Guaranteed yield and healthy seedlings: the Butterfly greenhouse and everything you need to know about it

Growing seedlings in a greenhouse has its advantages: it turns out to be hardened, strong and very viable. The seedlings are not at all like the stunted elongated creatures that grew on your windowsill. But such a result requires certain conditions. Greenhouse "Butterfly" can provide them on your site. Today the editors of homemaster.techinfus.com/en/ decided to study in detail the design features of such a mini-greenhouse, as well as talk about its advantages and disadvantages. In addition, for our readers, we have prepared a detailed master class on making a greenhouse.

Greenhouse model "Butterfly" enjoys well-deserved popularity among Russian summer residents

Greenhouse "Butterfly": design features and photo examples

The butterfly design is considered universal. It can be accommodated on a spacious hacienda and a modest four hundred square meters. This greenhouse is especially convenient in that it can be moved to a new location if necessary.

In "Butterfly" you can grow seedlings of tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and cabbage. Radishes, salad greens and cucumbers will feel good here.

The name of the greenhouse comes from the peculiarity of its design: the lid opens on both sides, resembling the wings of a butterfly. Thanks to this, it is possible to regulate the temperature and microclimate in the greenhouse, providing the most comfortable conditions for the growth of seedlings. In addition, it is very convenient to approach the greenhouse from both sides and take care of the plants.

Usually tWhat kind of greenhouses made of lightweight metal profile and transparent polycarbonate. In home-made versions, summer residents use a tree for the frame and plastic wrap.

Dimensions, types and materials of the greenhouse "Butterfly"

The size of the greenhouse depends on two factors: its purpose and free space for placement. If you plan to grow only seedlings in it, a size of 1 × 2 m is quite enough. greenhouse cucumbers or radishes for growing in the cool season, you can increase the size of the greenhouse up to 8-20 m2.

For large greenhouses, the lifting parts of the roof are divided into several sections

The second factor affecting the dimensions of the Butterfly is its location. It is clear that in a small area it is difficult to install a large greenhouse in such a way that it is convenient to approach and service it from all sides. There should be at least one meter of free space around the perimeter of the greenhouse so that you can turn around with a watering can and freely lean over the plants. As for the types of the Butterfly greenhouse, there are three main configurations:

The greenhouse can be very small, just the way you need

The materials for making a greenhouse are the same as for other popular greenhouses. The frame is made of a metal, steel or aluminum profile, and the transparent parts are made of dense reinforced film or cellular polycarbonate. Experts recommend that the closed parts of the greenhouse be made of wood or OSB boards... The photo shows a greenhouse of the "Butterfly" design in different designs.

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Advantages and disadvantages of the butterfly design

Whether or not the design of the greenhouse is convenient can only be determined in practice. Reviews of summer residents about the butterfly shape greenhouse give a complete picture of the advantages and disadvantages of this configuration. We have highlighted the main points that will help you make your choice.

Advantages:

Disadvantages:

The popularity of the butterfly design is evidenced by the fact that the demand for this product is steadily growing. You will find commercial offers on many marketplaces. If the product has been bought for many years, then it suits summer residents.

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How to choose the right place for a greenhouse

What is important for choosing a place for a small greenhouse? First of all, pay attention to the quality of the soil in the selected location. In principle, it is possible to completely replace the ground under the greenhouse, but it is much easier to immediately install it on a suitable ground.

If the ground is too soft, the greenhouse can sink, so consider installing a small foundation right away.

Another significant point is the direction and strength of the wind on the site. With an open top and in a closed state, the windage at the structure is decent, if you place it in a highly ventilated place, the greenhouse will periodically demolish. The third important factor is the level of illumination of the selected area. Greenhouses are recommended to be placed in the south and southeast side. The sun here not only fully illuminates the plants, but also warms up the greenhouse.

Do not place the structure against a high fence, building or tree

It is undesirable to put greenhouses like "Butterfly" or "Novator" on the slope. If the situation is hopeless, you will have to make a foundation and level the ground.

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Assembly instructions for the factory model of the greenhouse "Butterfly"

A ready-made greenhouse of the "Butterfly" type with a polycarbonate coating in sizes from 1 to 4 m² can be bought in online stores or retail outlets for summer residents in your city. Products are delivered disassembled, complete with detailed installation instructions. You can find information on the assembly procedure for the Butterfly greenhouse in the video below.

There is nothing complicated in the assembly process. All parts of the frame are bolted together, and the frame itself is then tightened with a film or polycarbonate sheet.

Video: how to assemble a greenhouse "Butterfly"

How to use the Butterfly greenhouse correctly

For shading, you can use a special fine mesh

There are some simple guidelines for greenhouse operation that are suitable for designs such as "Butterfly", "Novator" or "Bread box". They are tested by many years of experience of summer residents:

1. Remember to ventilate the greenhouse. When there is not enough fresh air in the warm, damp air of the greenhouse, bacteria multiply, which can destroy your seedlings.
2. Fasten the frames firmly when open. The point is not only that a suddenly collapsed frame will break, it can cause serious injuries to the gardener.
3. If you are placing plants in the greenhouse in hot summers, use gauze or other material for shading on sunny days. The material is placed on top of the slightly open "wings" of the "Butterfly".
4. If the greenhouse is not used in summer, remove its cover so that the ground is saturated with rainwater and can naturally ventilate.
5. During operation, do not forget to thoroughly clean the greenhouse windows so that they let in as much light as possible.
6. Adjust the temperature for hardening the seedlings by opening the shutters for airing and closing them at night.
7. Use a greenhouse in winter to store plants that do not tolerate freezing soil.You can place it over a strawberry or flower bed with tulips and lilies.

Preparing a greenhouse for winter

If you do not plan to use the structure during the cold season, it is better to disassemble it. Remove the tape or polycarbonate. The film can crumble in cold weather, and the cellular material will be better preserved in a shed or garage. If you don't want to disassemble the metal structure, just check the integrity of the paint that protects the metal from rust, renew the coating if necessary.

The land under the stationary greenhouse must be cleared of weeds, disinfected and dug up so that the larvae of pests freeze

Making a greenhouse like "Butterfly" with your own hands from cellular polycarbonate

The simple design of the "Butterfly" can be made by yourself. A steel or aluminum profile is required for the frame. Wooden slats can also be used. In a simple design, you just need to hang the sash on the hinges and think over the supports.

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Drawing with the dimensions of the greenhouse model "Butterfly", which you can do by hand

Any design starts with a drawing. You cannot do without accurate measurements of the site. Remember that for the convenience of maintaining the greenhouse, a meter zone around it is required.The more accurately you prepare the drawing, the less hassle with fitting parts will be.

For example, we offer you a drawing of a greenhouse-greenhouse model "Butterfly" for 4 m:

Materials and tools for work

For the manufacture of the frame, you will need a profile pipe with a section of 20 × 20 mm, hinges or hinges for a movable roof, handles, polycarbonate 3 meters wide and a length corresponding to the size of the greenhouse, self-tapping screws for metal, boards or OSB plate.

A hammer, drill is useful from tools, screwdriver, welding machine, primitive pipe bender and grinder.

Step-by-step instructions for making a greenhouse "Butterfly"

For good growth of plants in a greenhouse, it is necessary not only to choose the right place, but also to observe the installation technology.

Illustration	Action Description
	Cut the pipes into lengths according to the drawing. You will need pipes for the main arcs, rectangular frames and "wings".
	If you do not have a pipe bender in your arsenal, you can contact any workshop where the arcs are bent to the required dimensions.
	Weld the crossbars onto the finished arcs. One at a height of 30 centimeters, the second at the very bottom.
	Weld the parts of the rectangular frame so that you get a lower base of 8 pipes and an upper longitudinal strip on which the roof wings will be attached.
	Greenhouse arcs are welded from two straight pipes and two bent ones. If the greenhouse is long, an additional bent pipe in the center will be required. Finished fenders are attached on two or three metal hinges to the top center rail.
	The greenhouse frame is sheathed with polycarbonate. For this design, a thickness of 4 mm is sufficient.
	Thin polycarbonate is easily cut with a construction knife.
	Attach the polycarbonate sheets and cut them exactly along the lines of the frame.
	The cover is attached to the frame using a screwdriver and roofing screws.
	The location of the self-tapping screws on the top rail should be such that, when open, the heads do not rest against each other.
	To fix the greenhouse in the open state, metal stops with a number of holes are used.

Which greenhouse is better for giving: "Butterfly" or "Bread box" - choose the option for yourself

The bread box differs from the Butterfly model in that only one half of the bread box opens in it. If you do not need a wide greenhouse, you can do with one sash. But for full-fledged care of plantings "Butterfly" is still more convenient, because you can approach the garden from both sides.

From the point of view of the cost of the structure, the "Bread Box" wins, because it has fewer moving parts, which means that it will cost you a little less

Another reason for comparison is the assessment of tightness. "Bread box" retains heat better due to its design. But on the other hand, in the warm season "Butterfly" is better ventilated. Which of these models to choose, decide for yourself. It all depends on the tasks that you set for this greenhouse.

Ready greenhouse "Butterfly": issue price and best offers

Practice shows that it is cheaper to make such structures with your own hands or order from local craftsmen. So, you will seriously save on shipping. But if you are satisfied with the small design, you can purchase it through the online store. We've found some inexpensive models that might interest you.

Model	Picture	Dimensions (Width × Height × Length), cm	Average cost (as of May 2018), rubles
Greenhouse-greenhouse "Butterfly", 2m (Mister Hit)		125×115×200	3100
Greenhouse-greenhouse "Butterfly", 4m		125×115×400	5400
"Butterfly", frame for polycarbonate		125×115×200	3500

Reviews of summer residents on the practice of operating the greenhouse "Butterfly"

To be completely honest in this matter, we are ready to present to your attention real reviews from the owners of suburban areas who, in practice, used a similar design. They have not only a positive vector, so consider all claims and nuances before making your final choice.

Greenhouse "Butterfly" is a convenient and compact greenhouse where you can grow seedlings and salad greens. It is easy to make it yourself, and you can use plastic wrap or polycarbonate as a covering material.

If you have experience using such greenhouses, share it in the comments. We will also be grateful to you for helpful tips on greenhouse design.

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