Tuesday, October 6, 2015

By Della Monroe


A big problem for those who use greenhouses to extend the growing season or over-winter tender plants is the high cost of warming the structure. People who have discovered bubble wrap greenhouse Oregon and elsewhere are saving on energy costs and, in some cases, doing without auxiliary heat altogether. The affordable plastic material is easy to install, long-lasting, and reusable year after year.

The wrapping is a heavy duty version of the shipping protection bubbles you can pop with your fingers. The product made for greenhouses is laminated, which adds extra strength so the insulating sheets will last for several seasons and resist friction that would destroy the lightweight stuff used in packaging. This also means that it won't fall apart during installation.

Another inescapable natural enemy which reduces the useful life of plastics is ultraviolet light, but this insulation is specially treated to resist UV rays. This help prolong the life of the sheets when they are lining the glass. Simply cut the sheets to fit snugly inside the framing of each pane. Daylight passes right through the wrapping to keep your plants thriving.

Studies show that the insulating material completely protects plants from frost. It also allows gardeners to keep almost-hardy plants in good shape with no heat at all. This is much healthier for plants than spending the winter in a dark garage. Hardy greens like collards can grow all winter, and you won't have to shovel snow to find them.

With a minimum of heat, other plants can be protected through the Oregon winter, or you can jump start the growing season by starting seeds indoors. The wrapping lets the light in, which makes working in the greenhouse easier, and ensures that the internal temperature will be comfortable for human workers as well as plants.

Manufacturers give installation tips, as do gardening blogs posted by people who've used this economical sheeting. Some wrap can be pressed against wet glass, where it will stay until you peel it off. Users say that push pins (for wooden frames) and shipping tape are handy tools. There are also spray adhesives, special corner supports, and tough belt-like strips made to keep joined sheets in place.

Gardeners can order the wrapping by the linear foot (or meter) or get it in large rolls. It comes in widths up to 5 feet. It can be cut to fit with scissors or a razor knife. It takes virtually no carpentry skills to install the wrapping, which is so lightweight that anyone can handle it.

It's like putting a down jacket on your plants. The air-filled bubbles keep the heat in and the cold out. When spring rolls around again, take the wrapping down and roll it up for use next winter.




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