How to Organize a Home Greenhouse

To get started with greenhouse growing and organizing your greenhouse, first determine your growing goals. What types of plants do you plan to grow? If you're starting a vegetable garden from seeds, you'll need trays, shelves and grow lights. If you're growing tropical plants and succulents, you need a heat source for the cold winter season and overhead space for vines to grow.

Once you understand your plants' needs for light, temperature and humidity, you can better plan your greenhouse space.

Greenhouses function a lot like working kitchens, with zones for potting, propagation, growing and storage.

How to use your greenhouse space:

• Cold climate gardeners can grow certain crops indoors when it's prohibitively cold outside. Try putting a raised bed in the greenhouse to grow crops like carrots, radishes and lettuces. A raised bed worked from one side can be up to three feet wide, while a raised bed worked from both sides can be up to six feet wide.
• If you're setting up a seed starting station, you'll need a potting bench (great for all kinds of storage), space for tools (a pegboard is handy), shelves and (possibly) grow lights.
• Greenhouses are ideal for storing tropicals and other tender plants during winter's dark days. In this case, a greenhouse heater makes a lot of sense.

As you plan your greenhouse, note that you can store plants on shelves, overhead, on the floor and on benches.

Tip: When building a greenhouse, position the structure to receive ample sunlight, at least six hours or more each day. A south or southeast-facing exposure is best. Houses and large trees can cast shade on your greenhouse and reduce the sunlight hours.

When designing your greenhouse layout, begin by assessing the space. Measure the dimensions and identify fixed features like doors, windows and ventilation systems. You can use design apps, but often, a simple pencil sketch on paper is all that's needed for a home greenhouse.

Determine work zones:

• Propagation zone should be in the brightest area and nearest the heater.
• Potting zone should be at a comfortable height for standing. Look for potting benches with slatted tops for soil and water to fall through.
• Storage zone is usually under the benches or in cabinets. Use airtight bins to store bulk soil and fertilizer.
• A home greenhouse is an extension of your garden and for that reason, a "sanctuary zone" makes sense. If there's room, include a comfy chair and a side table where you can sit, observe and enjoy your plants.

You can assign plants to zones, too. Tropical plants prefer the most humidity, while succulents require arid conditions. Vegetable and flower seedlings need bright, indirect light for the best start.

Tip: Plan your pathways through your work zones. You want to be able to maneuver plants and carts of supplies like soil, in and out of the greenhouse, as well as make it easy for people to work in the space. Plan on 30 inches wide for pathways. You'll need more room if you're bringing a garden cart or wheelbarrow into the greenhouse.

Greenhouse shelves support your plants and help keep your greenhouse tidy. You can choose from a variety of shelving materials when outfitting your home greenhouse. Look for materials that can resist humidity, rust and rot and still support your plants and pots.

Shelving materials for greenhouses:

• Steel wire shelving is durable with a mesh design that allows for air circulation and light penetration. Look for coated wire shelving that resists rust.
• Plastic (like polypropylene) is a budget-friendly alternative that's lightweight, easy-to-clean and rust-proof.
• Metal work shelves are a heavy duty choice ideal for heavier items like plant pots. Look for aluminum or galvanized or powder-coated steel.
• Because cedar wood is naturally resistant to decay and insect damage, it's a solid choice for shelves in a humid greenhouse. You can also use redwood or pressure-treated lumber.

A potting bench is the center of the greenhouse work zone. Potting benches can be made from cedar or other types of wood, and metal. They include features like multiple shelves and cabinets for storage, hooks for hanging tools, trays and even sinks for easier potting and watering.

If you have enough room in your greenhouse, you'll likely need additional work benches or tables to stack plants and trays on.

For seed-starting in your greenhouse, stock up on supplies like trays and pots. Store bulk bags of soil and seed-starting amendments in a cabinet or shelves under benches.

Watering capability is very helpful in a greenhouse. You can run a hose from an outside spigot into your greenhouse to water plants, but an inside faucet, with or without a sink, makes watering your plants much easier. Next level watering capabilities for hobby greenhouses are drip irrigation and misting systems. Be sure to place the faucet in a convenient spot for easy access.

When it comes to lighting your greenhouse plants, you'll need LED grow lights. These grow lights feature full spectrum light for plant growth and come in individual bulbs, tube lights and even puck lights for shelves. Learn more about using grow lights in this guide.

Air circulation is a consideration for most greenhouses. The humid environment invites pathogens that can damage your plants. Purchase small greenhouse fans and distribute them throughout the greenhouse to keep the air flowing.

Greenhouses are designed to trap light and heat, but temperatures can still dip below freezing and endanger your plants. To heat your greenhouse, add a heater designed for a greenhouse environment. Key features for greenhouse heaters include thermostat control, overheat protection, convection capability for efficient heating and portability. To help seedlings germinate faster, use heating mats under seed trays to generate warmth.

Tip: When shopping for a greenhouse heater, look for durable construction that will withstand the humidity in the greenhouse.

Organize plants in your greenhouse by their needs. Just like your yard has full sun, part sun and shade zones, the spaces within your greenhouse vary in light intensity.

Sun-loving plants need to be elevated to reach the brightest area in the structure. Shade loving plants, think low-light indoor plants like ZZ plant and sansevieria, can handle the cool temperatures near the floor. Just like in your flower beds, place taller plants near walls to prevent them for shading out smaller plants.

Take advantage of every inch of greenhouse space by installing trellises for climbing plants and suspending bars from the ceiling for hanging baskets.

Your greenhouse's advantages of warmth and humidity can also lead to pests and diseases that thrive in that environment. That's why it's important to maintain a cleaning and hygiene routine in your greenhouse.

Regularly clean tools, pots and surfaces to prevent mold and algae buildup.

Ongoing best practices include:

• Inspecting new plants before bringing them into your greenhouse. Turn over leaves where insects go to hide.
• Survey your greenhouse just like your garden, by walking through it daily and scouting for pests and diseases.
• Fungus gnats and whiteflies like greenhouses. Use sticky traps to control them.
• Be careful not to overwater. That leads to root rot and pests like fungus gnats.
• Wash tools frequently with soapy water.
• Store hose nozzles off the floor.

At the end of the growing season, it's a good idea to take everything out of the greenhouse for cleaning and disinfection.

Regularly check your greenhouse systems throughout the year to make sure they're running efficiently. If you see electrical or plumbing problems, address them right away. The same goes for damaged equipment; take care of the problem before it becomes a bigger issue.

Tip: Dirty plant pots are a likely culprit for spreading plant diseases. To prevent the reuse of dirty pots, always store them in a separate bin. After they're washed and sanitized, transfer them to the "clean" bin.

Labeling plants throughout their growth stages is an important step to running an organized greenhouse. Find a system that works for you, whether it's a label machine or a roll of painter's tape and a waterproof marker, and be consistent when labelling.

More tips for organizing your greenhouse operation:

• Label storage areas and work zones, if needed. If you have helpers in your greenhouse, clearly labelled zones will prevent mishaps.
• Bring a journal or use apps to track plant growth, watering and fertilization schedules.
• Mix your soil blends and store in large, labelled bins with lids. Waterproof labels are durable in greenhouses.
• Find a seed storage system that works for you. Many gardeners use binders with plastic sleeves to alphabetize their seed collections. You can also use a shoebox for a smaller collection.
• Store your tools within arms' reach of your potting bench with a pegboard. Or, take a tip from professional kitchens and use a magnetic strip.