Wow, that sounds very interesting. I wonder though how much to heat the water that runs through those copper pipes? I know someone who is very good at setting up solar systems, I wonder if something like that could work with solar during the day heating the water and a battery charged by solar could heat at night?

I know it's the soil that has to be warm for germination and the air can be cooler, Sure would we wonderful if I could actually propagate all my seeds in the GH and not have to have two shelving units in the house since we have such a tiny house! Did you get the name of the supplier for the bladders?

I'm working there this week, so I will ask more questions

Great! Thanks!

It is darn cold out tonight. The sky cleared and now it is -15ºC = 5ºF brrrr! The GH was 8ºC = 46ºF inside. The forecast is -16ºC=3ºF, but may get colder. I put some bedding comforters on the roof and within 15 minutes the inside temp jumped to over 10ºC= 50ºF. The remote sensor shows the inside temp is still rising so I guess I will sleep tonight. Good thing there is very little wind. The comforters should stay in place

Brrrr...that is great the comforters make that much of a difference. I am still learning the tricks.

We're warm tonight, 61 right now, not expected much lower either. But some cooler weather later this week.

Joanne, thanks for mentioning using comforters! My Dad called yesterday, asking if I had any ideas for keeping his greenhouse warmer at night. He still hasn't run electricity to it for the heater. It's been much hotter than he wants it to be during the day, and it's much colder than he wants it at night. He finally got out there and opened the door and windows, and it cooled off, but needs something to keep it warm at night. I'll let him know about this, as it's a perfect solution for him!

I do have a heater in the greenhouse and the comforters on the roof. They probably will help retain some of the day heat, but the GH won't get warmer than what it is when the blankets go on without a heater inside. I used a propane heater before I got electricity to the GH.

On sunny days, the GH heats up a lot even when it is cold (below freezing) outside. One of the roof window/vents has an auto vent mechanism which is handy.

The heater maintained a temp of 11.6ºC=53ºF last night. I am very glad that I put the blankets on the roof. This was one of the coldest nights since I started up the greenhouse and the next few days will have cold nights.

I know it won't get warmer by covering the top, but if you put the comforter on the top at the right time, it should hold in the heat. It will work perfectly for Dad!

Wow, we try to maintain around 40 to 42 degrees when it's really cold out. It probably wouldn't cost much more to raise it a bit, I guess I'm just trying to keep anything from freezing. Nothing out there that is that cold sensitive except maybe basil and I had it inside a mini-greenhouse up until a few weeks ago. It's on it's own now!

And I discovered a pepper plant mixed in with the tomatoes that seems to be doing fine. I was waiting a few more weeks to put the peppers out. Good to know that one is surviving. I planted out one flat of snapdragons and one flat of rudbeckia Prairie Sun today. Trying to move some stuff out to make room for the next batch.

Natalie,
I'm sure it will make a difference. Let us know how it works out for your Dad.

Arlene,
I do have some touchy stuff in there like Coleus. I hope this cold spell ends soon.

You're brave, Joanne. I had such poor germination with coleus this year I don't want to take a chance.

But I'm with you, I'm ready for this cold spell to be OVER!!!

Will do Joanne. I called him this afternoon about it, and he was excited to hear that this just may work for him. He hasn't had a lot of free time lately, so this will be great. This is the first year for his greenhouse, and he's really excited about starting seeds.

I've never grown Coleus before, and I'm getting ready to move to a warmer zone, so I want to give it a try. Is it something that is easy to start from seed? I'm taking my greenhouse with me, but seed starting will have to begin next year. There are so many things that I want to grow, and I'll now have the room for all of it!

For the really tender plants, has anyone tried a small pop up type greenhouse in a larger greenhouse?

Kristi, I put my very tiny basil in a mini-greenhouse inside my greenhouse because we were still having cold nights. BUT, you HAVE to open it up on sunny days. Good idea to open every day for circulation anyway. I haven't tried anything more tender, but you're in the same zone I am so you could try. Not to germinate, but after potting up.

I have taken the covers off completely now even though we are expected to get low 30s again Wed. night. And I have one pepper that got put out by mistake with no added protection and it's fine.

Maybe try a couple plants so you don't lose everything!

I start all my seeds under lights in the house and move them to the greenhouse after I pot them up. I do start tubers & bulbs in the greenhouse.
This morning it is -17ºC=1.4ºF In the greenhouse it is a toasty 11.6ºC=56ºF.

That is awesome!

Awesome for sure!!! I still have a LOT to learn about greenhouse growing, but can't wait to try again.

Thanks for the suggestion Arlene. I actually don't need it for myself but was thinking it might work for some of the tender plants like coleus that some of you are growing. Just a thought... Kristi

Yep, it seems to help. I haven't put my coleus out yet though. For one thing, my GH is FULL!!!

I did plant some marigolds in the bed in there today. Just because I wanted to get them started and had no flats ready and was being really lazy...

Lazy? Never, a gardener is never lazy... lol