Do you want to create a special corner in the cottage where you can place indoor plants without fear that they will die in the cold? Then it's time for you to create a winter garden in the house, this is a place where your eye will not only enjoy perfection and harmony, but also where there will be a special atmosphere. Read on to find out how to design, select and care for plants.
It is no secret that green spaces are able to cleanse the air from harmful impurities, saturate it with oxygen and flower aroma. You will feel all this in full measure here, if you listen to our recommendations.
A bit of history
Before we seriously begin to discuss the purpose of the article, let's find out when, where such structures appeared, and also how in those days it was possible to keep them warm. This will allow us to understand our future plans.
When did they appear
For the first time, winter gardens were noticed in the days of Ancient Rome. Of course, the main problem then was heat sources, since no modern equipment had yet been invented.
At the same time, local craftsmen used humus for this, which allowed the Roman nobility to grow exotic plants right in their homes. The further path of the winter gardens lay in Greece, then to Spain, and then to Great Britain.
The first structures were erected in the houses of English lords and barons of wood and glass. Fashion for them quickly gained success, thanks to its exoticism. Subsequently, English engineers were able to invent several ways to conduct heating in structures, providing them with the required temperature, despite the cold atmosphere of England.
For example, pits were used in which hot coal was stored, then a spiral chimney appeared and, finally, a water heating system. Thanks to this, in the 19th century in Europe, it became not a problem to meet a winter garden in many high-rise luxury residential buildings.
Greenhouses in Russia
The first such structure in Russia appeared in the 18th century in the Transfiguration of the Savior Solovetsky Monastery. The cold climate of the islands did not prevent the monks from cultivating a variety of exotic plants, as well as growing vegetables in heated stone greenhouses. Then they were built in the Valaam monastery, then in the Kuskovo estate, in Pavlovsk and Porechye.
Glass and metal structures were invented in the 19th century, which made it possible to build greenhouses everywhere. Shopping centers with their own winter gardens have appeared in two capitals, for example, GUM and Petrovsky Passage. Now greenhouses began to be built in almost every estate, making them an integral part.
They became large, bright rooms with their own microclimate in which exotic plants could be grown. Subsequently, greenhouses began to be allocated the main places in houses; they became a favorite place for rest and entertainment for many.
In the photo - a winter garden with a waterfall
There was a fashion for their decoration, for example, they began to install sculptures here, hang pictures, and later make artificial waterfalls and grottoes. Greenhouses turned into real gardens, in which southern plants grew, birds sang, elegant furniture was placed next to babbling fountains.
Everything came to a halt in Soviet times, when winter gardens lost their former popularity due to the massive development of territories with cheap housing. Then only a roof over your head was needed, so no one thought about such delights. Only in the elite resorts could you still find the remnants of its former splendor.
Today, winter gardens are experiencing a rebirth. They are being built in country houses, in penthouses, in cultural and recreational complexes and business centers. Thanks to these structures, it is possible to give any home a style and a unique look, to add flavor and expand the space.
At the very beginning of use, greenhouses were used only for the cultivation of thermophilic exotic plants. However, over time, their purpose has changed dramatically - now it is a living room, an office, or just a place to relax.
How justified is the winter garden
Usually such disputes arise with those who have never been to home greenhouses. How to explain to a person not only moral meaning, but also practical, especially in our cold climate?
Let's try to answer all skeptics at once, telling about the advantage of the structure:
- you can significantly increase your living space;
- a light oasis will appear in your house;
- there will be a direct connection with nature every minute;
- you will be able to cultivate all kinds of heat-loving plants and flowers all year round.
Home greenhouse
It is allowed, of course, to place it in the house, using free space for it. It is considered ideal when the project of the house and the winter garden in it are developed immediately, then you will not face further technical and aesthetic problems.
However, this happens very rarely, since most often the owners allocate a room for it, which remained unoccupied after the completion of the repair work, and then think about how to take care of the garden in winter. She was not specially selected for the greenhouse, taking into account all her features and requirements.
Tip: do not forget that a winter garden is not just an ordinary room, but a room with a special microclimate that is significantly different from other rooms.
Therefore, you should observe here:
- correct;
- the required level of humidity;
- temperature regime for plants of different types.
Otherwise, all your work will be wasted, since the plants will simply die due to the conditions of existence unacceptable for them.
| Bad option | It is not recommended to allocate part of the room for the construction. This is due to factors that cannot be ignored:
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| The best solution |
The interior of the winter garden in a house with such a layout can be perfectly combined with the architecture of the building. |
Design
Most often, the basis of the winter garden is an aluminum frame made of a light profile, and glasses are securely installed in it. It is recommended to use double ones with a filler that is able to absorb excess moisture. You can also use a special film that allows heat to pass into the interior of the structure, but prevents it from escaping.
Choose a glass for your roof that is strong and tempered so that it can withstand a lot of snow in the winter. It is recommended to install double-glazed windows with an electric heating system, then it is possible to prevent the accumulation of snow on it.
Tip: before drawing up a greenhouse project, carefully consider its location and composition.
You can turn to specialists for help, while keeping in mind that the price of their services will ultimately be significantly lower if your personal calculations are incorrect and you have to redo everything again.
Among other things, you will have to choose:
- Greenhouse type - design and suitable vegetation of the building:
- when choosing tropical plants, the temperature should be within + 19-25˚С, so that begonia, dracaena, ficus, tropical vines, gloriosa, hedichium feel good in such an environment;
- for subtropical plants, a milder temperature is needed, no more than 12˚С. The following plants can be grown - ivy, wisteria, passionflower, citrus.
- Lighting should be sufficient for the development of crops. It is recommended to install additional local illumination so that there is enough light and heat for everyone. If you often have a long winter, select individual lighting parameters for each plant.
Tip: Think about the lighting in advance so that the plants in the greenhouse do not die.
- Ventilation and heating system - they should be selected as a complex. It is recommended to purchase ready-made options, which already have all the necessary devices. The instruction recommends starting from the characteristics that can provide the most suitable level of life for the crops. From the requirements, the temperature, humidity and dimensions of the greenhouse should be distinguished.
- An irrigation system - it is better to give preference to an automated one, since you cannot be with a watering can over a large area.
Tip: when choosing a winter garden style, try to make it the same not only for crops, but also for the interior decoration elements of the greenhouse.
Output
Not everyone can afford a winter garden in an apartment, which cannot be said about a private house. Here there is a real opportunity to establish a greenhouse, which will give it its uniqueness. Even in the most severe frosts, you can feel yourself in the tropics or subtropics, enjoying the view and aroma of exotic plants. The video in this article will help you find additional information on this topic.
Summer residents do not "catch up" immediately. It happens that many years pass from the beginning of the development of the site to the moment of realizing the real need for a covered climatic space. For the most part, winter gardens become continuation of the country house, functionally integrating into an existing building. Although one cannot fail to mention the existence of free-standing structures. But you don't meet them often, and therefore this article will focus on only about trimming options... Such gardens are structurally divided into two-façade(extension to the inner corner of the building) and three-façade(adjoining by one wall).
How to functionally "load" new heated areas, besides lush vegetation?
- It is advisable to place a study there from the northern facade of the cottage, which, along the way, will become a "heat-insulating barrier";
- from the east - a dining room;
- from the western flank - the living room.
Letters from readers of our portal show that real life outside the city makes harsh adjustments to the above "library" truths. For example, one of our most respected and experienced readers had a serious and completely unexpected problem: the owner of a neighboring dacha organized a dog kennel on his territory with appropriate round-the-clock sound accompaniment. Agree, no matter how much you love nature, the endless barking of dozens (!) Wolfhounds can greatly poison the suburban idyll. In this case, the construction of a winter garden will help to stop the negative acoustic background. on the front of the cottage, which is facing the neighboring plot.
The winter garden "ascended" to the second floor
Steel frames
Let's move from aluminum to another metal, or rather, to of stainless steel... Its corrosion resistance is enhanced by powder coating of exposed surfaces. As a successful technological solution, one can mention steel profiles... Moreover, the cavities in them are filled polyurethane acting as heat transfer damper... Thus, the high strength of 1.2 mm steel and polyurethane are combined in one structure. Such a technological synthesis allows the construction of significant unsupported spans, the use of large and weighty ones.
Frameworks from other materials
For the construction of a winter garden, they are often used and combined load-bearing elements, for example, made of wood-aluminum frame... It is also made of an aluminum profile, the function of which is to protect against the negative effects of heavenly abysses.It would be unfair not to mention and plastic (PVC) profiles... However, their bearing capacity is incomparably lower than that of metal and even wooden counterparts. Therefore they can be used only for small spaces attached to the base cottage, which also serves as the main supporting structure for the winter garden.
The above materials are used for the "skeletons" of winter gardens. And the decisive role in these oases of flora and comfort is assigned to translucent structures.
Glazing of the winter garden
The main requirement to the enclosing glazing - not transparency, as it might seem at first, but security... Therefore, in the construction of winter gardens is used safety glass or . The latter can be matte, transparent or bronze.
One of the most competent Russian specialists in the field of complex construction of summer cottages for various purposes, the most acceptable coating option for domestic winter gardens would be polycarbonate 8-10 mm thick, which the:
- 15 times lighter than glass,
- resistant to cracking,
- has a bearing capacity sufficient for the structures used.
- To remove the problem of sharp fragments arising from the sudden destruction of the roof, it is advisable to use shockproof triplex.
- Security concerns for vertical sections of the fence not so sharp - in the literal and figurative sense of the word. Therefore, for them, you can use two- or single-chamber with energy-saving glasses.
- With the first appearance, condensation appears on the glass, and the snowfall easily covers the roof with a dense crust. To prevent these minor problems, you can set double-glazed windows with electric heating... Manufacturers assure that along the way it prevents the formation of mildew and mold on glass. Since the author of the article has not personally experimented with this himself, I am reporting this information with some degree of doubt.
Conservatory flooring
in the winter garden it makes sense to cover waterproof materials.- You can choose: it is durable, wear-resistant, durable, resistant to hydrothermal effects.
- The floors will also last a long time. ceramic cladding: such a coating is durable and lightweight, and also creates an environmentally friendly neutral environment for summer residents and plants. Today, such cladding (or its kind - porcelain stoneware) is combined with glass, metal and wood.
- If you plan to place housing in the winter garden - an office or a dining room - and not just a tropical one, then the floor can be finished with natural wood: parquet, massive deck board, or, at worst,. Moreover, the ends of the latter along the entire perimeter must be processed hydrophobic composition.
Microclimate creation
Although the volume of space in the winter garden is significantly inferior to the size of a traditional cottage, the requirements for the microclimate in it are very "finicky". After all, the calculation goes not only to finding the owners in it, but also to various representatives of the flora, sometimes. The temperature should be maintained at + 20 ° С ... + 25 ° С, relative humidity - from 40% to 60%.
Wanda is an orchid growing in the winter garden of the Moscow Pharmaceutical Garden
Here the interests of various engineering systems collide at the same time, and it is by no means easy to find a consensus. Conservatory designers need to take organizational issues into account.
We all try to create the most comfortable, warm and cozy atmosphere in our home. And what could be better than a year-round summer in your own greenhouse? Rest surrounded by lush greenery, exotic plants, in the midst of winter frosts is the dream of many of our compatriots. Nowadays, you can create your own winter garden not only in a private household, but also within a dwelling in an apartment building. Of course, you will have to make an effort not only to create your own green oasis, but also to constantly devote time to the greenhouse to maintain the plants and premises in proper condition. We bring you an impressive selection of 100 designs for a wide variety of greenhouses, and we hope they can inspire you to create a green space for relaxation and relaxation.
The origin of winter gardens
These days, these greenhouses can be safely called green oases, a concentration of beauty and harmony for rest and relaxation. But for this, the premises with plants have gone a long way. Even in ancient Rome, winter gardens were born as a phenomenon in architecture. Later, from southern countries, moving westward, greenhouses literally conquered all of Europe. The most widespread freestanding structures made of glass and wood were obtained in England, in the households of noble and wealthy people.
It was in England that significant changes took place in the very approach to growing plants in special structures all year round: the methods of heating the space underwent changes. From the most primitive measures, when holes were dug in the ground and filled with hot coal, to the appearance of a spiral chimney and, ultimately, a water heating system. By the middle of the 19th century, winter gardens began to appear not only in private dwellings, but also in multi-storey buildings.
In Russia, the first winter garden appeared in the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Solovetsky Monastery. The first stone greenhouses with a heating system in our country appeared there. The monks were able not only to cultivate a wide variety of plants in rather harsh climatic conditions, but also to grow vegetables in their greenhouses all year round.
In the 19th century, in Russia, winter gardens received a serious impetus in the development and distribution among famous nobles. Not only the Moscow GUM and the St. Petersburg Petropavlovsky passage were equipped with their own greenhouses, many noble persons in their estates could acquire covered gardens. Over time, glass structures ceased to be just a place for growing plants, but became the concentration of a relaxed pastime among the nobility. Living rooms were practically located in the greenhouses, and guests were received. The fashion for indoor winter gardens with beautiful decorations quickly gained momentum - not only exotic plants appeared, but also fountains and songbirds.
With the advent of Soviet power, winter gardens as a place for exquisite relaxation surrounded by exotic plants experienced a serious decline. Most of the compatriots had to worry about at least a roof over their heads and a meager food. Nowadays, there are no restrictions in building and finishing materials, systems for creating a certain temperature and air humidity will help create optimal conditions for growing plants of the desired varieties. With the help of modern technologies, it is possible to create a not easy convenient place for plant breeding, but a really comfortable space for rest and relaxation.
Features of creating a greenhouse
Obviously, for the successful cultivation of plants, it is necessary to create and maintain certain conditions. If different cultures are not comfortable in the greenhouse, then the whole operation of building, decorating and maintaining an indoor green garden will fail. In order for the creation of a winter garden to be effective, it is necessary to fulfill at least two basic conditions:
- the greenhouse room must have a high level of natural illumination (which is why most often these buildings are almost entirely made of glass);
- for a certain type of plant, special conditions are created and maintained - the required level of temperature and humidity of the air, timely watering and feeding of green spaces is carried out.
There are three options for creating a greenhouse in a private household:
- the greenhouse is designed at the construction stage and is an integral part of the structure;
- the winter garden is attached to the main building after the completion of construction work (it is possible that a lot of time has passed since the construction of the house);
- the greenhouse is a free-standing building with its own heating, lighting, ventilation and humidity creation systems.
Of course, the optimal (in terms of cost and effort) is the way to create a greenhouse when designing a house. In such a situation, the winter garden and the foundation for it are laid initially, all communications are carried out jointly with the main building. But this method of erecting a steep garden is rarely used, due to the fact that the owners at the construction stage either do not plan to grow plants all year round, or this project does not fit into the overall financial estimate.
Most often, when building a greenhouse, the owners follow the second path - attaching a glass structure to the finished building. This method is relatively economical: the wall of the house acts as one of the walls of the winter garden. But you won't be able to save on laying the foundation. Glass structures (even of the most modest sizes) are only seemingly airy, weightless - glass is a heavy material and the foundation or plinth must be "drowned" deep enough. The size and depth of the foundation will depend on the height of the greenhouse, because many grow in their indoor garden not only stunted plants, but also dwarf trees.
The least commonly used method is to build a separate building in which plants will be grown and a place for rest and relaxation will be arranged. The unpopularity of this method is explained by the high cost, the need to use the free area of the yard or land, as well as "pull" all communication systems at some distance from the main building.
Winter garden decoration methods
The choice of plants for the greenhouse is an individual decision of each owner. But in the ways of organizing recreation areas, you can find interesting ideas from famous designers. So what can be organized within a greenhouse with plants? The first and most logical decision that comes to all future and real owners of the winter garden is the arrangement of the living room. Rest, receiving guests and just family gatherings surrounded by lush greenery is a pleasure not available to every city dweller. This makes the time spent in such a relaxing atmosphere even more valuable.
Garden furniture, namely wickerwork, looks most organically in the interior of the greenhouse. Armchairs and sofas, coffee tables and coasters made of vines or rattan incredibly harmoniously fit into the atmosphere close to nature, creating a cozy and comfortable environment. In order to increase the level of comfort in the recreation area of the greenhouse, it is enough to equip the wicker furniture with upholstered seats and decorative pillows.
In a spacious greenhouse, you don't have to stop at installing upholstered furniture and a coffee table for arranging a recreation area. Fountains and small waterfalls (imitation of water falling from a certain height) are appropriate in a room literally filled with green spaces. Built-in lamps and ribbon illumination of plants and a fountain will add originality to the refined atmosphere.
The second, no less popular way of decorating a greenhouse is arranging a dining room. Any meal surrounded by lush greenery becomes more pleasant and tasty. It is enough to find space for a small dining table and chairs. Depending on the size and shape of the room, you can use a round or oval (the most organic option for arranging a dining area), a square or rectangular table. Chairs are also selected depending on the table model. Very often, garden furniture is used to equip the dining area.
In some cases, it is convenient for the owners to arrange a full-fledged kitchen in the greenhouse with a working and dining area. But it must be borne in mind that plants must be chosen that are resistant to temperature extremes. The working kitchen segment must be equipped with a powerful extractor hood to keep the plants free of even the smallest droplets of fat.
Even a very modest extension with glass walls and a roof can be turned into a small green oasis, if the available space is properly distributed. The arrangement of plants in tiers, the installation of racks for small plantings, the creation of so-called eco-walls or "green walls" will allow even in a small greenhouse to find a place to install a round table with a pair of chairs to organize a place for short meals, relaxation and admiring lush greenery ...
Greenhouse exterior
If we are not talking about the inner content of the winter garden, but its exterior, then the facade of the greenhouse must certainly be in harmony with the appearance of the main building, regardless of whether it was originally designed, added after the main construction, or is a separate building. Most often, the walls of the greenhouse have a plinth, which is laid out from brick or stone. For the construction of the basement, foam blocks or hollow types of bricks are rarely used - such structures may not withstand the large weight of glass walls and a dome or a transparent roof.
The basement, finished with stone, looks luxuriously in harmony with the design of the main building. Glass surfaces bring airiness to the overall image of the entire building. Even a small greenhouse in this case significantly changes the appearance of the facade of the home ownership.
A similar situation arises with the use of bricks as a building or finishing material. Modern facade bricks (designed for the decoration of the facades of houses) can be textured, with façades, made in a wide variety of colors.
After a hard day's work, any city dweller would like to feel the atmosphere of absolute comfort in his home. Winter garden in the apartment - 35 photo ideas. To create such conditions for full relaxation is within the power of every owner of a city apartment, and for this it is enough just to arrange a winter garden in his home.
By the way, until recently, creating a winter garden in an apartment was considered only a dream. But now, fortunately, such a dream has already become a completely feasible reality, and most importantly, what is required from the owner of the apartment, since this is the choice of the most convenient and successful place in the home to create a "green corner", as well as the correct selection of indoor plants. 
You can create a winter garden in an apartment with your own hands with the help of experienced designers who can offer unique and magnificent projects, in which complex solutions and interesting projects can be present at the same time. You can create a winter garden in an apartment on your own, and the recommendations below will help with this. 
Winter garden in a city apartment
In general, the winter garden in the apartment photo is a rather complex combination of evergreen indoor plants. Some people think that it is enough just to purchase some beautiful flowers and create a "green corner" from them, but, in fact, not everything is so simple, since it is also necessary to make a single whole composition from such plants. 
It is also very important to choose the right place for the future location of the winter garden in the apartment, and the best option may be a window with a bay window or a well-insulated loggia or balcony. If it is not possible to create a winter garden in one of these places, then you can choose a living room for this purpose. 
Next, you should decide on the plants, and if the dimensions of the room allow, then you can create a wonderful "green corner" of evergreen ornamental shrubs and small trees, such as ficus, fir or juniper. Further, small plants that will feel great under a certain temperature regime should also be selected as companions. Winter garden in the apartment - 35 photo ideas. 
You should also choose the right flower pots for indoor plants, and it is desirable that they match as much as possible in their color scheme to the design of the living room. In order for the plants in the winter garden to feel great, it is necessary to install special phytolamps in the corner where they will be located. It is imperative that you also purchase means for caring for plants from the winter garden. Moreover, there must necessarily be kits for cultivating the land, fertilizers intended for certain indoor flowers, sprayers and watering cans. Winter garden in the apartment photo: 
Modern design ideas for a winter garden in an apartment
How to make everyday life brighter and the room more comfortable. Pots of flowers and pots are for some - yesterday. Today, the design of a winter garden in an apartment can be done with vertical farms and living paintings. Better yet, microalgae. Let's understand the intricacies of modern floristry. 
One of the most relevant ideas of our designers at the moment is the idea, peeped from European colleagues, is to make a winter garden in an apartment using single-celled microalgae of the genus Chlorella. To do this, microalgae are placed in photobioreactors, somewhat resembling shutters. These shutters are hollow and filled with biomass water that multiplies in sunlight and produces oxygen. And it makes it 4 times more effective than potted plants. 
Of course, such a project with our winter is not feasible. Therefore, our designers suggest using giant reactor flasks indoors to decorate bright living rooms and atriums. For those who are not ready to replace flowers with flasks, there is another option for an advanced design of a winter garden in an apartment - a vertical hydroponic farm. Originally space technology, today it has been adapted for ordinary life. Here, plant roots are not in the ground, but in a nutrient solution. 
For these purposes, containers are taken that are interconnected. One is the main one, where the solution is poured, and from it, with the help of a pump, it is distributed to other containers. While circulating, the liquid is simultaneously saturated with oxygen so that the roots can breathe and do not rot. Lettuce, peas, peppers, basil, and this is not the whole list of plants that can grow here. Winter garden in the apartment photo: 
Vegetable crops were not chosen by chance, because the vegetable garden requires increased attention, which is good, from the point of view of psychologists. Therefore, taking part in caring for plants, for example, at lunchtime, will have a psychologically positive effect on tired household members. And there is even statistics that thanks to this practice, the incidence rate is reduced, since caring for plants relaxes a person after a busy day at work. 
Do-it-yourself winter garden in the apartment, but for the lazy - landscaping with phyto-paintings. At the heart of the design are special shelves, at the bottom there is a water tank, and on the back wall there is a special material - the know-how of our scientists. Thanks to the inclusion of antibacterial peat in its composition, it lifts liquid to the roots of plants without any electricity, nourishes them with oxygen and prevents flower diseases. 
To make a winter garden in an apartment using phyto-paintings, for this, of course, there is a recommended list of plants such as, for example, ampelous crops: this is certainly chlorophytum, tradescantia and all kinds of ivy. 
And also the designers made a big breakthrough and learned to plant petunias and violets in vertical gardening. Until now, these plants were considered picky, and did not take root in phytowalls. Now all that is needed is not to forget to pour water for the flowers every 2 weeks. See the winter garden in the apartment photo:
Have you ever thought that the summer can be extended indefinitely? Or rather, not to prolong, but to “preserve” - in a certain separate space? Yes, yes, but your home can become this very space. A home where you can create a unique "green oasis" filled with the scent of beautiful flowers.
A complex specialized engineering and technical structure, the main purpose of which is to create and maintain optimal conditions for the life of various plants. And the winter garden can also become a wonderful comfort zone for plants and humans at the same time - a "green living room" where you can relax and unwind.
Types of winter gardens
Before building a winter garden, you need to decide what you want to get in the end. The fact is that there are several options for winter gardens, which differ significantly both in appearance and in purpose. The most popular ones are:- residential winter garden;
- winter Garden - ;
- buffer winter garden.
A heated winter garden equipped in a residential area, which contains a sufficient number of plants, has received the definition of residential. A successfully combined microclimate allows both people and plants to feel equally comfortable.
You can cultivate plants in a residential winter garden all year round.
A buffer winter garden is a seasonally residential (or non-residential) unheated room.
As a rule, a buffer winter garden is more equipped for aesthetic purposes, and the number of plants grown in it is small. This is due to the fact that because of the doors that often open to the street in such a garden, it is impossible to maintain a constant microclimate. That is, the room serves as a kind of buffer between the street and the house, which saves heating costs for the house.
Winter garden arrangement rules
Having decided on what kind of winter garden should turn out in the end, it is necessary to choose the right place for its placement.Choosing a place for a winter garden
You can position the winter garden on either side of the house: north, south, west, east.- North. The winter garden, located on the north side of the building, will quickly accumulate heat and release it just as quickly. It is because of the rapid loss of heat that the heating system in the winter garden located in the north must be of high quality and thought out to the smallest detail.
- South. In the winter garden located on the south side of the building, heat quickly accumulates and is perfectly retained - this is a plus in the cold season. But in summer, the plants will constantly overheat, which means, at least, a good ventilation system will be required - and this is already a minus. In addition, due to constant overheating, winter garden cultures will need frequent watering, which not every plant will like.
- West. In the winter garden, located on the western side of the building, the heat will remain for a long time, but in the summer season this advantage will turn into a disadvantage, since there is a great risk of simply overheating the plants.
- East. Inside the conservatory, located on the east side, it is possible to create an ideal microclimate for growing plants, which will have ample light, and at the same time they will not overheat.
Determining the shape of the winter garden
A winter garden can be a free-standing structure, the shape of which can be different.
Photo site strport.ru
Despite the variety and attractiveness of the forms of free-standing buildings, most often the winter garden is adjacent to a residential building. It performs not only a practical, but also an aesthetic function, effectively decorating the exterior and interior of the home. In addition, it is precisely such a structure, adjacent to one of the sides of the dwelling, that is considered the most successful from the point of view of technical safety.
Determining the type of roof
As for the shape of the roof, there are also options. The structure of the roof of the winter garden adjacent to the building can be:
In order to provide optimal conditions for the cultivation of plants in the winter garden, it is necessary to take into account a number of requirements for structures of this kind. This is the only way to create an ideal winter garden - functional and beautiful. And also - durable and reliable, so that the structure is resistant to cooling, overheating and mechanical stress.
The winter garden should be made of materials:
- high quality, with high bearing capacity, long service life and anti-corrosion resistance;
- able to effectively retain heat;
- resistant to low and high temperatures, atmospheric precipitation, mechanical stress;
- durable;
- transmitting at least 80% of sunlight.
Choosing a material for the construction of a winter garden
We have already listed the necessary qualities of building materials, now let's talk in more detail about the materials themselves.
The supporting structure of the winter garden can be made of various materials, today the most popular of them are:
- Aluminum: lightweight, resistant to temperature extremes, durable. In addition, the structure made of this material does not deform and does not corrode. If you have the necessary skills, it can be easily and quickly mounted or dismantled. Due to the special strength of aluminum, it is possible to reduce the profile width as much as possible (less than 50 mm), which will make it possible to increase the naturally illuminated space.
- PVC profile: when constructing a winter garden, it makes it possible to embody the most daring design decisions. At the same time, the supporting structure made of PVC profiles requires additional reinforcement.
- Wood: considered a traditional material. When choosing a tree for the construction of a winter garden, consider its advantages and disadvantages. The main advantage is the relative cheapness and ease of construction. The disadvantage is that the wood needs additional protection from moisture, fire, pests and so on. That is, all parts of the construction of the winter garden, made of wood, will have to be periodically covered with a protective agent (,) both from the inside and outside. For the construction of a winter garden, you can use oak, pine, spruce, beech wood.
Regarding the structure itself: the posts and beams of the structure are connected into a spike, the arched elements consisting of several narrow strips are also additionally connected with the help of spikes. This form of the structure gives it special strength, but at the same time the width of the profile increases, which means that the amount of daylight entering the winter garden decreases.
Of the transparent materials on the market used for the construction of a winter garden, the most popular are:
- Electric heaters: advantages - mobility, ease of installation and the ability to quickly adjust the temperature in the room. This heating method also has a number of disadvantages, the most significant of which can be attributed to the high cost of operation (cost of electricity) and dry air in the winter garden;
- UFO or conditioners: do not dry out the air and make it possible to regulate the temperature. The disadvantage is again the cost of electricity;
- "Warm floor": the undeniable advantage lies in the excellent heat distribution in the winter garden. The disadvantage is the large financial costs for the device of the system and the complexity of the repair work.
Steam heating
Of the advantages - it does not require significant financial costs, it makes it possible to constantly maintain the desired temperature.
The disadvantages are the complexity of installation: to equip a winter garden with steam heating, you will need a special tool and certain skills.
Stove heating
Advantages - the cheapness of the material used for heating - and.
The disadvantages of heating are high, uneven heat distribution (as a result of which some plants in the winter garden may overheat) and time-consuming, since the stoves need constant attention.
Air heating
As a rule, they are used in conservatories that are adjacent to a heated residential area.
For air heating, a fan is installed on the window leaf (common between the garden and the house), which drives warm air from the heated room into the garden. Advantages - the relatively low cost of the arrangement. There are also a number of significant disadvantages. First of all, it must be borne in mind that the air temperature inside the winter garden will always be much lower than in the adjoining heated room. In addition, it will not be possible to heat a large winter garden with air heating.
Ventilation in the winter garden
Constant air circulation is no less important for the normal life of plants than temperature and humidity.
The winter garden must be well equipped. Condensation will not form in the room only with the supply of fresh air.
There are several types of ventilation:
- natural: in the construction of the walls, they simply arrange the vents, which are opened manually or with the help of automation;
- mechanical: air enters the room in a natural way - through the vents, and fans blow it out.
Winter garden lighting
Whatever translucent materials are used for the construction of the winter garden, the plants will need lighting.
To compensate for the lack of illumination, you must choose the right lamps:
- Phytolamps: some of the most popular. Phytolamps are designed specifically for lighting a winter garden and it is they who emit the radiation spectrum as close as possible to the natural one. There are two types of phytolamps: fluorescent and energy-saving LED.
- Metal halide lamps: practically not inferior to phytolamps. They also create light as close to natural as possible. Their only drawback is a small, in comparison with phytolamps, service life.
- Incandescent lamps: their spectrum of radiation lacks the blue color necessary for photosynthesis, so they are not suitable for lighting a winter garden. In addition, the use of incandescent bulbs can cause burns to temperature-sensitive plants (due to the high level of thermal energy they emit).
- Fluorescent lamps: disadvantage - short service life and hypersensitivity to voltage surges. Therefore, they are not the best option for lighting a winter garden.