature is an important determinant of both vegetative growth (Fig. 1) and flowering in greenhouse plants. Therefore, it is important to expose plants to optimal temperature during growth. The optimal temperature rate for most of the plant species is between 68 to 78 °F.

Should I leave my greenhouse door open? ›

Open all doors and vents on sunny days. These can be left open at night if the temperature remains high.

How can we prevent heat loss in greenhouse? ›

Best way to heat Greenhouse and how to protect Greenhouse from Frost. You can reduce heat-loss by installing winter insulation over glazed areas. The most effective method is to use bubble wrap polythene, cut to size and fixed on the inside of the Greenhouse, close to the glass.

What causes a greenhouse to heat up? ›

At nighttime, it's colder outside, but the greenhouse stays pretty warm inside. That's because the glass walls of the greenhouse trap the Sun's heat. The greenhouse effect works much the same way on Earth. Gases in the atmosphere, such as carbon dioxide, trap heat similar to the glass roof of a greenhouse.

How do you regulate temperature and humidity in a greenhouse? ›

There are a variety of methods you can use to control the greenhouse environment, including fans, vents, wet walls, shade cloths, radiant heating and fogging.

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