If the cost of enclosing your greenhouse in fiberglass walls is an issue for you, you’re probably wondering how to install greenhouse plastic film. Plastic is one of the best alternative materials that will help you create and maintain the right growth environment for your plants.
In this article, we’ll explore some of the ways you can attach a plastic into your greenhouse. The most commonly used plastic is Polyethylene or poly for short. It’s an opaque film that many people use in covering their greenhouses.
This helps you protect the plants from the extreme changes in the temperature while ensuring that the plants still receive enough sunlight. However, it’s important to note that installing your greenhouse plastic film requires careful planning. Otherwise, you’ll end up compromising the integrity of the film due to improper placement.
How Do You Attach a Greenhouse Plastic Film?
The process of installing a plastic film on your greenhouse is straightforward. Here’s how it’s done.
Work in Sections
Before installing the film, be sure to divide the greenhouse into sections first. Sectioning the area that you’ll be working on will make the plastic installation for your greenhouse easier, especially if your greenhouse is high, and you’re using a piece of scaffolding equipment.
By doing that, you won’t have to move your ladder always when you’re moving from one place to another. Also, be sure to secure the film properly on the first try. This way, you won’t have to keep coming back to reattach the film on the metal poles again.
Do it right once, and you’ll save time in the process. When you’re done, cut off any remaining film to create a smooth finish.
Wiggle Wire and Lock Channel Method
One of the quickest ways to install the plastic film in your greenhouse is by using the wiggle and wire lock channel. It’s an inexpensive method that will provide a long-lasting hold to your greenhouse plastic film. It creates a continuous connection throughout the greenhouse structure, which makes it more durable compared to staples or screws.
If you live in a region where storms and strong winds are expected, then the wiggle wire and lock channel method of installing your plastic film is a good investment.
To start, you’ll have to secure the lock channels in the metal frame of your greenhouse. If you predrill the holes or use a self-tapping screw, installing the channels will be much easier.
Once you’re done installing the lock channel, you can drape the plastic over your greenhouse and wiggle the wire up and down to secure the plastic film. Once it’s successfully installed, the plastic will be nearly impossible to pull out.
Staples and Screws
The staples and screws method is the cheapest way to anchor your plastic film over your greenhouse. However, it’s less secure than the wiggle wire and lock channel. With staples and screws, you’ll create small holes over the plastic sheet.
You’ll also need to spend a lot of time stretching the plastic to make sure that it stays tight. If you need to adjust or stretch the plastic more, you’ll need to patch the holes again.
When installing your plastic film over your greenhouse, you have to make sure that all your PVC pipes are smooth and painted. This will help prevent abrasion and premature deterioration of your polyethylene plastic film. Roll the plastic on the roof of the greenhouse.
The base should touch the ground to allow maximum adjustment if needed. Adjust the plastic so it will create a tight seal on the roof and sides of your greenhouse.
Secure the plastic film at the base using staples and screws. Allow at least 1 to 2 feet of space in between staples and screws.
How Tight Should the Greenhouse Plastic Be?
The polyethylene film on your greenhouse should be tight enough to eliminate the wrinkles, but not too tight to cause a strain in the plastic. The main reason is that the plastic film can contract during the cold season.
When it’s stretched out too much, it won’t leave enough room for the film to contract when the temperature drops. This will result in tears in your plastic film.
Can I Use Regular Plastic for My Greenhouse?
You can’t just use any type of plastic for your greenhouse. Regular plastics are prone to easy tearing. One cut could quickly turn into a huge hole. Besides, the ends of a regular plastic can also fray.
Greenhouse plastic, on the other hand, is designed to withstand extreme weather conditions. If you live in an area where storms frequently hit, it’s better to invest in a high-quality plastic film. While Polyethylene is usually the most common plastic film of choice for many, there are also other types of plastics, like polycarbonate and polyvinyl carbonate, that would work just as well.
Learn How to Install Greenhouse Plastic Film Easily
Though fiberglass panels offer maximum benefits for your greenhouse, this option can be costly. For that reason, people opt for plastic films for their greenhouses, instead. Aside from the fact that it’s cheaper than fiberglass, it’s also very effective.
No matter what type of plastic film you choose, just be sure that it can withstand harsh weather conditions and that it’s installed properly to avoid having to replace your plastics frequently. Now that you know how to install a greenhouse plastic film, you can make sure that the environment inside your greenhouse will remain stable and stress-free for your plants.