Greenhouse Ideas That Add Charm

In the forbidding cold, exotic flowers easily perished. The solution was to keep them in greenhouses and conservatories, where mimosa, bougainvillea, jasmine and tea roses all were grown by the wealthy in the Victorian era. 

In the modern era, greenhouses serve multiple purposes: allowing you to extend the growing season, act as a focal point for the garden, and provide a relaxation destination. 

Landscaping trends such as decks have gone out of style after years of serving no particular purpose, often deemed a waste of time and resources. On the other hand, greenhouses are bound to become cemented in the gardening scene, with an increasingly functional and aesthetic appeal. Greenhouses excel at combining multiple purposes, from a seating area decorated with whimsical décor to functional growing spaces. Unlike outdoor patios, which can be enjoyed only during the best of days, greenhouses can be appreciated no matter the season. 

Here's a few ideas that will transform your greenhouse into an all-season conservatory. 

1. Embrace The Victorian Aesthetic 

A clue to the fashion tastes of the Victorians can be found in their greenhouses – elaborate structures featuring lofty roofs and crystalline expanses of steel. The Victorians were masters of art who had fashionably popularized the codified ritual of mourning, perhaps exemplified in the melancholic sentiment, “to die was an art.” 

Considered one of the best greenhouses, traditional Victorian greenhouses were wonderful marvels of engineering. Glass was an expensive material, and large swaths – enough to cover a greenhouse – could fetch a princely sum. The typical characteristics of a Victorian-style greenhouse include a high-pitched roof (sharply angled to reflect light), large glazed elements, and intricate ironwork. Borrow the aesthetics of the Victorians by growing tall plants like mimosas and exotic ferns in those greenhouses, featuring a luxurious 12.5 ft option and smaller, more affordable 8.5 ft variant. 

2. Let Light Be a Feature

Light, the life-giver, glides over greenhouses in a dazzling display during the summer months. Even as the seasons wane and the skies darken, there is something special about lingering inside a greenhouse. Solar-powered lights lined along raised garden beds are an easy way to add illumination. Twinkling fairy lights shaped like stars create a magical effect, resembling the glittering expanse of the night sky. Among greenhouse owners, solar lights are very popular, while getting electricity supplied directly remains a labor-intensive and expensive option. 

3. Tropical Greenhouse 

The lush, verdant forms of unspoiled greenery seem oceans away, yet with careful planning, a tropical gateway of palm trees, citrus trees, and tropical plants is possible. Vego greenhouses are equipped with advanced ventilation with more vents per square foot than any other greenhouse on the market. Big-leaf houseplants like elephant ears and alocasias fill in the gaps and create the illusion of canopies – the extra humidity found in greenhouses is well-suited to many houseplants. 

4. Go Big with Your Greenhouse 

If you have the space and money, you’ll certainly want to go for the largest greenhouses. Elaborate greenhouses, with Jurassic-era plants edged with dramatic color, are more akin to conservatories. Smaller structures can experience volatile temperature fluctuations. Those ramshackle structures often fall trap to common pitfalls such as poor ventilation and structural instability. If you’re only looking to grow a few plants, the same benefits can be achieved with raised garden beds and row covers. Greenhouses are more than life-support systems for plants; they function as living, breathable exhibits and need space to reach their full potential. 

5. Use it for Dining and Entertaining 

Larger greenhouses easily function as dining areas, especially when you’re keen to avoid the sweltering heat or air-borne pests. For a classic greenhouse with an emphasis on relaxation, the Pavillion series features crystalline walls that shields you from the elements while still allowing a close, communal connection with nature. 

6. Create Mini Zones

Even a small greenhouse can be divided into distinct zones to accommodate your gardening endeavors, such as a reading corner, a shelf for propagating seedlings, and finally, a display area for exemplary specimens. Each greenhouse contains add-ons that facilitate the growth and display of your plants, including sturdy and versatile shelves. Herbs and tomatoes can be grown inside greenhouses, as well as more difficult seedlings that are meant to be transplanted on later dates. 

7. Surround the Area with Greenery 

As greenhouses – once a luxury for emperors and kings – became redefined by modern technology, they are now more accessible than ever. It has become a trend to keep delicate or tender plants inside greenhouses and to frame the surrounding area with more exuberant plants. Wildflower borders and sprawling hydrangeas are used to cut through the flat monotony. To ensure your yard is aflutter with butterflies, draw them in with pollinator plants. Trailing or vining plants winding around obelisk trellises add a wild, unrestrained feel. 

8. Maximize Vertical Space

Even though many of those original English greenhouses have vanished, their benefits remain, allowing gardeners to cultivate unique plants no matter the weather. Vertical space is one tactic gardeners take advantage of to grow more, but the earth can be fickle, forbidding and relentless, compared to the moldable greenhouse, where it is easy to grow vertically. The extra height afforded by the pitched roof of the Victorian greenhouses provides more room to grow trellis plants like tomatoes. Hanging kits allow you to hang tools or baskets of plants, expanding the space further.