Our dining room windows face southeast; during the winter, they get all the light from the sun as it moves across.
We thought it a good spot for a window greenhouse, and since two windows are close together, we bought two window greenhouses and set them side by side.
There is a radiator under the windows, and as we keep the sashes open most of the time, the radiator provides some extra warmth for the plants.
There is an electric heater on the bottom tray in one window for plants that need more comfort in cold weather.
The “cool house” window is full of geraniums, wax begonias, and bulbs.
Temperature ranges on both sides are wide.
On cold nights, in the greenhouse with the heater, the thermometer registers 58° or 60° degrees Fahrenheit at seven in the morning.
It’s about 5° degrees Fahrenheit cooler on the other side.
During winter days, when the sun is out strongly, and mainly when the light is reflected from banks of snow, the temperature in both windows goes up to 90° degrees Fahrenheit and the top vents have to be opened.
Various Sizes Of Window Greenhouses For Your Needs
These window greenhouses come in various sizes, according to your needs.
They are delivered in sections, with instructions for assembling the pieces and their installation. Anyone handy can put them up in 2 or 3 hours.
When making your measurements, allow 1” to 2” inches of overlap on the outside because the greenhouse frame will be attached to your window frame.
Prices range according to size, from $60 to $85 or $90, and the electric heaters cost about $20 per unit.
Screens for the top vents are also available, at extra cost, as are special shades for the summer.
We are located in an area with many tall trees, so in the summer, our greenhouse windows are shaded, providing a fine spot for African violets and other gesneriads.
At the same time, the winter plants go out in the garden.
However, if you do not have this summer shade on the south and west, you will want to give yourself and the windows a rest during that season.
Excellent Plants For Greenhouse Windows
Here are some plants you might like to try in greenhouse windows in different exposures.
South
- Geraniums, especially the dwarf varieties
- Semperflorens (wax) begonias
- Pots of freesias for February blossoming
- Sedums and other succulents
- Spring bulbs in pots for forcing into early bloom
- Osmanthus fragrans
West
- Begonias like ‘Orange Rubra,’ ‘Elithe,’ ‘Paul Bruant,’ ‘Scharffi,’ ‘Maphil,’ ‘Medora,’ ‘Cathayana’
- Browallia
- Jasmine (‘Maid of Orleans’ is a good one)
- Winter-flowering tuberous begonias
- Impatiens `Orange Baby’
- Christmas cactus
East (With an Electric Heater and a Fluorescent Fixture)
- African violets and gloxinias
- Oxalis hedysaroides rubra
- Anthuriums
44659 by Sonya Dorman