Greenhouse from plastic bottles
Content:
Not all gardeners resort to using greenhouses on their plots, because this is a huge waste of free space, which could be used more rationally. However, for those who live in the middle latitudes of Russia, it is time to think about equipping their garden with a couple of greenhouses, because without them, the cultivation of some crops becomes just torture. Nevertheless, it is quite possible to kill two birds with one stone: build a greenhouse that will perfectly fulfill its functions and, at the same time, will not take up much space. For those who are interested in building such a useful structure on their site, we suggest reading this article, in which we will tell you in as much detail as possible about how to build a greenhouse using plastic bottles.
Many doubt this is a rational idea in principle. At the end of the day, bottles don't seem like a very good heat-retaining material, but trust me, you won't be disappointed by building one.
Pros and cons of plastic bottle greenhouses
The first and most obvious plus is the originality and uniqueness of such a structure. It will definitely catch the eye of anyone who visits your site and will be a good decoration if bottles are used wisely. For example, their multi-color can be used as a way to create a unique ornament on the wall.
Secondly, any construction from plastic bottles will not take away too much money from you. And compared to other methods of building a greenhouse, a greenhouse made of plastic bottles stands out as one of the most budgetary choices that can be made.
However, these benefits are unlikely to fully convince you. In the end, no information was given on how much light the plastic bottle walls let through. How do they keep warm? They're just bottles! However, you shouldn't worry about that either. More than one thousand gardeners have installed structures made of plastic bottles on their plots, and, believe me, now they do not regret this extraordinary choice at all. According to surveys that were conducted with their participation, the strengths of waste facilities are also:
1) Enormous savings in construction costs. The only thing you have to spend money on at all is wood planks and material for fasteners.
2) The reliability and strength of the resulting structure. Yes, it's hard to believe, but it turns out that bottles are a much more durable material than those with which you usually cover your plantings. Reinforcement from bottles will not only last for decades, but it will not simply be blown away by an excessively strong gust of wind. In addition, such protection is not afraid of either frost or heat.
3) Keeping warm is perhaps the first thing that any gardener pays attention to when choosing the most appropriate way to help their plants survive the winter.However, there is no need to doubt how well plastic bottles do this, because they are not filled with any material - only air, which means that they will heat up very quickly, but cool down - on the contrary, incredibly slowly. In fact, such a greenhouse is a huge thermos that will not let the heat, once inside, get out.
4) Greenhouses built from plastic bottles are very lightweight designs. Everything that is included in their composition weighs practically nothing, and therefore it is incredibly easy to move them around the site. In addition, the walls of such a greenhouse are rather thin, which allows it to be successfully installed where other types of greenhouses simply would not fit.
5) Simplicity of assembly is also a distinctive advantage of constructions made of plastic bottles: given that all the necessary materials have been collected and you are completely ready for assembly, if you have two pairs of working hands, a greenhouse can be made in just one working day.
6) Distinctive strength. Plastic is designed to stay safe and sound under extreme conditions for any other material. In addition, unlike glass, it does not break, and does not tear like fabric.
7) Ease of construction. Unlike any other structure that you can sculpt on your site, the plastic greenhouse is very easy to move to any other place. In addition, in the event that you suddenly do not need it, it can be very easily disassembled, and then reassembled in the opposite state.
8) The structure is extremely willing to replace parts: absolutely any of its components can be replaced with another part as needed. So, even if one of the bottles or one of the mountings is damaged, you shouldn't worry about it at all.
9) Perhaps not on par with some other materials, but the bottles retain heat quite well. Your greenhouse will definitely not be cold, and the plants will not freeze, you can be sure of that.
However, any coin has a downside, and building structures from bottles is no exception. Below we will consider the most frequently mentioned problems associated with the construction of such structures.
1) Let the bottles be a consumable, but collecting enough plastic containers in order to build such a rather large structure is a rather difficult task that can take a very long period of time.
2) In addition to collecting hundreds and thousands of bottles, each of them, moreover, will need to be processed personally, which will also require a lot of not only time, but also patience.
3) The assembly of the greenhouse itself is not an easy task that requires patience and attention to detail from the gardener who performs it. If you are still fired up with an idea, it is worth watching some video that not only tells, but also shows the process of creating a structure visually.
How to build a greenhouse from bottles?
The first thing you should think about is creating a plan. He should be present when working on a project of any type, including building a greenhouse from plastic bottles. In order to get started, you will have to find a suitable place for construction and calculate the approximate dimensions of the future greenhouse. This data will allow you to estimate how many materials will be required to accomplish what you want. After the work plan is developed, you can start collecting materials.
However, this also requires free space, because the bottles must be stored somewhere before they are used. A shed or open area on the site is well suited as such a "storage room".
What type of greenhouse from plastic bottles to choose
Yes, you read that right, plastic bottle greenhouses are also very diverse and unusual.Now we will tell you how not to get lost, having such a huge choice on hand, and which type of greenhouse is best for you.
Most sources agree that the first person to build a greenhouse from plastic bottles was a Norwegian with truly golden hands. In order to build his own greenhouse, he collected a thousand bottles over a huge amount of time. After much preparation, he built a wooden frame for the future greenhouse and filled the resulting cavities with plastic bottles. The result is a structure that can now be seen in thousands and even millions of sites. It is this model: a simple house that does not stand on any foundation, which can be easily moved around the site, and is our first model. In our opinion, it is also the most appropriate choice in any situation.
Nevertheless, even for the construction of such a greenhouse, there is not one method, but two. Everyone can choose the one that he likes best, however, we, nevertheless, will give our recommendations and describe in detail how one differs from the other, what are their advantages and disadvantages.
Two ways to make greenhouses from plastic bottles:
1) The first method is quite simple and primitive. It lies in the fact that you will use almost completely whole bottles to fill the gaps between the load-bearing parts of the structure. However, they will have to be slightly corrected, namely, to remove the bottom. Thanks to this, you will be able to assemble bottles into a single whole, like a constructor. Use fishing line or wire as a connecting material. The only disadvantage of this method is that you use the bottles completely, significantly increasing the material consumption.
2) The second method is that instead of using whole bottles, you cut strips of plastic from them. Thus, the consumption of bottles is almost halved, but there is another striking difference compared to the previous method: in this case, the specific heat capacity of your greenhouse is significantly reduced, because there are no more cavities in the bottles, and holes can often be found between the plastic strips.
In addition to these two, there are several more ways to make a greenhouse from plastic bottles, but compared to the previous ones, they are used much less often.
1) The first of those three methods that we will tell you about is called a greenhouse book. Its essence lies in the fact that two wooden frames are connected with ordinary door hinges so that they can be opened like a book cover. With the help of such a greenhouse, you can protect certain areas of your garden from the harmful effects of the wind.
2) The second method by which you can make a greenhouse from plastic bottles is the method of creating a greenhouse on a frame. It consists in the fact that the free space between two metal or plastic arcs is filled with bottles. In theory this is a good idea, but in practice there are a lot of problems with unpredictable winds.
3) The third way to create a greenhouse from plastic bottles is a film-based greenhouse. In order to make such a greenhouse, you will need to overlay the desired bed with plastic bottles, and cover this structure with a film on top. This idea works especially well when you need to protect low-growing plants.
Important!
A greenhouse can also be made from one bottle if you want to cover a small shoot. Such a "personal" greenhouse to protect young plants from the damaging effects of the environment. If you want the plants to breathe, you just need to unscrew the bottle cap.
Whole bottle greenhouse
In order to build a structure from whole plastic bottles, you must first cut off the bottom of all of them, so that each can be connected to the other, like parts of a designer.After that, you will need to design several so-called plastic logs, which are formed by placing several bottles on top of each other. With these logs, with the help of a prepared wire, we fill the spaces between the load-bearing supports of the structure.
Such a greenhouse is very practical, and also differs in its external qualities. By the way, the fact that gaps are formed between the plastic logs is actually good, not bad, because in this way a stable air exchange is maintained in the greenhouse. Some people prefer to install two layers of plastic, but we do not advise you, because this will significantly reduce the amount of sunlight falling on the plants.
Greenhouse made of plastic bottle plates
In order to "get" plastic plates from bottles, you have to work a lot with scissors. The middle part is completely cut out and an incision is made in such a way as to separate the ring, turning it into a tape. These ribbons are connected together and attached to the frame when taut. The choice of the first or second method depends on what goals you are pursuing. If you want your plants to get more sunlight, choose the second, however, if strict adherence to the temperature solution is important to you, a greenhouse made of solid plastic bottles is what you need.
Where to find suitable plastic bottles and which ones to collect?
There are countless types of plastic bottles. They differ in all possible parameters: color, shape, volume, material, and so on. Naturally, a gardener who has set himself the task of building a greenhouse from bottles will immediately face the question: which bottles to choose?
Important!
Dark colored bottles are not well suited for creating a greenhouse, as they absorb too much sunlight. However, a wall made of dark bottles can be installed on the north side of the greenhouse, because there is less light in any case, and the overall thermal insulation of the greenhouse will increase.
The rule that all bottles should be approximately the same size will be quite obvious, because do not forget: you will have to combine them together. So, when buying drinks, try to stick to one standard of volume.
However, buying drinks isn't the only way to get your hands on the bottles you want. You can also visit places where they, one way or another, appear from time to time. Such places can be festivals or concerts, which are attended by many people with drinks.
How to calculate how many bottles you need?
As already mentioned, developing a plan is the first thing you turn to if you want to build a greenhouse from plastic bottles. However, calculating exactly how many containers you need can sometimes be a daunting task. Therefore, we will try to help you with it.
If we are talking about building a greenhouse from plastic plates, we will need to find out what is the average width of the middle part of your bottles, as well as what is their average radius. From these averaged values, we deduce the parameters of the rectangle that we get when cutting the bottle.
If calculating the average radius of a bottle is a difficult task, you can resort to one of the simplified methods:
1) With the help of a tailor's ruler, you can immediately, without applying the formula of the circle, calculate what its length will be. And, therefore, you will know all the parameters of the resulting rectangle.
2) Considering that the pieces of plastic resulting from cutting the bottle will join together, which means there will be seams, you can safely mentally cut off a couple of centimeters from the length of each fragment (for a more accurate calculation).
3) After we have learned the approximate value of each bottle and what parameters the plate will have, which will turn out from it, we can convert these values into square centimeters.
4) Now we find out the total area that we have to cover with bottles.We divide it by the number obtained by calculating the area of one fragment, and as a result, we get the approximate number of bottles that we need to cover the entire frame. However, you always need to prepare materials with a margin, because it is not possible to predict how you can ruin the bottle, or what other unforeseen circumstances await you.
How to handle greenhouse bottles?
After you have a frame ready to hold all the bottles, you need to process your working material so that it is completely ready for use. To do this, you need to get rid of all the labels located on the bottle. You also don't need a neck with a stopper. After that, the working material must be thoroughly washed in clean water.
To do this, you need to find a bulk container. After all, you're not going to wash each of the thousand bottles one at a time, right? The selected container is filled with water, to which some kind of detergent is added. Naturally, ordinary laundry soap is best suited for these purposes. The bottles are placed in this container and left to lie in it for a while (approximately two hours). Now all that remains is to wipe off the remnants of the glue with which the sticker was attached using the back of the sponge.
If you want to build a greenhouse from plastic logs, instead of completely removing the top and bottom of the bottle, it is enough to cut off the very bottom. This should be done in such a way that at the cut point the bottle is only slightly narrower than in the middle. This will ensure that the bottles are securely attached to each other.
Important!
If, suddenly, you have a press on your farm, you can use it to smooth out rectangular fragments cut from bottles, because as soon as you cut them out, they will be very curled up and it will be extremely inconvenient to work with them.
What can serve as a material for creating a frame?
Most often, if a greenhouse from bottles should not be too large, a foundation is not made for it at all. It is simply not needed. Therefore, the entire support of the structure is its frame, on which bottles and plastic plates will subsequently be mounted. Most often, if the greenhouse is of medium size, the frame is also made of plastic or very light metal. However, with a small structure, it makes sense to do with an ordinary tree.
There are many factors to consider when choosing a material, which also includes your budget and how durable you want your greenhouse to be.
1) A tree is chosen if they do not expect to spend too much money on the greenhouse, and it will serve its purpose in several years. You can buy a wide variety of wood: here everything again depends on your budget, but the best option, perhaps, would be coniferous wood. If you want the wooden frame to stand longer, then use special preparations that prevent rotting.
2) A more durable, but more expensive option is a metal frame. Also, in order to build the necessary structure, skills in owning a welding machine will be required, which, unfortunately, not everyone has. However, if you are confident and want to build a strong and durable frame, then metal is your choice.
3) Plastic water pipes. Like the bottles themselves, they are made of a very durable material, so your greenhouse will be, as they say, for centuries. Plus, it's very easy to connect them. The process is very intuitive and similar to puzzle-making, so there shouldn't be any problems.
The bottom line is that PVC pipes are the most optimal material for the frame, however, if your preferences differ, you can use both wood and metal.
How to make a greenhouse from plastic bottles: a master class from A to Z
So, now that you know everything you need to build your own beautiful and durable greenhouse, we can move on to fixing the material and to more detailed instructions, in which we will describe all the nuances of the construction process.
First of all, you need to choose a day when everything will happen. The day should be dry, but the sun should not interfere with work. Better wait for it to be covered with clouds. In order not to be distracted in the middle of work in search of the right tools, prepare a hammer, scissors, nails and cable ties in advance. They will be useful to us too.
Now that everything, including you, is ready to go, you can start. Follow the instructions below carefully, depending on the type of greenhouse you want to build.
Greenhouse made of "bottle logs"
It is much easier to build such a greenhouse than a greenhouse made of separate plastic plates. Therefore, first of all, we will figure out how to build it, and after that we will proceed to detailed instructions for assembling the second version of the greenhouse.
The first thing you should do before starting construction is to prepare everything you need for work. This implies that you must first clear the area of the building of weeds and excess stones. Also, it would not hurt to level it so that the frame stands firmly on the ground and does not loosen.
When the site is ready, you can proceed directly to the construction. For her we need:
1) Frames from the material you have chosen to build
2) All the tools you have prepared in advance
3) Insulating tape. We will need it if you are making a frame of wood and you need to wrap sharp cuts.
4) Any plastic logs you built, plus any leftover clean bottles we might need in case we need to make more logs.
Important!
During work, you will more than once come across sharp and simply dangerous tools that can easily harm both you and those around you. Try to avoid this and use them as carefully as possible. It is advisable to wear special protective gloves.
Work process:
First of all, we will give you some useful advice: in order to make it easier to work, put plastic logs on the axle. A trumpet, or even an ordinary stick, can act as it. The material is not that important. The main thing is that you feel comfortable working.
However, we warn you that it is much more difficult to use threads, fishing line and wire as a frame than strong pipes and sticks. But, if you like, you can use them too.
In order to calculate how many logs you need to completely fill the cavities between the load-bearing structural parts, you need to divide the perimeter of the frame base by the diameter of the log. As a result, you will get an approximate number of logs needed, but do not be surprised if you end up with a little more or a little less of them.
The most important thing is to inspect the bottles before stringing them onto the axle. Defective material will certainly not help you make your greenhouse better.
About the number of bottles. As already mentioned, you need to collect a lot of them. Despite the seemingly huge volume of a heap of two hundred bottles, do not forget that when you combine them together, it will noticeably decrease. Roughly, in order to assemble an average greenhouse, you will need about one and a half thousand bottles, despite the fact that their volume will be equal to two liters. You can, of course, use one and a half liter bottles, but you will need more of them.
After you count the number of bottles and make sure that there are enough of them to build a greenhouse of the size you need, the material needs to be processed. You probably remember how this is done. A large container is selected, which is filled with water. After that, a soap solution is diluted in it (preferably with the use of laundry soap).Of course, you can easily avoid this procedure, but be prepared for the fact that your plants will not receive a lot of light due to the labels on the bottles.
Advice!
On the south side, only white bottles can be used. They let in sunlight best and should be where the sun shines the brightest. From the northern part, you can use both green and yellow, and brown bottles.
Now that the working material has been prepared: the bottles are cleaned of stickers and their bottoms are cut off, you can start building the frame - the supporting structure of your future greenhouse. Since you have reached this stage, then you have probably already prepared all the materials and tools you need. Most often, people use 50 millimeter thick pieces of wood.
The same boards or bars will serve you to create the foundation of the future structure. In order to give them proper strength, it is necessary to fasten these boards with corner elements and self-tapping screws.
Important!
The most fatal mistake you can basically make is to start changing your plans in the middle of a workflow. Believe me, this will definitely not end with anything good. You will only complicate your life with unnecessary calculations and costs that could have been avoided if you did everything as intended.
After the base has been built, you can add corner beams, doorways, and roof elements.
Advice!
If you use metal beams as a material for building a greenhouse frame and do not know how to use a welding machine, be sure to consult with a specialist who understands this area, or better - call him to help you. This will avoid unnecessary danger.
A little more detail about the greenhouse roof: it is most often made of exactly the same material, which has the same thickness as the rest of the structure. However, it can also be made from polycarbonate sheets.
As an additional protection, you can also use a special garden film, which you will use as a roof. The bottles can then be attached directly to it.
After completing all the previous steps, you can move on to creating plastic logs. You will need quite a few of them. You have already learned how to calculate the right amount.
A bamboo cane is best for making logs. You will string bottles with this material. It fits best due to its shape and strength.
In turn, we string the bottles on the cane: one after the other until the length of the ends of the bamboo cane peeking out from under the bottles reaches 20 centimeters. Then we string another plastic container onto the end, at which the cut bottoms of the bottles are looking, but this time upside down, so that the log starts from the neck and ends with the neck.
When there are as many logs as planned, you can start fixing them on the frame. If the ends of the cane sticking out from under the bottles end up being too long, cut them to an acceptable length.
Important!
The logs must be close to each other.
However, how do you attach the logs to the frame? For this we need a plastic tie and self-tapping screws. With a tie, we fasten the logs from above and below so that they hold tight enough, and we fix this effect with self-tapping screws, making the fasteners even more reliable.
Many people have problems assembling the door frame, as well as the door itself, however, in fact, it is very simple. For this we only need a couple of door rails and hinges. We string a door on them, which was assembled from plastic logs in the same way as any wall.
There shouldn't be any difficulties, but make sure that the door does not hit anything when it is opened.
After you have covered all the gaps with plastic logs, you can start the internal insulation.In the same way as in the case of the roof, we cover the bottles with insulating film.
Total: you get a ready-to-use greenhouse, in which you can already place plants and do not worry about their successful wintering.
This method is extremely convenient and simple compared to the following, but these are not all of its advantages. Thanks to its simplicity, plastic log greenhouses are very easy to modify. For example, some gardeners prefer to place the logs horizontally, rather than vertically, so that water does not flow into them. However, even this problem can be easily avoided if you seal the top bottle with resin.
Advice!
The idea that colored bottles can only be used from the back of the greenhouse is probably already firmly entrenched in your head. However, this is not entirely true: dark bottles can be placed on the south side if they are surrounded by transparent ones on all sides. This way your plants will not lose too much light and you will have a great opportunity to personalize your greenhouse by making a bottle drawing on it.
Greenhouse made of sewn plastic plates
Unlike the previous method, the process of preparing the work material, if you use the stitching method, can be very lengthy. However, once you have everything you need on hand, it will be very easy to assemble the greenhouse.
Important!
The advantage of this method also lies in the fact that the web, obtained by stitching together many plastic sheets, can be used instead of insulating film. However, when they work together, they create incredibly durable protection for your plants.
First of all, of course, you need to cut out the rectangles themselves that will make up your greenhouse. After you prepare a small batch, it can be flattened under the press. Even if you do not have one in your household, you can use any heavy object and press down all the fragments with them at once, leaving them in this state for some time. After the rectangles have been smoothed out, it's time to join them together.
This is most often done by hand, however, if you have the necessary skills, you can also use a sewing machine. However, in this case, you will need a very thick needle and nylon thread for the staple material. Stitching method - overlap.
Let it be possible to fasten rectangular elements with a sewing machine, but if you have a new apparatus, it is highly undesirable to spoil it with such difficult work. It is much better to use one of the hand-stitching methods.
One of the most commonly used tools for this type of work is the furniture stapler. However, it has one significant drawback: the staples do not last forever, and, most likely, they will rust very soon, which will definitely not give your structure longevity.
The stitching method with an awl is also quite widespread. In order for the sting to better pass through the strong plastic, it is necessary to heat it up over a fire. If you pierce two plates at the same time, the plastic melted with an awl will solidify between them, creating additional fastening. After the holes are ready, they are sewn together with an ordinary needle and nylon thread.
Now that the canvas is sewn, you can start building the frame. Do it in exactly the same way as in the previous instructions. The only difference is that when building a greenhouse from plastic logs, it is rather difficult to create a domed greenhouse, the walls of which will gradually narrow, turning into a roof. In the case of a plastic sheet, this is much easier to accomplish. This process becomes especially easy if you use water pipes as a material.
So, the frame is ready. Now you can veneer it. To do this, we need to take the resulting canvas and attach it to the supporting rails of the frame. For this, the already familiar plastic ties and screws are used.If, suddenly, you have surplus linen left, in no case should you throw them away: they can be useful to you in further work or when building other greenhouses.
How people make greenhouses
Perhaps no one will tell you about the construction of a greenhouse from plastic bottles than the one who did it himself and, it should be noted, succeeded quite well in this.
Meet Nikolay Mazhugin - a veteran of the traffic police, a former head of a department, a current pensioner and just a person we have chosen as a good example of patient work of truly golden hands. After retirement, this creative-minded man decided to do housework and made two whole greenhouses from plastic bottles for his site. Nikolai Mazhugin spent fifteen hundred bottles on his first greenhouse.
We interviewed this wonderful person, and he told us about how he prepared for such a project, and how the construction itself went.
“I had to collect those fifteen hundred bottles everywhere: I provided part of it for the construction myself. Some were collected on the streets and even in landfills. Well, I got the third part from the neighbors. I cut off the bottom and neck with a grinder. The result was a cylinder, which I cut in half. Thus, two plastic fragments came out of one container. I smoothed them and then put them in boiling water for a few seconds to give them the desired shape. When enough plates were collected, I sewed them into the canvas using an awl. In the end, I have never regretted the greenhouse: it has been in my garden for several years now, and it is very good to grow tomatoes and cucumbers in it. "
According to our interview, it took Nikolay almost three months to make one such greenhouse. However, as the respondent himself says, he is very pleased with the result, and in one of the greenhouses Nikolai even embroidered with plastic plates the name of his native village, in which the pensioner lived as a child. It was called "Zaliman"
ECO greenhouse from plastic bottles
An excellent example of a completely eco-friendly plastic bottle greenhouse was built in London in 2012. Its distinguishing feature was that it was built entirely from recyclable materials. This was done with the support of the Fern Street Community Garden.
The greenhouse was planned to be very large, and, naturally, its construction would take a lot of time and labor. Fortunately, the local population accepted this idea with great enthusiasm, and for a long time the greenhouse was built with joint efforts by both adults and children. The idea of growing something beautiful and useful next to their homes without harming the environment has inspired and inspired many. In addition, it was a good lesson for the younger generation: not only how to hold a hammer, but also how important it is to care for the environment.
It was planned to build a greenhouse in the form of a hexagonal gazebo with a huge number of plant racks. The planks and beams were provided by a timber processing project, and the bottles were obtained from both local residents and pubs located near the construction site.
As a result, the greenhouse was nevertheless completed, and to this day it stands in its place, serving as a symbol of how local people care about the environment and love nature.
Plus, they set a good example for many gardeners. Comrades, do not be intimidated by handmade work! Yes, building such a greenhouse is a real test, but its cheapness and amazing efficiency will more than pay off all the costs. You are probably convinced of this when you read the article.
However, we will not argue with those who argue that such construction is an extremely boring and monotonous work, because this is pure truth. In addition, this work also takes up a huge amount of time, which could be spent much more efficiently.However, if doing something is boring and for a long time, this does not mean that you do not need to do it. In the end, you can always find a free moment in which there is simply nothing to do. Is it really that hard to cut out a couple of plastic rectangles at this time?
Small tips for working with plastic
Yes, a greenhouse made of plastic bottles really has amazing properties, given its incredible cheapness. However, even considering that by building such a greenhouse, you pay for it with your time, and not at all with money, every minute spent on its construction will pay off tenfold.
But sometimes, even knowing all this, people refuse to build a greenhouse from plastic bottles for one simple reason: it looks unaesthetic. And here it is difficult to argue with them: making any bottle design beautiful is an extremely difficult task that requires good artistic skill. However, even such a nondescript construction as a plastic greenhouse can be made beautiful by resorting to one of three tricks that we want to offer you for your acquaintance. Perhaps they are the ones who will push you to make the right decision.
1) High temperatures are your first friend when working with plastic. As you probably know, this material melts very quickly, which will allow you to manipulate it as you wish. In order to heat the plastic to the required state, an ordinary hair dryer is enough, but the most important thing is not to overdo it. If the plastic is overheated, it will never return to its previous shape.
How can you use this feature of the material? For example, this will greatly help you when working with plastic rectangles, which need to be straightened before starting work. And the easiest way to do this is with the help of heating. And no curved plates will definitely spoil the look of your greenhouse!
2) Heating can also be used for other purposes. The best example is the bonding of plastic plates, fusing them together. Surely, many of you have already encountered this property of plastic when your parents helped you wrap books in plastic wrap. Then, precisely by fusing the seams, the film was given the desired shape. The same principle works here. Two plates are placed on top of each other so that their ends form a seam, and then this place is thoroughly ironed with an iron. As a result, you get an absolutely seamless bonding of the elements, which significantly improves the external qualities of the greenhouse.
3) The third way to diversify and decorate your greenhouse is to combine. We believe it is not a secret for anyone that real artistic masterpieces are created with the help of combination. Moreover, you can combine not only the methods of creating greenhouses, but also the colors of the bottles. You can also use containers with different volumes in order to make accents in the right places. So, if you have enough imagination, your greenhouse can be turned into a Renaissance masterpiece. The main thing is to approach the problem with a positive attitude.
Addition
Before we move on to the reviews of various people who have had experience in creating greenhouses from plastic bottles, I would like to talk about another, more rare, but no less interesting method of building plastic greenhouses.
Surely, if you are a truly enthusiastic and experienced gardener, then you have heard at least once in your life what gabions are. However, for those who don't know, it is worth explaining. Gabions are mesh bases made of metal. They are filled with small stones or gravel. However, what prevents you from filling it with plastic bottles with the same success? Perhaps the only thing that can really interfere is the thickness of the gabion itself. Sometimes it may turn out to be less than the diameter of the bottle, and it simply will not fit into it. Naturally, in this case, you will have to select bottles of exactly the same size, however, believe me, the result is worth the effort.
Reviews of gardeners
Review Spiridonov Andrey, 44 years old
“For two years in a row, I collected plastic bottles wherever I could find them. Of course, as expected, I collected the same: transparent and two-liter. Five or six years ago I built the first greenhouse out of them. Then I used wood as a material for the frame, but in the third year it began to rot. Therefore, I decided to make the second greenhouse from fittings. I built it four years ago, and it still stands. It is necessary, perhaps, a little patching up a few plates, but otherwise I am completely satisfied. "
Review Ivanova Svetlana, 32 years
“Some time ago the question arose about building a greenhouse on the site. My husband and I decided to look at the options on the Internet and came across such greenhouses made of plastic bottles. They say that this is an effective and very convenient thing, but I am concerned that the plastic will constantly heat up in the sun. It is, after all, a toxic substance. Wouldn't bottles poison people and plants? In any case, we have already started collecting the bottles, but doubts still torment me ... "
Review Smirnova Elizabeth, 37 years
“Our greenhouse made of plastic bottles has been in operation for the third season. It, of course, was slightly damaged during this time, so in the spring I will have to do some minor repairs, but otherwise I did not regret the construction in the least bit. We spent money - a penny, and received a lot of benefits. The greenhouse does an excellent job with its tasks. Even better than I expected, to be honest. Of course, it does not look as beautiful as an ordinary film, but, in fact, their durability and strength cannot be compared. Plastic wins without options. "
Conclusion
Of course, the opinion of both experienced gardeners and amateurs on the issue of plastic bottles disagrees. Someone thinks that this is an excellent replacement for traditional materials, while someone looks at plastic with great distrust. In any case, you choose whether to build or not. No one has the right to impose their opinion on you, while we only share facts and help you not to be mistaken by making the right decision. We hope our article helped you, and now you know for sure whether you want to see a greenhouse made of plastic bottles on your site or, after all, not.