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Greenhouse

tony williams2tony williams2 Posts: 288
in Problem solving
Hi all, if I were to put insulation on the ground of my cold greenhouse would it help with temperature in winter  ?

Posts

  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    The ground holds heat , so No. You can put large tanks of water in, they act as storage radiators, heating up in the sunshine of the day. Then bubble wrap on the inside of the glass.
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    Interesting. I put polystyrene sheets over the paving slabs in the bottom of my greenhouse last year thinking it would be warmer than cold stone. Have no idea really whether it made any difference.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    edited September 2022
    I agree with @fidgetbones
    If you put insulation on the ground, you're keeping the ground warm by preventing the ground heat from rising up into the air - which would otherwise warm your greenhouse - a little.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    The ground holds the heat at first.  Then later in the winter it will hold the cold.

    My unheated greenhouse seems to get down to outside temperature overnight, then rises quickly on a sunny day.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • JacquimcmahonJacquimcmahon Posts: 1,039
    I bought cheep car window covers (reflective on one side), put these at the floor and back of my lean too greenhouse and they work a treat to reflect the max sunshine (therefore heat) into the air around the plants.
    Marne la vallée, basically just outside Paris 🇫🇷, but definitely Scottish at heart.
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    That sounds a good idea @Jacquimcmahon.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    edited September 2022
    Is kitchen foil cheaper?

    My olive, which I would like to train as a mop-head, is inclined to grow upwards.  Not as trainable as a bay.  I am considering placing some reflectors below its head during part of the year.  Car window covers might be self-supporting.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
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