GOING DOME
There are many material options to choose from when designing your dome greenhouse , such as glass , plastic , steel , or wood . It seems the most affordable route is to use wood and greenhouse plastic . You can create individual triangles , cover them in plastic , and then put them all together , or you can create the entire frame and then cover it with greenhouse plastic . There are also some bonus add-ons you might want to consider . An automatic window opener is great in any greenhouse . It will automatically open and close a vent or window based on the temperature in the dome . These can be found online . Remember that this is still an indoor environment that you need to control . You need to monitor your temperature just like an indoor growroom . Another way to maintain the proper temperature is to include thermal mass in your greenhouse . This is as simple as adding an above-ground pond or reservoir . The water in the pond or reservoir will absorb heat during the day and release the heat at night . This is very beneficial during the cold winter months , and it will help maintain a more stable temperature . Your pond will depend on the size of your greenhouse , but on average , a 600-gallon pond works well for a dome with a radius of eight feet . You could go one step further and install an aquaponics set-up in your greenhouse . This way you grow fish to eat , the fish waste feeds your plants , and their pond acts as thermal mass . Flooring is another important consideration in any greenhouse . Unless you install a wood or cement floor , you have to defend against burrowing animals who will find their way into your greenhouse looking for a meal . A good way to do this is to layer rodent wire below gravel or whatever else you may use for your foundation . One final add-on to consider is a pony wall . A pony wall is a short wall that adds one to three feet of height at the base of the dome . This comes in handy if you ’ d like to add raised beds to the perimeter of your greenhouse , and it gives you more vertical growing space throughout the interior .
If you ’ d like to grow your food yearround , building a greenhouse is one of the best ways to accomplish your goal . Geodesic dome greenhouses , in particular , have many benefits that rectangular greenhouses do not have . Plus , they make a unique and attractive addition to your garden .
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There are many material options to choose from when designing your dome greenhouse , such as glass , plastic , steel , or wood .
60 Maximum Yield USA | December 2016