Greenhouse terms
People who live in glass houses should know these words
Glazing - A glazing, the same as any that might be applied to your home windows, helps keep warm rays from escaping once they enter. Unlike in your home, a greenhouse glazing may be somewhat opaque and thick, to greatly increase the temperature without concern for visibility.
Vent Control - There are several products available that vent your greenhouse. Of course, simply opening the door when things get a little too hot is acceptable, but there are options. A solar-powered vent control can be set to one-degree increments, opening a door, roof, or wall vents. This way you don’t have to worry about your greenhouse overheating.
Seedling Heat Mat - To get the young guys going, sometimes it’s necessary to provide a little help. A heat mat gives radiant heat to the roots of young plants, about 10 degrees higher than the ambient temperature.
Lighting - You’ll need a decent set of lights to make your greenhouse worth the effort. We suggest reflective aluminum inserts, a mounting system, and individual on/off switches. Other things you may want to consider are built in ballasts and glass lenses.
Watering Systems - Greenhouse watering systems are plentiful and varied. The handier ones operate on gravity and are self-filling. Some greenhouse kits have a combined watering/fertilizer unit.
Greenhouse Misting - Misting your greenhouse is a reliable way to maintain the temperature cool and safe for your plants. A good greenhouse misting kit can lower the temperature by as much as 25 degrees F. Misters also provide greenhouse humidification at the optimal levels, around 50-70%. Make it easy on yourself and get one that connects to a hose or outside faucet.
Greenhouse Heater - Most gardeners simply use a portable space heater. About 25-30% of your heat can be acquired from the sun, and a properly insulated greenhouse will keep warm enough. Some gardeners use solar power to operate their heaters and save on costs, but this is a fickle source and should always have something reliable on backup.
Greenhouse Kit - This general term describes a number of packages that you can buy to get you started. Some will have all you need, and others will be simply a frame and your greenhouse panels. Even larger greenhouses are sold as kits, not just the portable or mini greenhouses. These will save you time and money, along with giving you the comfort of having a phone number to call in case things get tricky for you.