A winter garden or orangery is a structure that will undoubtedly enhance any interior. It's a sunny and pleasant place that delights its owners year-round with lush greenery and fragrant flowers. While it may look simple and beautiful from the outside, when planning to build a winter garden in a private home, it's essential to carefully follow the advice of experienced builders regarding the choice of design, materials, glazing methods, and so on.
A corner of paradise in the house
When deciding to recreate the atmosphere of perpetual summer in your home or apartment, it's important to understand exactly what a winter garden is and how it differs from a regular greenhouse. A greenhouse is a type of hothouse designed for growing crops in artificially created conditions (for example, oranges or bananas).
You may be interested in:Most often, such a structure is located separately from the house, for example, in a garden area, and does not provide the owners with the opportunity to create an additional recreation area for family and friends. It maintains climate conditions that are difficult for humans to live in, such as high humidity.
A winter garden is a transitional zone between the living space and the natural environment. It recreates a climate that positively impacts human well-being, and the nature of the plants and flowers grown here is less complex, although it does require certain conditions.
Of course, the design and construction of a garden in a private home is highly individual, as it depends on many factors, including location, heating method, and the types of plants the homeowners wish to grow. But this doesn't mean you need to hire outsiders to create it. Everything from the concept and design to the construction of polycarbonate or glass walls can be completed and designed by yourself—the key is the desire.
Selecting a location and design
When considering how to build a winter garden in a country house or dacha, most DIY builders first and foremost think about saving money. Naturally, constructing such a comfort and relaxation area requires investment in time and money, but by designing such a garden yourself, these costs can be significantly reduced or at least optimized.
The first decision the owners must make is the location of their little paradise. An east-facing indoor garden is the best choice, as the translucent structure will prevent overheating. A south-facing garden is avoided, as it will overheat the plants and significantly increase watering and ventilation costs. A north-facing garden is also not ideal, as it will require significant heating costs. A west-facing garden is a more acceptable option, but the space will be quite hot in the summer.
The garden can have a variety of designs, for example:
- adjacent to the building — a structure that consists of a glazed veranda. This design is often called a "buffer garden";
- located in the house itself, that is, part of a dining room, living room, or recreation area. This space can be partially or fully glazed and have an artificially created microclimate that allows for the cultivation of exotic plants at any time of year;
- free-standing — is rare, as many people associate this arrangement with a greenhouse rather than a comfort and relaxation zone.
The most versatile and popular option is a rectangular winter garden structure with a pitched roof, built as an extension to the house.
You may be interested in:Heating systems
The garden itself is capable of accumulating a certain amount of heat, but during the cold season this room and the heat-loving plants in it undoubtedly need heating.
The main criteria when choosing a heating system are its efficiency, optimal heat distribution, and low cost. Of course, many factors must be taken into account, such as how much time the owners spend in their "paradise," whether they use it as an extension of the home, or whether they only visit occasionally. The plants themselves are also important, as tropical plants require temperatures above 20 degrees Celsius, while frost-hardy plants will survive even light frosts. The most popular heating systems are:
- Heaters or air conditioners (split systems). The advantages of using such heating devices include ease of installation and the ability to regulate the heat output. However, this is a rather expensive option, as electricity is quite expensive. Additionally, you'll need to provide additional humidification, as electric heaters tend to dry out the air.
- Hydronic or steam heating involves connecting the garden's radiators to the entire house's central heating system. In this case, the winter garden can be used as a dining room or living room, as there is no temperature difference between the rooms. This option is quite cost-effective, but installation and assembly of such a system requires specialized skills.
- Heating with a wood-burning stove adds a special touch to a greenhouse, but it's not very convenient. The stove requires constant attention, including the purchase of coal and firewood, and distributes heat unevenly throughout the room.
- An air system involves installing a fan in a window opening adjacent to the garden. This circulates warm air from the heated room. This is relatively inexpensive, but requires the purchase of an air heater and takes up a lot of space.
- Electric underfloor heating is an excellent heating option, as it provides sufficient heat to the roots and additionally warms the irrigation water. However, installing such a system requires significant investment, and maintenance is also very difficult.
Ventilation and lighting
Any plants grown in the garden require a constant supply of fresh air. This most often involves installing vents or transoms, with the area of such vents occupying at least 25% of the total area of the garden walls. This is the only way to ensure the required level of oxygen supply. Ventilations can be opened and closed manually, or they can be equipped with automatic controls.
You may be interested in:It's also important to consider a supplemental lighting system, as plants will experience a lack of it during winter and cloudy weather. Lamps for this purpose are readily available in stores, but choosing the right type is key, as they not only provide illumination but also influence plant growth. For example, standard incandescent bulbs are unsuitable, as they generate a lot of heat and can easily burn plants. However, their main drawback is that their spectrum does not contain the necessary light for photosynthesis.
Suitable options for garden and greenhouse lighting include fluorescent, metal halide, and sodium lamps. The most suitable are phytolamps, designed specifically for plant lighting.
But light should be moderate, as too much can also be detrimental to plants. While in winter, the owner of a "paradise" must provide additional light, in hot summer weather, they must protect against excessive light. For this protection, awnings made of special reflective fabric are used. Curtains and blinds are sometimes used to block sunlight from the inside of the windows.
Watering plants
Automatic watering — the best option for a winter garden corner, especially since there are now a wide variety of mechanized systems. Using automation, you can set different modes depending on the temperature and moisture requirements of the plants.
Experts will likely suggest drip irrigation to a novice homeowner. This system consists of perforated hoses that deliver water into the soil. This method prevents puddles from forming, and ensures that plant roots receive the moisture they need. A drainage system is also necessary to remove excess water.
The coordinated operation of all the described systems will ensure a comfortable rest in a green oasis for the owner and their visitors, as well as provide the plants with moisture, warmth, and fresh air—everything they need to thrive.
Winter garden in a private house: photo gallery
