I just came in from misting my orchids. Gosh it is so darn cold here. Though it is a whopping 28 F (don't laugh, you in the north, that's plenty cold for us!), with the high humidity and wind, it feels like low teens. Just the 15 sec. walk from the house to the GH chilled me to the bone. I WANT MY SPRING!

drdawg said:

David, yes the solar blanket material looks like bubble-wrap (see my previous pics) but is way heavier (20x?) and is UV resistant. I have only had my material covering my two GH's since November, so time will tell whether I leave it as-is year-round. If I understand Karen correctly, she leaves hers' on year-round and it has lasted ten years.

My concern here would be overheating during the day. Not at all unusual to run heat at night and have to throw open doors and vents during the day w/fans.
I really don't think you could leave it on during the summer months here if you plan to use your greenhouse for anything during the summer.

@cocobid I would like to hear from Karen especially because she lives in TX like me. How does the interior temps maintain in the summer months with the solar cover on? I know your climate is drier than ours in Southeast TX, but do you have algae or mold between the solarsheet and your panels? Also, do you get ventilation via your vent Windows with the covering?

Yes MJ and Cheryl.

Good theories all, and time will tell how much of the solar blanket can remain. Perhaps only the largest panel of blanket will have to come off. That covers two sides and the entire top. It will come off easily. The blanket material attached to the doors and its side-panels, should not matter at all. The doors stay open when it gets hot. The other panel is the south-facing one and it probably won't matter either.

Well,.....I think your theories might just work for you. Keep working on yours while we're working on ours and we will all learn together.

Mid upper Mississippi does still get hot a lot in Summer, and in Winter is still in a significantly less tropical area of the South to grow tropicals then here, which of course as MJ said is complex. 32 in the morning one day here can turn into a 80 degree day in afternoon and inside temperatures in a closed small greenhouse such as mine at 12'x10' can still mean 100+ degrees inside the greenhouse in that same afternoon. Our little hobby sized greenhouses don't have the leeway truly commercial greenhouses do with their mammoth sizes and systems compared to our tiny ones.

Next winter I plan to use a solar blanket on the southern sides and roof of our GH. I'm seriously thinking of replacing all the polycarbonate on the northern sides and roof with solid panels and rigid 2" foam on the inside. The doors will definitely be replaced with a lightly used
Anderson Patio door with screen.
Heating cost have been astronomical this year, and now we cannot even get a gas delivery due to the shortages caused by supply and demand . We've been told that all deliveries are going to homes and businesses. We are pretty much heating with our backup electric heaters. I'm also hoping I can convince the gas co. to swap our 100 gallon for a 300 so we can schedule delivery and payment over the summer.

Gorgeous outside to day, all doors wide open, vents open, and fans running. Course had to run the heat last night and will have to the next couple nights.
As I was looking at the light in the greenhouses it dawned on me that we will be putting the shade cloth back up soon.

I am writing an article about SW covering...I want it right!! But that said combined with pool Cover it is very economical & efficient. At least in our climate....not sure about -20 LOL

I was reminded of this thread while driving behind a truck advertizing on site marine shrink wrap. Looking forward to your article Karen.

After painting a birdbath freshly I've imagined shrink wrap on the bowl to possibly keep it cleaner? If it was tight enough it seems possible. I may have to experiment!

David what kind of paint did you use on your birdbath. I have a very old concrete one that turns to green slime....and doesn't really hold water that well any more.
Was thinking of some way to revive it.

I have one also that need to have something done to it also. Hope your idea can help.

Regular housepaint MJ. I usually spray a few coats of enamel clear spray over it after its Sun dried though. Mine needs to be repainted again though. Its a yearly thing.

Ok the solar cover was just removed, leaving only the shrink wrap. We are having an extremely cold winter. I'm photographing the deconstruction for a detailed article. Even how SC is stored. Soooooo simple. Again for anyone just tuning in I do NOT leave either cover on year round. For our needs it just is not necessary or aesthetically the thing we need.
My Brugs are rooting so well in the little bubbler...have brought in close to 30 cuttings. Next year I'm going to terrace how we store to further maximize space & air/heat flow.

What size of solar blanket did you use for a 6x8 greenhouse and or a 10x12 harbor freight greenhouse?

12' x 20' or 12' x 24'. That was close to 12 yr. ago, @crazyrees.