Hey, dear gardening enthusiasts! Today, let's talk about an interesting and crucial topic: which side of the house is the best place for a greenhouse. It's just like finding a cozy "home" for our beloved plants. If we choose the right side, the plants will thrive; otherwise, their growth might be affected. I've heard of a quite famous "Chengfei Greenhouse". It's really particular about its location. Based on different planting needs and the surrounding environment, it carefully considers which side of the house to choose, thus creating a very suitable space for plant growth. Now, let's learn from it and take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of each side of the house to find the best place for our greenhouse.
The South Side: The Favorite of the Sun, but with a Little Temper
Abundant Sunshine
The south side of the house is especially favored by the sun, especially in the Northern Hemisphere. The south side can receive sufficient sunlight throughout the day. From the early morning when the sun rises until the evening when it sets, the long hours of sunlight create excellent conditions for photosynthesis, making it easy for plants to grow vigorously.
In the greenhouse on the south side, the stems of plants can grow thick and strong, the leaves are green and thick, there are plenty of flowers, and the fruits are big and good. Moreover, in spring and autumn, during the day, the sunlight heats up the greenhouse, and at night, the house helps to retain some heat, making the temperature difference between day and night suitable. As a result, the growth cycle of plants can be extended, and we can harvest more.
However, the south side isn't perfect. In summer, the sun is scorching, and the greenhouse on the south side can easily become like a "big oven". The high temperature can burn the delicate leaves and flowers of plants. Also, if there are many heavy rainfalls in summer in the area where you are, the open south side is prone to being impacted by rain. If the drainage system isn't well arranged, waterlogging will occur, affecting the respiration of plant roots and causing root diseases. So, it's necessary to plan the drainage system in advance.
The East Side: The "Vigorous Little World" That Greets the Morning Sun
The Unique Charm of the Morning Sun
The east side of the house is like a "sun collector" in the early morning. It can receive the sunlight first when the sun just rises. The sunlight at that time is soft and contains a lot of short-wave light that is beneficial to plant growth. It's like casting a magic spell on plants, making them grow stronger and more compact.
In the greenhouse on the east side, the leaves of plants grow very well. They are tender and fresh, arranged neatly, and look really comfortable. Besides, this sunlight can make the stomata of plant leaves open and close more smoothly, strengthening the respiration of plants. Also, the morning sunlight can drive away the moisture accumulated at night, making the air in the greenhouse dry and fresh, preventing pests and diseases that like humid environments from breeding. As the sun moves westward, the temperature in the east side greenhouse remains relatively stable, and we don't need too many complicated cooling devices.
However, the east side greenhouse has a shortcoming. The duration of sunlight is relatively short. After noon, the sunlight gradually decreases, and the overall amount of sunlight received is much less than that on the south side. For plants that require a lot of sunlight, it may be necessary to equip them with artificial light supplementing devices. In addition, there is a lot of dew and fog in the morning on the east side. If the ventilation is not good, the humidity will easily remain high, and diseases may occur. So, the ventilation openings should be designed well to ensure smooth air circulation.
The West Side: The "Romantic Corner" That Enjoys the Evening Sun
The Special Beauty of the Evening Sun
The west side of the house has its unique charm. From afternoon to evening, it can receive the soft and warm evening sunlight. For some plants, this evening sunlight is like a "beauty filter", which can make the colors of flower petals more vivid, extend the flowering period, and even make succulent plants look more beautiful, enhancing their ornamental value.
The sunlight on the west side can add heat to the greenhouse in the afternoon, making the temperature change less drastic and easier for plants to handle. However, the sunlight in the afternoon of summer is very strong, and the greenhouse on the west side can easily become a "small stove", with the temperature rising rapidly, which will affect the growth of plants. So, it's necessary to equip it with sunshade and ventilation cooling devices. Besides, the west side dissipates heat slowly at night, and the temperature at night is likely to be on the high side. For plants that need low temperature to stimulate flower bud differentiation, if the temperature can't drop here, the formation of flower buds will be affected, and the quantity and quality of flowering may be poor. In this case, night ventilation is needed to adjust the temperature.
The North Side: The Low-Key "Shady Little World"
A Paradise for Shade-Tolerant Plants
The north side of the house has relatively less sunlight and is a quiet "shady corner". However, this place is just suitable for the growth of shade-tolerant plants. These shade-tolerant plants can freely stretch their leaves in the greenhouse on the north side, looking elegant. Their flowers can also bloom slowly and emit a faint fragrance. They are really beautiful.
The north side is quite worry-free in summer. Because of less direct sunlight, the temperature won't be too high, and there's no need to worry about it becoming a "big steamer". We can save a lot on the purchase of sunshade and cooling devices. It's quite suitable for those with a limited budget or who just want to simply take care of plants.
However, the north side greenhouse faces challenges in winter. Due to insufficient sunlight, the temperature is likely to be very low, just like falling into an ice hole. Plants are easily damaged by the cold. So, it's necessary to take good thermal insulation measures, such as adding thermal insulation quilts and thickening the walls, so that plants can spend the winter warmly. Moreover, because of the limited sunlight, the growth rate of plants will be slower here, and the yield will also be affected. It may not be the best choice for large-scale production, but it's a good option for seedling cultivation, taking care of special plants or helping plants survive the summer.
Comprehensive Consideration to Find the Best "Home"
Choosing which side of the house to place the greenhouse requires comprehensive consideration of many aspects. We need to consider the local climate conditions, such as the length of sunlight hours, the temperature changes in the four seasons, and the amount of precipitation. We also need to know whether the plants we plant are sun-loving or shade-tolerant, and how sensitive they are to temperature and humidity. Besides, we should consider whether our budget allows us to equip sunshade, thermal insulation and ventilation devices.
For example, in areas with abundant sunlight, hot summers and a lot of rainfall, if we plant sun-loving plants and choose the south side, we need to arrange sunshade and drainage well. If the area has a mild climate and uniform sunlight, we can choose the east side or the west side according to the sunlight preference of plants. If we just want to cultivate seedlings or take care of special plants, the north side greenhouse can also play its role.
In short, as long as we carefully weigh these factors, we can definitely find a suitable place for the greenhouse, allowing plants to grow healthily and bringing us a full harvest of happiness. Friends, if you have any ideas or experiences, welcome to leave a message in the comment area and share them with us. Let's make our greenhouses better together!
Welcome to have a further discussion with us.
Email:info@cfgreenhouse.com
Phone:(0086)13980608118
Post time: Apr-18-2025
Click to Chat