Greenhouses: Beautiful & Functional

Greenhouses

Early October is when many serious gardeners move their outdoor plants indoorsโ€”before the first frost. But others invest in greenhouses to keep their plants nice and warm through spring. โ€œThe purpose of a residential greenhouse is to provide an environment where tropical plantsโ€”or ones that wonโ€™t survive our wintersโ€”can flourish year-round,โ€ explains James McArdle of McArdleโ€™s Florist and Garden Center in Greenwich, CT. He adds that greenhouses not only protect plants from freezing, but the glass or plastic walls allows more light than a plant will receive when placed by a standard home window. Says McArdle: โ€œWhile some tropical plants can excel in indirect or even low light, many have a critical photoperiod of six hours or more of direct sun, hence the need for a greenhouse.โ€

Thinking about building one? The first step is to choose the location carefully. Jack Horn, head gardener at Wadia Associates in New Canaan, CT, explains, โ€œThe ideal site for a freestanding greenhouse is on the north side of the property where it is exposed to sunlight all day from east to west, without being shaded by trees or buildings.โ€ He explains for an add-on greenhouse the ideal setting would be on the south side of a house or building where (once again) it is exposed to sunlight all day from east to west.

Greenhouse Charles Hilton
This greenhouse by Charles Hilton Architects is attached to a cottage on a working farm in Greenwich, CT. It has a full southern exposure and a traditional English Conservatory design.

After location, โ€œa good layout, generous sunlight, solar screening, watering systems and durable, easy to clean materials are among the most important greenhouse elements,โ€ says Chuck Hilton of Charles Hilton Architects in Greenwich. Heat, air movement and ventilation are needed as well, adds Horn: โ€œElements can be introduced such as a humidifier, heat mats for propagating seeds and cuttings, additional electric lighting for plants that prefer more than 12 hours of sunlight a day, and a carbon dioxide generating machine, which helps plants breathe at optimal capacity.โ€ Douglas VanderHorn of VanderHorn Architects counts glass walls, benching durable enough to hold gravel and plants, shades and precise water distribution among his must-haves.

VanderHorn Architects built this greenhouse in Greenwich, CT, to house a variety of orchids the homeowner has had for years. Maintaining specific temperatures for orchids is paramount, so there is a heating system with automatic roof vents and manual lifting arm side vents.

Like people, different plants have different needs, and a greenhouse can be divided into sections to keep a diverse group of plants happy. For example, in the greenhouse pictured above, designed by Wadia Associates, the West Wing section has a fogging machine that mimics a tropical rainforest, ensuring plenty of humidity. Mature flowering vines create an overhead canopy to diffuse sunlight for shade-loving ferns, tropical plants and orchids. The East Wing (which has full sun) is used for cacti, succulents and sun-loving tropicals, and for cultivating hundreds of plants from seed and cuttings, which are used in the gardens.

Once youโ€™ve made the investment in a greenhouse for your plants, take full advantage of this unique indoor/outdoor space on your property. Many owners will transform greenhouses into enchanting rooms to host parties or events, and some gardeners donโ€™t close up the greenhouse come summer. Says Maggie Bridge of Sam Bridge Nursery & Greenhouses in Greenwich: โ€œIt all depends on what types of plants you are growing. We use our greenhouse year round.โ€ย  ย 

Photos by: (VanderHorn and Hilton)ย Woodruff/Brown; (Wadia)ย Jonathan Walden

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