Listen to This Before You Buy a Greenhouse!

Have you fallen down the greenhouse rabbit hole yet, plant friends? If you've had plants for more than a year, you're probably like me, who's started Googling "how to put a greenhouse in my backyard" already. And I learned that a greenhouse isn't a big plant shelf but a structure, and it's probably the largest single purchase you'll make as a plant parent. I'm in Zone 10b in Florida and I still haven't built mine. So I asked Leslie Halleck, a favorite podcast guest, a long-time friend, and someone who has a master's in greenhouse production and a new book called Home Greenhouse Revival, what to figure out first. And I think she also holds the guest record for most appearances on the show! Let's dive in!

In this episode, we learn:[02:06] Meet Leslie Halleck[02:33] Moving her whole life and business from Texas to Oregon[03:29] Why the Pacific Northwest is a ‘horticultural mecca’ for gardeners[04:42] Lelie’s new 6-acre property (what she calls folia forest farm)[06:49] What does her "pocket farming" look like?[09:03] Why are greenhouses trending?[12:51] What is the biggest greenhouse mistake?[14:13] Why cooling a greenhouse is so much harder than heating one[15:29] Manukora Honey[17:47] Hoop house vs. glass house[18:47] What are the elements that make up a greenhouse?[21:21] Greenhouse framing materials and glazing![22:43] Is there a beginner-friendly greenhouse?[25:04] What Leslie thinks about thrifted/DIY vintage window greenhouses[27:41] How to pick the right greenhouse size?[29:48] Greenhouses as the expensive part of a cheap hobby[30:33] Using multiple greenhouses to zone temperature and humidity[32:47] What about a half-empty greenhouse?[33:26] What is AOI (angle of incidence)? How roof pitch and sun angle affect how much light gets in[35:49] Inside the plant profiles (PPFD, DLI, photoperiod, fertilizer PPM, and VPD)[39:21] How does pest management in a greenhouse work?[43:33] Leslie's dream greenhouse for her new property (and why she's leaning Venlo)[48:23] How greenhouse pricing and options have changed and where to find good manufacturers[50:26] Why you want someone local who knows your climate and orientation[51:29] Starting small without setting yourself up to fail (and reviving a greenhouse that already flopped)[54:10] Where to find Leslie, the book, her gardener's round tables, and her UCLA courses!

Mentioned in our conversation:By Leslie Halleck:Home Greenhouse RevivalPlant ParentingGardening Under LightsThe Gardener's RoundtableEpisodes:331