Greenhouses and hothouses are very similar. Both are used to keep your plants at the correct temperature for them to thrive. However, there is one difference that distinguishes the two structures. Let’s compare greenhouse vs. hothouse.
What Is The Difference?
The difference between greenhouses vs. hothouses is the source of the heat. In a greenhouse, the plants are heated strictly by the trapped rays of the sun. A greenhouse uses glass or plastic to allow light to enter the structure, and then it converts it to heat energy. The heat energy can’t pass through the glass or plastic, so it is trapped in the structure. Thus, the sun is the sole source of energy used to heat a greenhouse.
In a hothouse, there are supplemental sources of heat. Hothouses are made using glass or plastic and use the sun’s heat, but they also utilize gas or electric heating to supplement the natural solar heating. This costs a little more, but it may be necessary depending on your uses of the hothouse and your climate.
Hothouses can also be used as greenhouses, however. If you want to use your greenhouse year-round, you can turn the supplemental heat off during the summer and on during the winter. This will save you money during the warm months but still allow you to maintain a warm temperature during the cold months.
How Can I Tell Which is Right for Me?
There are a few different variables to consider when you are deciding between a greenhouse and a hothouse.
First, decide what seasons you want to use your greenhouse or hothouse. If you only want to use the greenhouse for summer gardening, a greenhouse will work just fine. However, if you want to use the greenhouse year-round or even just when the weather gets colder, you might need to invest in a hothouse, depending on the intensity of your winter months.
Next, consider the climate of your home. Do you have extreme winters where plants would easily freeze, even under cover of a greenhouse? Are your winters and summers fairly mild? Decide the lowest temperature that your plants will need to withstand, then move on to your plant choices.
Then, decide what you want to grow in your greenhouse or hothouse. Do you want to grow general vegetables that normally do well in your climate? Do you want to grow tropical plants? Do you want to grow potatoes or other resilient things against the cold?
If you choose to grow tropical plants year-round and you live in a place with very intense winters, you will need to invest in a hothouse. If you have mild winters and want to grow general plants that are not sensitive to the cold, you will probably do okay with just a greenhouse.
Hothouses are perfect for the person who wants to keep plants healthy and happy year-round in a climate that gets colder than the environment in which plants normally thrive. A greenhouse is perfect for the seasonal gardener or person who keeps hearty plants that can withstand a little cold weather.
The great news is that you can transform your greenhouse into a hothouse! If you decide after you have built the structure that you want to house tropical plants during the winter, you can add a supplemental source of heat to your already built greenhouse.
Then, during the summer, you can turn off that heat source and return to your normal greenhouse usage. So, if you are stuck on whether you want a greenhouse or a hothouse, take the first step of investing in a greenhouse. You can change your mind later.
Final Thoughts
Greenhouse vs. hothouse can be a tough choice. Greenhouses are money and energy savers, but hothouses offer more options for plants and a backup plan in case of plummeting temperatures. If you’re looking to keep your plants covered you may also like to consider a shade house.
We hope this article helped you make the best decision for yourself and your plants’ needs. Happy planting!