Have you ever wondered, “Why does my mini greenhouse smell weird?” Your greenhouse should smell like plants – earthy and humid. If your greenhouse smell like rotten eggs with traces of ammonia or sulfur, there may be too much water in the soil.
Bacteria thrive best in wet conditions, causing the foul odor in super wet soil. Healthy soil has proper draining that allows plants to breathe. The air won’t pass through if the soil’s drainage is blocked by water.
A normal and healthy soil contains good bacteria, but soil that lacks oxygen grows bacteria that can cause odor and diseases.
Why Does My Plant Smell Bad?
A rotten smell may indicate that there’s something wrong with your plants, even if they look completely healthy. Once you know what’s causing the smell, it’s easier for you to remedy the problem and prevent it from coming back.
Common causes of rotten smell
As we’ve already established, overwatering may be the culprit of the rotten smell coming from your greenhouse. The water pooling in your potted plants is the perfect environment for the odor-smelling bacteria.
Too much moisture can cause root rot and eventually killing your plant. To properly detect this problem, you can remove the plant from the pot. If the water at the bottom is murky and stinky, it means that you are overwatering the plants.
Getting rid of the bad odor
The first step to getting rid of the rotting smell is to transplant the affected plant in fresh, well-drained soil. Early detection is important to keep the bad-smelling plants from dying. The new soil should be composed of perlite, peat moss, pine bark, or vermiculite.
The drip plate collects the murky water from the plant, so make sure to wash it thoroughly with soap and water. If you don’t clean the plate, your plants will continue to smell, and mold and mildew may develop.
Avoiding bad odor
To prevent your plants from smelling, avoid overwatering your plants. Water the top until the soil is moist and stop once the water is dripping below the pot. Make sure your pots have drainage holes to allow excess water to drain out the pot. This prevents the water from becoming stagnant and stinky.
How Should You Properly Care for Your Mini Greenhouse?
Aside from your plants, your greenhouse needs some TLC as well. Clean you’re the inside of your greenhouse from top to bottom with warm soapy water after every growing season. In this way, you’ll get rid of and prevent the growth of fungal spores, pests, and bacteria. Additionally, try to clean the pots as well and till the soil to oxygenate it and top it off with new compost.
With these hygiene tips, you’ll be able to enjoy the benefits of your greenhouse for years to come.
Are Mini Greenhouses a Great Investment?
A mini greenhouse is a great investment for gardeners. Whether you’re new to gardening or you’ve been doing it for years, here are some of the reasons why you should consider getting a mini greenhouse:
Prevent harmful insects from destroying your plants
Aphids, cutworms, caterpillars, flea beetles, and more love to munch on your leaves and crops, destroying months of hard work. Placing your plants in a mini greenhouse keeps them safe from pesky insects.
Mini greenhouses are perfect for gardeners with limited space
If you’re into gardening, but you don’t have enough outdoor space, a mini greenhouse is a great option for you. Mini greenhouses vary in sizes, but the most common ones are 6×8 ft.
You can place it in your balcony, patio, indoors, or even on your tabletop. Even though it’s small, a mini-greenhouse provides the same benefits as a regular-sized greenhouse.
Ideal for beginners
If you’re new to greenhouse gardening and you want to learn how it works, it’s best to start with a mini greenhouse. Start small and familiarize the ideal growing conditions of the plants you want to grow. Once you’ve learned the ropes, you can expand to a larger greenhouse.
Extend your planting season
With a mini greenhouse, you can start planting seeds even before the cold season begins. As the weather gets warmer, you can transplant your plants into your garden. You’ll be able to extend your growing season and harvest more than usual.
Protect tender plants from bad weather
Mini greenhouses are useful for more tender plants. Placing them in an enclosed space protects your plants from frost, heavy rain, and strong winds. They will stay safe and healthy inside the mini structure until the spring season. Once the danger of frost has passed, you can transplant them again into your garden.
Create an ideal climate for your plants
Most greenhouses are customizable. You’ll be able to create an ideal climate for your plants regardless of the weather outside. This means that it’s possible to plant warm-season crops during the winter season and vice versa.
The Bottom Line: Why Does My Mini Greenhouse Smell Weird?
So, why does your mini greenhouse smell weird? Overwatering is one of the main reasons for the foul odor in your greenhouse. Pay attention to how much you’re watering your plants. Make sure that your soil is well oxygenated and that your pot should have enough holes for proper drainage.