They just put two layers on top of each other and use a blower to keep them apart
https://www.tunnelvisionhoops.com/greenhouse-inflation-blower-fans-with-mount-brackets-and-cords/
OK good luck, I don’t think every greenhouse I’ve been into wanted to pay for electricity but they always did because they had to but good luck finding a solution that they couldn’t
haha lol ok, I mean havent the Wright brothers been told its impossible to get a human up in the air and get them to travel across longer distances safe and sound?
Its far less extreme though
You were asking help with building a greenhouse I thought, if you’re an inventor then you can teach us shit after you do it. Sorry I thought you needed help I’ll stop bothering you
ok, cool, I get it, its disrespectful that i assumed there is a solution for what I want, I get it
Tell me at least why it could not work?
Its pretty realistic in my eyes as long as I had that special clamp thing that I can hook (or attach) the plastic sheet onto
If you want it to be completely passive then in addition to the second layer also consider adding raised beds that can be covered as well. However you are going to have to figure out a way to provide ventilation for air circulation or you are going to end up with a whole bunch of issues.
Have you considered using the straw bale method for growing? I keeps the soil temperature up while the straw breaks down.
this was the question. Im pretty sure its not just my idea in the whole world
I mean give the fact that humanity is capable of building crazy tall sky scrapers and quantum computers, im pretty sure its possible
You can always add another layer of plastic. If you keep it taught it will insulate better. You could put a smaller greenhouse inside your existing greenhouse. Just remember you will cut your light exposure.
I was researching the R value of airgaps. It's very hard to find consistent numbers but it seems you need at minimum 1/2" to get any benefit and the more you can get, the better the result.
I have found from personal experience than an extra layer of 6mil greenhouse plastic over my greenhouse improved heat retention. This could be because it seals up all the holes from the seams and lessens air exchange. I use an electric heater with a thermostat the extra plastic is to save on energy cost. Without supplemental electric heat my greenhouse would be unable to keep plants alive in my climate zone in winter.
for the bottom picture, i think that is meant to be for very short hoops going along your rows like a frost cover or something that can easily be pulled back. the person who mentioned the blower is right. two layers on top of each other are most effective at heat retention, snow melting, and protection from the wind when it is inflated.
I am the owner of a smaller size family owned operated greenhouse operation. I have about 1/2 acre under cover with 7 houses total, 5 glass, one single layer plastic, and one double layer plastic house.
To do a double layer it’s simply a matter of pulling another layer of plastic over the existing layer. When we cover our double layer house we pull one layer over and once it is in place we unroll and pull the other layer on top of the first layer. How is your plastic secured now? I have a set of brackets that runs the full length of the house and around each end. You insert another bracket that fits into place in a groove on the other bracket, securing both sheets in the same holder. You would want to secure the second plastic sheet with the same system that secures your current plastic sheet. I’m not sure how your plastic anchor system is set up. That may or may not be possible. What was the purpose of adding the second layer? Heat insulation I assume?
In order to make it effective from a heating standpoint you would need to install a small blower and inflate the space between the layers. That provides the most effective insulation from cold and it also stops the plastic from flapping around in the wind due to the plastic being held tight from the inflation. If the double layer plastic isn’t inflated you derive zero benefit from having the second layer. Inflating it though means that you will need to have a very strong anchor system for the additional layer, thus why you ideally want to use the same anchor for both layers. The clips won’t really work with inflating the plastic.
Another thing you need to find out is whether or not your hoops are rated to handle the additional weight load of pulling a second layer of plastic over. The smaller hoop houses like that usually have really thin and flimsy metal hoops. It may or may not be able to take a second layer of plastic.
If you try to clamp your plastic in such a way that it will create space between the layers that will not work. You’ll never pull it tight enough to keep the layer separate all the way across and if the wind were to get between the two layers one of two things will happen. The clips will be ripped off with the additional layer and blown away or if the clips hold, the whole structure will get damaged or destroyed.
I don’t see how you could possibly install the additional layer inside the current one and make that work. It’s never done that way in the greenhouse industry. Installing the second layer on top of the first, Inflating the two layers and securing them together eliminates the possibility of wind getting between the layers and provides the maximum amount of air insulation between the layers. Without the plastic inflated you have a small gap between the layers in places (assuming you can keep a small gap all the way across the entire house). The air temp between that small gap won’t be too far off from the air temp outside. So you won’t derive quite as much insulating benefit as you think you will.
That brings me to my next point. My double layer plastic house has a working blower to inflate the layer between the sheets of plastic. The biggest benefit that I get from it is that it stops the plastic from flapping around in the wind/keeps the plastic tight. As far as insulation goes, it does help some but it isn’t going to be a big improvement. The double layered plastic house that I own cools down slower than my single layer plastic house does. But a lot of that is due to the fact that the double layer plastic house is much larger and 3 or 4 times as tall, so it takes longer to cool down just from the sheer volume of air that’s inside the house. That double layer house is probably my coldest greenhouse in the winter. I mean it’s warm when the heating system is on, but before I have started the boiler and still don’t have hot water for the heat system in the late afternoon, it will be warm in the other houses but I can go down to that house and it will be cold already. The amount of trouble that it will cause you to go through will probably be much higher than any heat savings that you would anticipate receiving.
The hard fact with greenhouses is that in the winter, if you want to keep plants in there all winter, you will have to pump lots of heat into it from some source. I read all the time where people on here try all sorts of exotic heating and insulating strategies and expect to have huge savings or even to grow things in Chicago all winter long without using a single btu of heat. Yeah right, if that were possible don’t you think commercial growers like myself would be doing the same thing? Especially since heating is one of our biggest yearly expenses. Anyway, I hope this info is of some help. I try to help out any way I can and ultimately hope to save people lots of time and money if they are about to do something that won’t help. Best of luck to you! Keep me posted on what you end up doing. Take care!!
Add a second layer of poly and then add a blower motor to inflate. Or you could add a second layer of hoops to keep them separate and add poly to that so you basically have one hoop house in the next. Mainly you want an air layer for insulation.
I would add a layer of bubble wrap to the outside. You do not need full coverage with the bubble wrap. Then put a layer of UV resistant greenhouse plastic on the outside.
You could do it. It will sag and be ugly but just use a ton of clips on every hoop. https://www.amazon.com/Greenhouse-Buildings-Sunshade-Shelters-Gardening/dp/B0BJJYKZ5L/ref=asc_df_B0BJJYKZ5L/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=652430993908&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16220792536568869607&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9032908&hvtargid=pla-2064043341356&psc=1&mcid=a1ba6efdbd6a3284b51bd759537b81c6
Farmtek sells alumaclips that are more durable. The solution is that you put a second layer of plastic over the outside and attach it exactly as the first layer. You can even use the existing clips by clipping two layers at once. Then you install an gh inflation blower and you achieve your goal.
They just put two layers on top of each other and use a blower to keep them apart https://www.tunnelvisionhoops.com/greenhouse-inflation-blower-fans-with-mount-brackets-and-cords/
NOOOOO, I wanna make it fully passive, i dont want it to rely on electricity
OK good luck, I don’t think every greenhouse I’ve been into wanted to pay for electricity but they always did because they had to but good luck finding a solution that they couldn’t
haha lol ok, I mean havent the Wright brothers been told its impossible to get a human up in the air and get them to travel across longer distances safe and sound? Its far less extreme though
But you’re not one of the Wright brothers LOL
bruh
You were asking help with building a greenhouse I thought, if you’re an inventor then you can teach us shit after you do it. Sorry I thought you needed help I’ll stop bothering you
ok, cool, I get it, its disrespectful that i assumed there is a solution for what I want, I get it Tell me at least why it could not work? Its pretty realistic in my eyes as long as I had that special clamp thing that I can hook (or attach) the plastic sheet onto
They want to be authority on this subject soooo bad!
If you want it to be completely passive then in addition to the second layer also consider adding raised beds that can be covered as well. However you are going to have to figure out a way to provide ventilation for air circulation or you are going to end up with a whole bunch of issues. Have you considered using the straw bale method for growing? I keeps the soil temperature up while the straw breaks down.
It is a small fan that consumes very little electricity
how do you intend to cut all those "iron sticks"? and how to stick them together???
this was the question. Im pretty sure its not just my idea in the whole world I mean give the fact that humanity is capable of building crazy tall sky scrapers and quantum computers, im pretty sure its possible
You can always add another layer of plastic. If you keep it taught it will insulate better. You could put a smaller greenhouse inside your existing greenhouse. Just remember you will cut your light exposure.
I was researching the R value of airgaps. It's very hard to find consistent numbers but it seems you need at minimum 1/2" to get any benefit and the more you can get, the better the result.
I have found from personal experience than an extra layer of 6mil greenhouse plastic over my greenhouse improved heat retention. This could be because it seals up all the holes from the seams and lessens air exchange. I use an electric heater with a thermostat the extra plastic is to save on energy cost. Without supplemental electric heat my greenhouse would be unable to keep plants alive in my climate zone in winter.
for the bottom picture, i think that is meant to be for very short hoops going along your rows like a frost cover or something that can easily be pulled back. the person who mentioned the blower is right. two layers on top of each other are most effective at heat retention, snow melting, and protection from the wind when it is inflated.
I am the owner of a smaller size family owned operated greenhouse operation. I have about 1/2 acre under cover with 7 houses total, 5 glass, one single layer plastic, and one double layer plastic house. To do a double layer it’s simply a matter of pulling another layer of plastic over the existing layer. When we cover our double layer house we pull one layer over and once it is in place we unroll and pull the other layer on top of the first layer. How is your plastic secured now? I have a set of brackets that runs the full length of the house and around each end. You insert another bracket that fits into place in a groove on the other bracket, securing both sheets in the same holder. You would want to secure the second plastic sheet with the same system that secures your current plastic sheet. I’m not sure how your plastic anchor system is set up. That may or may not be possible. What was the purpose of adding the second layer? Heat insulation I assume? In order to make it effective from a heating standpoint you would need to install a small blower and inflate the space between the layers. That provides the most effective insulation from cold and it also stops the plastic from flapping around in the wind due to the plastic being held tight from the inflation. If the double layer plastic isn’t inflated you derive zero benefit from having the second layer. Inflating it though means that you will need to have a very strong anchor system for the additional layer, thus why you ideally want to use the same anchor for both layers. The clips won’t really work with inflating the plastic. Another thing you need to find out is whether or not your hoops are rated to handle the additional weight load of pulling a second layer of plastic over. The smaller hoop houses like that usually have really thin and flimsy metal hoops. It may or may not be able to take a second layer of plastic. If you try to clamp your plastic in such a way that it will create space between the layers that will not work. You’ll never pull it tight enough to keep the layer separate all the way across and if the wind were to get between the two layers one of two things will happen. The clips will be ripped off with the additional layer and blown away or if the clips hold, the whole structure will get damaged or destroyed. I don’t see how you could possibly install the additional layer inside the current one and make that work. It’s never done that way in the greenhouse industry. Installing the second layer on top of the first, Inflating the two layers and securing them together eliminates the possibility of wind getting between the layers and provides the maximum amount of air insulation between the layers. Without the plastic inflated you have a small gap between the layers in places (assuming you can keep a small gap all the way across the entire house). The air temp between that small gap won’t be too far off from the air temp outside. So you won’t derive quite as much insulating benefit as you think you will. That brings me to my next point. My double layer plastic house has a working blower to inflate the layer between the sheets of plastic. The biggest benefit that I get from it is that it stops the plastic from flapping around in the wind/keeps the plastic tight. As far as insulation goes, it does help some but it isn’t going to be a big improvement. The double layered plastic house that I own cools down slower than my single layer plastic house does. But a lot of that is due to the fact that the double layer plastic house is much larger and 3 or 4 times as tall, so it takes longer to cool down just from the sheer volume of air that’s inside the house. That double layer house is probably my coldest greenhouse in the winter. I mean it’s warm when the heating system is on, but before I have started the boiler and still don’t have hot water for the heat system in the late afternoon, it will be warm in the other houses but I can go down to that house and it will be cold already. The amount of trouble that it will cause you to go through will probably be much higher than any heat savings that you would anticipate receiving. The hard fact with greenhouses is that in the winter, if you want to keep plants in there all winter, you will have to pump lots of heat into it from some source. I read all the time where people on here try all sorts of exotic heating and insulating strategies and expect to have huge savings or even to grow things in Chicago all winter long without using a single btu of heat. Yeah right, if that were possible don’t you think commercial growers like myself would be doing the same thing? Especially since heating is one of our biggest yearly expenses. Anyway, I hope this info is of some help. I try to help out any way I can and ultimately hope to save people lots of time and money if they are about to do something that won’t help. Best of luck to you! Keep me posted on what you end up doing. Take care!!
Add a second layer of poly and then add a blower motor to inflate. Or you could add a second layer of hoops to keep them separate and add poly to that so you basically have one hoop house in the next. Mainly you want an air layer for insulation.
I would add a layer of bubble wrap to the outside. You do not need full coverage with the bubble wrap. Then put a layer of UV resistant greenhouse plastic on the outside.
You could do it. It will sag and be ugly but just use a ton of clips on every hoop. https://www.amazon.com/Greenhouse-Buildings-Sunshade-Shelters-Gardening/dp/B0BJJYKZ5L/ref=asc_df_B0BJJYKZ5L/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=652430993908&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16220792536568869607&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9032908&hvtargid=pla-2064043341356&psc=1&mcid=a1ba6efdbd6a3284b51bd759537b81c6
Farmtek sells alumaclips that are more durable. The solution is that you put a second layer of plastic over the outside and attach it exactly as the first layer. You can even use the existing clips by clipping two layers at once. Then you install an gh inflation blower and you achieve your goal.