What do you need; a small, a medium or large greenhouse for what you want to grow? There are so many different kinds of greenhouses from portable to building your own brick and mortar growing house that it can be an overwhelming process.

If orchids are what you will be growing, you will need to get a decent medium sized greenhouse. However, if you want to grow some small trees, i.e. lemon tree or large bushes, you will need a larger greenhouse. For some people who just want to extend the growing season of what they already have, a small portable greenhouse or cold frame may do the trick.

The next step is to evaluate where you live and determine if there are any special needs that will need to be addressed with your wonderful greenhouse. Some of those can include snow load, severe winds and cold weather. This will help you decide on any additional equipment you may need outside of the vents and fans that are required.

Along with this are the framework and panels that you believe will work best in your given environment. You can get aluminum, pvc or metal frame with glass, polycarbonate or plastic for the panels. Some of the sides come in rolls and are easy to install as well. Whatever you choose, make sure the rating UV rating is posted and is within the range for what you are planting.

If you live in an area that normally stays above forty-five degrees, you may be able to getaway with not purchasing a heater. You can use five gallon buckets to set in the sun by day and let them heat your greenhouse at night. You may want to boil water in your house and place the hot water in the greenhouse to provide heat. This is a huge hassle if you have to do it night after night but for a few days it works well.

Always consider your foundation and how you will tie down your greenhouse. You can purchase tie-down kits for most greenhouses and they are highly recommended for all models. For those who live in high wind areas, you may want to buy two sets of the tie-downs just to make sure. Of course, this will depend on the size, style and type of greenhouse you end up using for your family.