If you are wondering, can you use plexiglass for a greenhouse, we are here to help you answer that question. Plexiglass is a popular tool in gardening, so why shouldn’t you try it out too?
In this article, we will try to describe in detail all the main features of the greenhouse, introduction to plexiglass, all the benefits of using plexiglass, the basic steps of building a greenhouse, and answers to frequently asked questions about this topic. We hope you will learn some new information that will be useful to you in your gardening future.
All About Greenhouses
History
The first greenhouses date back to antiquity, but the first written traces are attributed to the French botanist Charles Lucien Bonaparte. Charles took a greenhouse in the 18th century to protect the narcissus tree from frost.
They built the first greenhouses mostly of wood with a few windows, and over time they evolved into shelters for plants constructed mainly of glass. The concept of building a greenhouse is based on the possibility of growing plants that naturally could not thrive at that time of year in that climate or season.
Construction
Greenhouses vary in model and build but consist of several vital parts common to all models. All greenhouses have a floor that can be bare earth, synthetic materials, or, most often, lately, concrete. The second key element is the pillars, which you can build of concrete, iron, galvanized steel, and different other materials, depending on the model.
The third element is the production of the protective material of the greenhouse. It can be glass, PVC nylon, or acrylic. Common to all models is that they have windows to ventilate the interior and an entrance door.
Depending on the construction material, greenhouses also differ in the form of construction. Therefore, some can be in the shape of a house, some with a flat roof, and some in the shape of a pyramid.
The Advantage of Using a Greenhouse
Usually, everyone thinks of a little glass house when a greenhouse is mentioned. Namely, this is the most common material for making greenhouses is glass. Also used today are other materials that have shown fantastic results, which we will talk about later. The benefits of using a greenhouse are significant to your garden.
We will list only the most important benefits:
- Production of plant seedlings that allows for earlier planting in the open.
- Growing plants that require more heat than a specific location has.
- Longer plant vegetation due to favorable microclimatic characteristics in the greenhouse.
- Controlling the microclimate that we can adapt to plants denies phytopathogens.
- Easier control of all microclimatic factors of cultivation.
- Growing plants that do not thrive in that environment due to heat.
Benefits Of Using Plexiglass For The Greenhouse
Plexiglas is a transparent thermoplastic product that is reminiscent of glass. Due to its durability, plexiglass is used for many purposes, such as windows, bath glass, aircraft, and many others. Plexiglas has found wide application in greenhouse roofing material due to its favorable properties such as:
- Plexiglas is cheaper than glass
- Light passing reminiscent of glass
- Retains heat like glass
- It doesn’t break like glass
- It is lighter than glass
- Plexiglass is more durable than glass
For a reason, plexiglass has been used more and more lately. We have listed the basic benefits for which people choose plexiglass, and in addition to them, there are many others such as longevity, better light conductivity, etc.
Steps to Make a Plexiglass Greenhouse
Many people today want to make their own greenhouse, but if you are not skilled, we recommend hiring someone professional for this job. The cost of building your greenhouse depends on many factors, although in the end, you can not be on the shorter end because the greenhouse brings prosperity to your garden. Building a plexiglas greenhouse is not much different from building a greenhouse.
- The first step begins with choosing a location to build. Pay attention to the fact that it is a location with enough light during the day, that there is not too much wind, that it is built on quality soil, and the like.
- The second step consists of leveling the soil to get a flat surface for our greenhouse.
- The third step is to choose a greenhouse substrate. Depending on the situation, it can be ordinary earth or materials such as gravel, concrete, and the like.
- The fourth step consists of building a greenhouse frame. It can be made of steel, aluminum, concrete pillars, etc. It is crucial to estimate which material we will use. If strong gusts of wind are frequent at your location, you will prefer to make a more robust structure. Rods are usually joined by welding or nuts and screws. From the construction, we create the shape of our greenhouse.
- The fifth step is to place the plexiglass on the metal structure. If you have sketched and calculated fine, you should have as enough plexiglass as you need. Be sure to fasten each plexiglass plate finely.
- The sixth step consists of interior design. Depending on the type of plants you plan to grow, your interior may require some new changes as an additional greenhouse heating system.
FAQ
Q: How thick should plexiglass be for a greenhouse?
A: The standard glass used to make glass greenhouses is 3 mm thick. If we compare that plexiglass is warm and retains heat better than glass, we could be guided by the logic that 3 mm of plexiglass would be enough. Namely, the thickness also depends on the plants we want to grow and the warming. If we’re going to save some money, and we don’t even need larger thicknesses, 2 mm may be enough. On the contrary, if we grow sensitive plants, we prefer 3 or 4 mm.
Q: What kind of plexiglass do you use for a greenhouse?
A: Today, they are the most represented Acrylic greenhouse. Acrylic as a material is excellent for rain, snow, wind, and all-weather. It is well-processed and not demanding. Acrylic is expensive as a material, but it is very cost-effective in the long run due to its durability.
Q: Is glass or plexiglass better for a greenhouse?
A: Both Acrylic and glass have their advantages and disadvantages. We must know what we want. In the first place, is it in our interest to save some money, or are we going for longevity? Acrylic has proven to be a better material in terms of resistance, heat retention, insulation, but it is much more expensive on the market. Unlike acrylic, glass is much cheaper but less resistant to acrylic.
Q: Is acrylic sheet the same as plexiglass?
A:Â Yes, they are two terms for the same product. People are often confused by different expressions that refer to the same thing. Plexiglas is just the market name for acrylic panels. Terms such as Acrylic, Lucite, and the like can often appear on the market.
Conclusion
In this article, we tried to explain all the details about the greenhouse, the origin, the construction material, and other themes. We presented the simplest way how to build a greenhouse from plexiglass, and all the benefits of this greenhouse model.
Remember, the growth of your plants depends on the way you construct your greenhouse. Therefore, make sure you know what material and construction you will use in your garden. We hope that we have answered your can you use plexiglass for a greenhouse question and that you have learned something new from this article.
Sources:
How to Build a DIY Greenhouse Using Plexiglass | Triangle Gardener Magazine
5 Benefits of using Acrylic Sheeting to build a Greenhouse – Plastivision