In message , Kay
writes
In article , Paul Giverin
writes
Now I'm wondering if there was a better alternative or whether I need to
use anything at all. I intend to use the greenhouse to over winter a
load of our plants which are in terracotta pots and prone to cracking
with the frost. I've got some bubble wrap and will shortly begin to
lining the greenhouse with it. I've also invested in an electric heater
to keep it frost free but also to help get a head start with next years
seeds.

Mine is concrete - easy to sweep clean. I usually raise plants of the
floor in winter by standing them on something (1) balanced on bricks.
The logic of this is that hot air rises so one might expect a layer of
cold air along the floor (2) - in which case, covering the floor with
compost would merely raise the level of the floor and I'd still want to
raise my plants above it. But there's no guarantee my logic is sound.

(1) old pieces of staging, plastic trays, old polystyrene boxes -
anything that comes to hand

(2) and you can sweep under them

Hello again Kay,

Helpful as usual

The mention of polystyrene has given me a thought. I could lay
polystyrene ceiling tiles in the winter when its really cold and I could
lift them in spring when I'm likely to be needing to water stuff inside.
I use those decking squares as duck boards down the middle at the moment
and I could retain these all year round.

Thanks Kay.

--
Paul Giverin

British Jet Engine Website http://www.britjet.co.uk

"Paul Giverin" wrote in message
...
In message , Kay
writes
In article , Paul Giverin
writes
Now I'm wondering if there was a better alternative or whether I
need to
use anything at all. I intend to use the greenhouse to over winter
a
load of our plants which are in terracotta pots and prone to
cracking
with the frost. I've got some bubble wrap and will shortly begin
to
lining the greenhouse with it. I've also invested in an electric
heater
to keep it frost free but also to help get a head start with next
years
seeds.

Mine is concrete - easy to sweep clean. I usually raise plants of
the
floor in winter by standing them on something (1) balanced on
bricks.
The logic of this is that hot air rises so one might expect a layer
of
cold air along the floor (2) - in which case, covering the floor
with
compost would merely raise the level of the floor and I'd still
want to
raise my plants above it. But there's no guarantee my logic is
sound.

(1) old pieces of staging, plastic trays, old polystyrene boxes -
anything that comes to hand

(2) and you can sweep under them

Hello again Kay,

Helpful as usual

The mention of polystyrene has given me a thought. I could lay
polystyrene ceiling tiles in the winter when its really cold and I
could
lift them in spring when I'm likely to be needing to water stuff
inside.
I use those decking squares as duck boards down the middle at the
moment
and I could retain these all year round.

That will be an entirely nugatory exercise. Concrete only feels
colder to the feet than a carpet because it conducts heat from the
feet much better than a carpet does. A concrete base for a greenhouse
is about as good as you can get. Be glad you have that possibility.

Franz

In article , Paul Giverin
writes

The mention of polystyrene has given me a thought. I could lay
polystyrene ceiling tiles in the winter when its really cold and I could
lift them in spring when I'm likely to be needing to water stuff inside.
I use those decking squares as duck boards down the middle at the moment
and I could retain these all year round.

I think it's unnecessary. Most of your heat loss will be through walls
and top, so thick layer of bubble wrap, as you're proposing, is the best
thing you can do. Ceiling tiles are too fragile to walk on, and you will
want to be in there through the winter to see what is happening, and
clear any dying foliage, and from early spring when you start sowing.

The main cold problem is the cold air outside moving past the greenhouse
- the earth acts as a giant storage heater, so putting an insulating
layer between it and the greenhouse is not necessarily a good idea.
--
Kay
"Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river"

In message , Kay
writes

I think it's unnecessary. Most of your heat loss will be through walls
and top, so thick layer of bubble wrap, as you're proposing, is the best
thing you can do. Ceiling tiles are too fragile to walk on, and you will
want to be in there through the winter to see what is happening, and
clear any dying foliage, and from early spring when you start sowing.

The main cold problem is the cold air outside moving past the greenhouse
- the earth acts as a giant storage heater, so putting an insulating
layer between it and the greenhouse is not necessarily a good idea.

Thanks again Kay. I'll clean out the old compost I give it a try bare.


--
Paul Giverin

British Jet Engine Website http://www.britjet.co.uk