Propane Heating

[kmcalpin]

My greenhouse is 10 feet wide, 24 feet long ( so I guess 240 square feet) although I only grow orchids on about 3/4 of the greenhouse. It can remain cooler on the other side for the pancake plants and cacti, also for the dracs and masdies I have in a terrariium on the floor.

the highest point in the ceiling is 10 feet. Minimum outside temp last winter was one morning it was -7 degrees F, but that is very rare. Usually it gets down to about freezing, and the sun heats things up extremely quickly in the AM. I will not need any heating in my greenhouse during the daytime hours at all, or if I do, extremely rarely.

We use gas for the rest of the house, NOT a bad idea! I like the hot water radiator idea thing too.

[Bradfo69]

I have to agree with km... This is slightly frustrating and scrapping the whole damn hobby crosses your mind occasionally! Or just grow Calanthes that you can toss in a box in the basement each winter.

I'm still in a holding mode but using a small electric heater for the time being. Maybe I can sneak out at night and run an extention cord to the neighbors.

I am almost convinced a new greenhouse grower should operate it for a year without plants and measure conditions on a daily basis rather than go through the stress of putting everything in this foreign environment.
The one thing I am pleased with is the perceived r-value of the walls on this thing. Granted it hasn't gotten really cold yet but it's been running much warmer than the ambient temp even at night without a huge drop off. And the little electric heater on it's lowest setting brought the air temp up 7-8 degrees in an hour or so last night.

I'll be posting pics soon.

[kenyasearch]

Originally Posted by Bradfo69

Lot's of good information. Thanks all. A member of my society is a contractor, (with a greenhouse) and is certified to run natural gas. He is suggesting natural gas and came over to look at the greenhouse and is proposing an unvented 10,000 btu unit, with me digging a trench from the house to the greenhouse to run underground pipe. Thank goodness we've had an indian summer and I've been able to delay a decision. More people my way have suggested the natural gas option as well because propane delivery is not always assured on time and natural gas is "always on" - and doesn't necessarily require electricity.

Friggin plants.....

I believe more and more people are going the natural gas way when in need of fueling products. Natural gas is very reliable and cost effective.

portable propane heaters

[richardb]

Natural gas is ideal if you can get it - it is always there.
Some of us cannot get the stuff so it is either propane or electricity.
Richard