Pity bump......... :) Went with bubble insulation........

Thanks greenthumbs2! I've researched this issue & based my decision on the facts you've mentioned...... Some of the more high tech (& expensive) insulation only allows the roof & the north end to be covered due to it's light transmission........ I plan to use double sided tape & velcro strips to attach the bubble insulation..... Seems a bit ify, but I'm trying to make my GH more efficient during at least part of our Kansas winters..... I'm also searching for a heater to replace my current ineffective 1500w/110v heater....... I'm open to suggestions!

gltrap54(5b) I use an inexpensive heater from WalMart and a thermostat I ordered online. It keeps the temp even as a separate cheap fan from one of the Dollar stores comes on when the heater does. It keeps the temp' the same from roof to floor.

gltrap54(5b) I also have lifters for the roof vents someone gave me. Used but still work fine.

Just finished re-caulking & installing the bubble wrap............ Bought a (3K watt/240V) heater that's going to require a new designated circuit..... Electrician's bill will probably double the cost of my project......

The discussions here were very helpful in outfitting the HFGH I got in 2005.

When installing the panels, we added foam insulation tape.

For winter I wrap the entire GH in clear solar pool cover. It was about $100, but has lasted all these years. There was some pool cover left over, which I cut into three wide strips and hang, overlapping, just inside the GH door. Very effective.

1" think foam board insulation is on the north wall; for winter, I add foil-faced bubble wrap (like Reflectix) on the lower 2' of the north roof and the north 1/3 of the side walls.

During the first winter I discovered a cold draft all around the base where it sits on the ground. Retrofitted with more Reflectix-like material that runs under the gravel floor and up the 2x10 wooden base. At the same time, I installed a similar barrier of hardware cloth to deter rodents.

Empty spaces are filled with water-filled 1-gallon jugs to help retain heat.

Favorite heater was an inexpensive convection heater from one of the big box stores, attached to a thermostat for better control. That finally gave out, and the current oil-filled heater is OK, but takes longer to respond to temperature changes.

A fan is essential, 24/7, to ensure good air circulation for plant health.

Wow NJ no less! Do you use your GH all winter? What temp do you keep it?

Yes, we do heat it through winter, with the thermostat set at 50 degrees F. Because I have a citrus (Meyer Improved Lemon) that appreciates warmer roots, after Christmas I wrap the pot in exterior grade holiday lights.

The greenhouse is a great winter refuge; I always make sure to leave room for a chair. First year we had the greenhouse, my husband, who is not into gardening, went missing. I couldn't find him anywhere in the house, his car and the dog were here, so he wasn't out running an errand or walking the dog. I finally found him ... in the greenhouse with a book and a cup of coffee.

It can get quite warm on a sunny day, even when it's really frigid outside, so I've learned to layer a tank or t-shirt under my warmer shirt when going out there for any length of time.

Very cool! I'm very anxious to see how winterizing (ie, bubble wrap, caulking, & 3K watt heater) will improve my HFGH! After paying an electrician to wire the new heater ($250), I've sunk another $500 in my GH...... Wife isn't impressed, but then again she's not a gardener! LOL

Perhaps mid-winter, if she steps into that space filled with the sights and smells of green, growing, even blossoming, things. Especially if there's a place to sit and a cup of something warm handy.

3K watts sounds like a lot. My 750/1500W dual-mode convection heater was sufficient, but I have to remember you are two zones colder than I am here in coastal NJ. In the depths of winter, night temps can fall into the teens and occasionally single digits, but usually not for any sustained periods.