Type of Greenhouses: Info Guide

Greenhouses are so very useful. With a good greenhouse, you have an environment that you can then use to grow your plants and vegetables in a manner that is both efficient and effective, while also being safe and environmentally friendly.

Using a good greenhouse, one that can suit all of the needs that you have, you have a space that can be used, over and over again, to grow whatever plants you intend to grow. That is one of the best things about greenhouses, the fact that they aren’t temporary spaces, but spaces that will be around, if taken care of, for a long time.

We’re going to dive a bit more into the distinct benefits that greenhouses provide, later in this guide. Because, here’s the thing, while a lot of people like the idea of owning a greenhouse, and they know that it would be very useful and beneficial for them to own their greenhouse, they aren’t that familiar with greenhouses. They don’t know that much about how greenhouses work, what you can do with them, along with all of the different kinds of greenhouses that are available.

Most people don’t know this stuff, because it isn’t always easy finding this information since it is a fairly complex topic. And, that is why we have put together this info guide. In this info guide, you’re going to be learning all about the different types of greenhouses that are out there, but you are also going to be learning all about how greenhouses work, and the many benefits that they provide. From that, we’re going to dive into the different types of greenhouses that are available to you – and there are a lot, so this will be a more general guide – and which one might just be the best one for you.

What Are The Advantages Of Using a Greenhouse?

A greenhouse is, at its most basic level, a type of indoor space that is used to grow plants. But, it’s a bit deeper than that, because this is a space that is designed to be the perfect indoor space for growing plants; the ideal space, where you have as much control as possible, over your plants and the amount of sun and water that they are receiving, along with various other factors.

You can find greenhouses of all sorts, but the basic idea is that a greenhouse is an enclosed space that serves as a way for you to have direct control over the growth of your plants, and how that growth takes place. You can do this by setting up sprinkler systems, and even things like heating and cooling systems, depending on how advanced you want to be.

As for the advantages, one of the most notable is the fact that greenhouses are great at keeping your plants nice and heated. Using the glass that greenhouses are made of, they can receive a significant amount of sunlight, and then, they can trap that sunlight in the greenhouse. This has many advantages, but the biggest one is the fact that it can prolong the growing season so that your plants grow in the best manner possible.

Since plants are susceptible to things like heavy rains, and other weather conditions, a greenhouse keeps your plants nice and safe, by keeping them within the confines of the greenhouse structure. That way, if there are heavy rains, the soil that your plants are in won’t overflow with water, damaging the roots and displacing them.

Protection is a big factor, but not just with the weather. Rodents and pests can be very problematic, but a greenhouse is quite good for keeping rodents and pests away from your plants. However, there have been numerous cases where rodents have been able to get into people’s greenhouses, but this is because, structurally, some greenhouses are designed in a way that makes this a lot easier.

With a greenhouse, you have a significant amount of control over things like the soil that you use, as well, since the entire ecosystem is in your hands. So, if you are someone that has specific soil needs or desires that they want to meet, you can do that. You can also grow plants that aren’t native to your local area, because you have control over the soil and, as mentioned, the water and sun that the plants are receiving.

We mentioned this earlier, but as greenhouses have become more and more advanced, a lot more options have flooded the market. Options, when it comes to how you can control the greenhouse, and all of the different variables that have to do with the ways in which your plants are grown. Things like installing heating and cooling systems, advanced watering systems, powerful lights, and many other things. These are all available, for relatively inexpensive prices, which gives you even more direct control over how your plants are grown, and the types of plants that you do grow.

What Are The Different Types Of Greenhouses?

In this section of the info guide, we’re going to be looking at four different types of greenhouses. These are the most popular, and most useful types. Each type has its own set of benefits, as well as disadvantages, and we’re going to be looking at what those are. From this information, you’ll be able to determine which type of greenhouse is the best one for you!

A Freestanding Greenhouse

You’re going to see these types of greenhouses, most of the time. And, these are probably the most basic and recognizable types of greenhouses around.

A freestanding greenhouse is a greenhouse that is its structure. It isn’t attached to another building. Instead, it stands on its own, and it’s a single enclosed structure.

You will find freestanding greenhouses that are very small, with just a few little plants. And, you will find freestanding greenhouses that are very big. Some of these freestanding greenhouses are equipped with all kinds of advanced technologies that make it easy for people to control the entire growing process, and some of them have no technology at all.

While these aren’t the easiest greenhouses to set up, they are probably the best, since they are self-contained and their structure, so you have a lot of freedom when it comes to the design and how you set it up.

A Plastic Freestanding Greenhouse

Most of the freestanding greenhouses you find will be made of glass and steel. But, it’s not uncommon to find freestanding greenhouses that are made of plastic. Using plastic wrap, and some type of material to keep the plastic standing in place, and sturdy, a small space can be created, and this space is used to house the plants.

Plastic is pretty cheap, and different types of plastic have been designed for these types of greenhouses. So, if you want a greenhouse that is cheap, and easy to build, this is a great choice. However, they don’t last that long, due to the poor quality of the plastic, and the fact that it degrades easily due to the inherent flaws with the material, so this is not a good long term solution.

An Attached Greenhouse:

For people that don’t have big yards, an attached greenhouse is one of the best choices out there. So, an attached greenhouse is a type of greenhouse that is attached to a structure of some kind. Whether it’s your house, a shed, or even a wall or the exterior of your garage, the point of an attached greenhouse is that it isn’t freestanding, but it’s also easier to build and, perhaps, easier to access.

One of the big reasons why people build attached greenhouses is because they are a bit more economical when it comes to space. For that reason, they are a bit cheaper, and a lot easier to set up.

However, you, generally speaking, have access to less space, and depending on where you set up the attached greenhouse, it may be harder for the plants to receive the sun that they need.

A Window Greenhouse

Finally, the last greenhouse type we’re going to be looking at is that of a window greenhouse. This is similar to an attached greenhouse, but it’s much smaller – the size of a window in your home – and it is used to grow smaller plants. Most people use these for growing little flowers.

With a window greenhouse, you don’t need to spend as much time building it and setting it up, but along with that, it’s going to be easier to set up things like sprinklers, and other devices, since you don’t need as many of them, due to the lack of space.

However, you don’t have that much space, so unless you only want to grow small plants, this may not be the best option.


We discussed four types of greenhouses, but there are many more. Regardless of whatever greenhouse needs you have, you will be able to find something that works for you. But, keep those two basic designs in mind, and they will make it a lot easier to find the perfect greenhouse!