If you want to make the most out of your greenhouse and grow an abundance of fresh veggies or beautiful plants, there are some tools and accessories that can help you! When your greenhouse is installed and you’ve decided what you want to grow it’s time to think about the next steps. These greenhouse accessories will make your life easier and increase your chances of a successful harvest!
Greenhouse thermometer monitoring
To monitor your greenhouse temperature and humidity, you will need a thermometer/hygrometer. You will want to follow up on the temperature rises and falls, especially during summer and winter when you need to know when to heat your greenhouse, or when to cool down by ventilating. Depending on which plants you are growing, you will need to determine the perfect temperature and humidity levels. Luckily most greenhouse thermometers will also function as a hygrometer and offer you data on the humidity, which means they will measure the amount of water vapour in the air.
You can choose between a traditional, analog model or go for a digital greenhouse thermometer. We strongly recommend the digital thermometer, as only this kind will combine the hygrometer function and it will give you a lot more monitoring options to make your greenhouse life easier!
 | ThermoPro TP65 Digital Wireless Hygrometer Indoor Outdoor Thermometer Wireless with Humidity Gauge | Check price |
 | AcuRite 01083 Indoor Thermometer and Hygrometer with Humidity Gauge | Check price |
 | ThermoPro TP50 Digital Hygrometer Indoor Thermometer and Humidity Gauge | Check price |
Greenhouse shelves to optimize space
To optimize the use of your greenhouse space, it’s wise to think about how you will install your greenhouse shelves beforehand. Not only do you want to make the most of your available space, you will also need to think about which plants will need more room to grow. Hopefully your seedlings will grow up to be strong plants and you don’t want to redecorate every couple of weeks to make room for your fully grown plants.
We would advise you to install some shelves where you have your seeds and seedlings grow, these shelves can be placed pretty closely together, but also foresee larger spaces for your ‘adult’ plants. If you want to grow trees, you will need to make sure you have some areas where there’s no shelving so you can place them directly on the ground.
While you want to fit as many plants as possible in your available space, you also need to think about your needs when you’re roaming around in your greenhouse. Make sure you don’t have to be a trained acrobat to go from one side of your greenhouse to the next and that you don’t need a machete to fight your way through a jungle to get back to the door.
A smart organization of your greenhouse will help you make the most out of your hobby and guarantee you to enjoy spending time there and taking care of your plants!
Bubble wrap for winter insulation
Greenhouses are passive sun gatherers and will heat naturally over both summer and winter. In winter they may not receive enough sunlight to guarantee a steady temperature. Insulating your greenhouse will help you keep the heat inside longer and prevent your temperature from dropping below freezing. Even when you decide to heat your greenhouse during winter, insulation is still key as it will lower your heating costs drastically and make sure the extra heat stays in the greenhouse.
When the weather man or your smartphone predicts upcoming frost, it’s best to insulate your greenhouse to make sure your favourite plants survive winter and don’t get too cold. The easiest and cheapest way to do so, is simply using bubble wrap. Make sure you stock up in the beginning of winter so you can take action when necessary.
You can insulate your greenhouse from the inside or the outside, both are very efficient but when you insulate on the inside, your bubble wrap will probably last you longer as it’s protected from weather conditions. Make sure to also create a bubble wrap curtain in front of your door, so you don’t bring the cold in with you.
 | Double Bubble Reflective Greenhouse Insulation 16" x 125' (166 sq ft roll) | Check price |
 | Double Bubble White Concrete Insulation for greenhouse (500 sq ft roll | 48" x 125') | Check price |
Shade cloths for greenhouse summer insulation
Covering your greenhouse with shade cloths during summer will prevent your greenhouse from overheating and it will protect your plants against dehydration. Ideally you will use a greenhouse shade cloth combined with a good amount of ventilation to lower your greenhouse temperature. Make sure to install a greenhouse thermometer so you have correct data on how hot your greenhouse gets. Especially in warmer climates it will help your plants survive a hot summer when you make sure they are not exposed to the sun all day long.
The amount of shade and ventilation necessary, depends on which plants you are growing.
Take a look at our overview of greenhouse shade cloths if you want to know which one will suit your needs!
Greenhouse heaters
If you want to use your greenhouse during winter, you will probably need to invest in greenhouse heating. Especially when you live in a climate that has a tough winter with snow or frost temperatures, it will be hard for your plants to survive in an unheated greenhouse. When your greenhouse is built against the house you may be able to extend your central heating system.
However, when you have a greenhouse in the middle of your backyard, you will need to go for an electrical or gas heater. Make sure you prepare and buy the greenhouse heater you need during fall, so you’re ready to start as soon as frost arrives. Greenhouse heating is always best combined with greenhouse insulation, so be prepared to install your bubble wrap before you start heating to keep your gas or electricity bill under control!
To help you make an informed decision on the best system for you, we have provided you with a guide on greenhouse heating.
