house windows for greenhouse

[jcaballero]

can I use house windows to build a greenhouse? I find used windows on craigslist all the time. I figured I can build the structure and use house windows all around. They have screens which will help in summer to keep it ventilated and keep bugs out.

[Orchid Red]

Sure -- you can use about anything, but you'll need to watch the winter and summer temps. Summer heat can be regulated by shade cloth, screens and fans (which you'll need 24/7 anyhow), but it's going to be a lot harder to keep the plants warmer in winter with uninsulated windows. I used to live in the DC area with a double-glazed greenhouse, and it still took a 220W heater to keep a 12 x 18 space at about 55 degrees on the coldest nights. If you're planning a smaller space, or find insulated windows, it will be easier to control the temp. Good luck, and if you do build, be sure to use a min-max thermometer for a few nights/days before you move your babies in there. Happy growing!

[jcaballero]

Originally Posted by Orchid Red

Sure -- you can use about anything, but you'll need to watch the winter and summer temps. Summer heat can be regulated by shade cloth, screens and fans (which you'll need 24/7 anyhow), but it's going to be a lot harder to keep the plants warmer in winter with uninsulated windows. I used to live in the DC area with a double-glazed greenhouse, and it still took a 220W heater to keep a 12 x 18 space at about 55 degrees on the coldest nights. If you're planning a smaller space, or find insulated windows, it will be easier to control the temp. Good luck, and if you do build, be sure to use a min-max thermometer for a few nights/days before you move your babies in there. Happy growing!

I think the windows are double pane. Anyways, thanks for the info. Good stuff to think about.

[silken]

Our growing area has house windows. They are double or triple glazed-I think triple but we get nasty cold winters! we definitely heat in the winter and it is attached to one side of our house. Ours have screens too and in the summer the windows are open more than they are closed.

[Orchid Red]

After spending a January working in Regina, my hat's off to you for growing orchids on the prairie in those temps! That's when I found out that -40 degrees F and C are the same.... I did find some original orchid art from a terrific artist named Gwen Connor. Still treasure her watercolors of cymbidiums.

[silken]

Originally Posted by Orchid Red

After spending a January working in Regina, my hat's off to you for growing orchids on the prairie in those temps! That's when I found out that -40 degrees F and C are the same.... I did find some original orchid art from a terrific artist named Gwen Connor. Still treasure her watercolors of cymbidiums.

Yep, our temps go from the +30's (Celsius) in the summer to the -30's in the winter and occasionally to -40 which is indeed equal to -40F. A challenge on either end of the scale for greenhouse growing! But we get lots of sunshine summer and winter and I am happy where I am