Best Greenhouse Heater

Greenhouses are great places to grow plants, but they also require heat for your plants to thrive. If you don’t have a greenhouse heater, you may want to consider installing one.

This is because keeping your plants warm in cold temperatures can be difficult to achieve – even with the use of a greenhouse.

There are two main types of greenhouse heaters: electric and gas. Electric heaters work by passing an electrical current through copper coils inside the unit. The coils create heat when the electricity passes through them. This process is known as resistance heating.

Gas heaters work similarly to electric heaters, except instead of using electricity, they use natural gas. Natural gas heats water, which then flows through pipes to warm the air.

Both types of greenhouse heaters provide warmth to the interior of the greenhouse. As long as there is a source of power, either electricity or natural gas, you should be able to keep your greenhouse warm all year round.

What I will say, however, is that gas heaters will produce fumes and smoke when heated up, which can be toxic for the plants you are growing in your greenhouse.

Bearing this in mind, what you most likely want to look out for is an electric heater that is energy efficient, and will suit the size of your greenhouse. If you have a large greenhouse, you are going to require more power from your heater, and vice versa.

I know that finding the right type of heater for you can be extremely difficult – there are so many products available! To help you narrow down your search, we have picked out the best greenhouse heaters currently available on the market.

Carry on reading to ensure your plants stay thriving and beautiful!

Best Greenhouse Heaters

Bio Green Palma Greenhouse Heater

Bio Green is notoriously known for its brilliant heaters, and this product is no exception. You can choose to simply buy the heater, or you can also choose the option that has an extra greenhouse kit (depending on your greenhouse needs).

This heater comes with a digital thermostat, that allows you to check the temperature of your greenhouse, while also giving you the option to make the heater cooler/warmer, depending on what your plants need.

What I will say, however, is that some users have reported that the thermostat (while accurate) can stop working altogether. If this does happen (although it is quite rare), Bio Green has wonderful customer service that will happily answer any queries you may have.

With its stainless steel form, the heater conducts heat very quickly, and it also helps with the huge amount of space that this product can heat up. It is able to heat up to 120 square feet, which is a huge amount – it will definitely keep your greenhouse warm!

As well as this, the spray-proof material prevents the heater from breaking down whenever you keep your plants watered.

PROS

• Heats up to 120 square-feet spaces – This is more than enough for a big greenhouse, so you will be sure that the heater will keep your plants in great condition. 
• Has an accurate, adjustable thermostat – This means that you can quickly change the heating settings to whatever temperature your plants need. It also has an external sensor cable lets you know with accuracy how warm your greenhouse is. 
• Made from stainless steel (including heat elements) – This ensures that the heater mechanism will be durable and that it will conduct heat easily. 
• Lightweight – This makes it easy to move around, which is handy if certain plants need more heat than others at different times of the year. 
• Spray-proof – It won’t be damaged by spraying water when you water your plants, which is incredibly important in a greenhouse. 

CONS

• The lifespan of the thermostat – Some users have found that the thermostat stops working after a while. While this isn’t a common issue, it is something to consider before buying the heater! 

Dr. Heater Infrared Greenhouse Heater

This greenhouse heater from Dr. Heater is an easy-to-use and durable piece of equipment, that is able to keep your plants warm in most (if not all) temperatures.

With its low-maintenance design, you won’t need to worry about browsing instruction manuals for hours trying to find out how to work it.

One thing you will need to bear in mind, however, is that the expert assembly of the heater is an additional cost.

This only includes the assembly of the heater, and it does not include haul-away of excess trash from the product or help with moving of the product after it has been assembled.

After it has been built, the heater has a very impressive heating coverage of 150 square feet, which is an incredibly huge amount! This will suit any size of greenhouse, large or small.

Its secure protection against water damage is especially important for a product that is going to sit in a greenhouse, as there is going to be a huge amount of water flying around to nurture the plants.

PROS

• Protected against splashing water – This is especially significant in a greenhouse, as you are going to be frequently watering your plants. If it was easily broken by water splashes, then it wouldn’t be worth investing in for this purpose! 
• Low maintenance once it is built – It is very simple to use, which means that you won’t need to spend too much time worrying about the mechanism of the heater. 
• Heating coverage – It has huge coverage of 150 square feet, which will be enough heat for most (if not all) household greenhouses! 

CONS

• You have to pay extra to get ‘expert assembly’ – This heater comes with an external assembly service, which you do have to spend more money on. Additional costs can be frustrating, but it may be even more frustrating to build it yourself if you don’t have too much experience with heaters. 

iPower Electric Heater Fan

With its great amount of adjustments, safety features, and power, iPower’s electric heater for greenhouses is a brilliant choice for your plants.

It works by using electricity to power forced air through the heater, encouraging the warmth to disperse throughout your greenhouse at an even rate. This will make sure that every single plant has access to the same amount of heat.

The heater comes with adjustable settings, which means that you will be able to change what type of heat you want in your greenhouse. This includes options for both the fan and the heater on or just the fan on.

This is important if your local environment experiences vast changes in temperature!

One of the most essential features of this product is its overheat protection. This means that if the heater or the greenhouse becomes too warm, it will switch itself off to avoid drying out your plants.

PROS

• Uses forced air to disperse heat – This ensures that the greenhouse’s air will be circulating effectively, allowing for all of your plants to thrive in the warmth! 
• Overheat protection – The heater’s internal control settings mean that the heater will automatically shut off when the greenhouse reaches its optimal temperature. 
• Spray waterproof – This means that the heater won’t be damaged if any water lands on it while you are tending to your plants. 
• Adjustable heat settings – Not only does it have temperature control, but it also has options for how you can change the temperature. These are; fan on and heater on, or fan on and heater off. This makes it useful in all types of weather! 

CONS

• Might need more than one of these heaters – Some users have found that, while this is effective in smaller spaces like a greenhouse, it will not necessarily be enough to keep your plants warm in particularly cold temperatures (like Nebraska). 

Tectake Portable Electric Space Heater

Tectake’s portable heater is a ceramic-based design that has three different heating modes to suit your plants. With the ceramic PTC heating elements, the heater will warm up in only three seconds as ceramic is a brilliant heat conductor.

The three modes you can adjust the heater to are fan mode, low heat, and high heat. With fan mode, it will simply be cool air that will be forced out of the heater.

This could be especially useful in summer when the greenhouse is getting enough heat from the sun, so you could bring the heater into your home to stay cool.

With its overheat protection, you can be sure that this heat will automatically turn itself off when it reaches its maximum temperature. Not only does this keep your plants healthy, but it also dramatically reduces any fire risks.

PROS

• Ceramic PTC heating elements – These will speed up the heating process, allowing the heater to warm up in just three seconds! 
• Three heating modes – With this heater, you will be able to choose whether to put it simply on fan mode, low heat, or high heat. These can be easily changed with thermostat control, helping you to adapt the heater to suit any needs or weather conditions. 
• Portable handle – This makes it much easier to move it around your greenhouse, depending on which plants need more attention. 
• Overheat protection – When the greenhouse reaches a maximum temperature, the heater will automatically switch off to prevent the area from overheating. 

CONS

• None!

Dreo Space Heater

This excellent electric heater from Dreo is one that I would definitely recommend for keeping your plants in good condition. Here’s one that’s a little less expensive than the others on the list and is probably geared toward a smaller greenhouse.

This heater is designed to heat up quickly, so you can achieve the desired temperatures for your plants as soon as possible. As well as this, you can choose how you want to change the temperature in your greenhouse.

The heater comes with a cooling option, low-level heat, and high-level heat. This means that your plants will be able to get the exact type of temperature they need to thrive.

Interestingly, the heater not only has an auto shut-off feature, but a no-tip over feature. This will protect your green house and your plants as a result of accidentally kicking over the heater

PROS

• Detachable and Easy to Clean Filter – Make sure you and your plants enjoy not only a comfortable temperature, but also clean air by easily being able to clean the filter
• Variable heating methods – You can decide what temperature you want to set this heater with adjustments from 41° to 95°. This means that you can adjust the temperature to suit your plant’s exact needs. 
• Safety features – As well as an auto-shut-off feature (which prevents the product from overheating), it also is made out of ABS flame-resistant material, and no tip-over design. 
• Low noise – Many heaters will emit quite a loud hum when they are switched on, which is the electricity whirring away. This heater has a low amount of noise, which makes for a more ambient experience in your greenhouse. 

CONS

• None!

BUYER’S GUIDE

What Size Is Your Greenhouse?

This should be at the top of your list in terms of things to consider when buying a greenhouse heater!

Since the size of the heater will have a direct impact on the amount of heat it will produce, you need to think about how much warmth your plants need. If you own a smaller greenhouse (for home use), then you will only need a smaller heater. This is because you don’t want to overwhelm your plants with too much heat, which can cause them to dehydrate and dry out.

How Cold Is Your Location?

While there are certain things you can do to counteract cold weather in your area on top of greenhouse heaters, like proper insulation, you will still need to think about how the outside temperature will impact your plants.

For example, you may actually need to invest in more than one heater if you live in an especially cold region.

Again, while this also depends on the size of your greenhouse, the outside temperature will seep through and damage your plants if you don’t have a strong enough heater.

What Price Range Are You Looking At?

The price of greenhouse heaters depends on several factors, including size, insulation, and whether you choose to install a backup heating system. For example, a small greenhouse might only need a single heater, while a large greenhouse could require multiple units.

You can expect to pay anywhere from $100-$600 per month for electricity to operate a greenhouse heater. Depending on how much electricity you use, this could add up quickly.

A good option would be to buy a solar greenhouse heater. These heaters harness the sun’s energy to generate heat. Solar greenhouse heaters are often cheaper than other models and are available in both electric and gas versions.

Type Of Heater

Fan-forced heaters are one of the most efficient products you can find to keep your greenhouse warm. This is because they circulate the warm air at an increased rate, making sure that all of your plants are kept at optimal temperatures. These types of heaters work with a steel heating element that encourages the internal fan to spin as the element heats up, spreading the warm air throughout the greenhouse.

The main difference between a ceramic heater and a fan-forced heater is that it uses a ceramic element, rather than a steel one. Interestingly, this can make the heater more efficient, and it requires less electricity to run. However, these ceramic heaters can be more expensive, so this will need to be considered before the purchase!

Finally, you can find infrared heaters on the market. These don’t use any sort of heating element at all, and they don’t need fans to disperse the warm air. Instead, they use something called ‘electromagnetic radiation’, which is energy that transfers from a bulb in the heater.

These bulbs are incredibly efficient and very quick to get the heating process started, but again that can be slightly more pricey than other types of heaters!

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What Is The Ideal Temperature For A Greenhouse?

The ideal temperature of your greenhouse depends on what you are growing inside it!

You will always need to check what your plant needs first and foremost – this can be found in the care instructions that come with the plant, or you can also search on the internet to see what temperature it needs.

However, the general rule of thumb for a greenhouse temperature is between 60 degrees and 90 degrees. The higher temperatures will be especially important if you live in a colder area.

What Is The Best Type Of Heater For A Greenhouse?

In terms of efficiency and the environment, electric heaters are far safer to use than gas heaters for a greenhouse. This is because gas heaters release a variety of toxic gases when they are heated up, as well as a huge amount of smoke.

When these are trapped inside a greenhouse, these fumes will damage your plants as they won’t have access to clean air. On top of this, these fumes are dangerous to the wider environment!