Maintaining Your Aluminium Greenhouse: A Complete Guide
Regular care is essential if your aluminium greenhouse is to serve you well for years, or even decades. This guide covers everything from routine cleaning to replacing glazing clips, helping you keep the structure in excellent condition and ready for healthy planting throughout the year.
Regular Cleaning Routines
Cleaning your greenhouse inside and out improves its appearance and creates better growing conditions for plants. Removing dirt, washing the glazing, and clearing algae and moss helps plants receive as much light as possible while reducing the risk of pests and disease. In Malta, regular cleaning is especially useful after dusty or humid weather.
Top tip: Temporarily move plants out before you start cleaning, so that every area is easy to reach.
Remove Dirt and Debris
Start by sweeping greenhouse benches, removing cobwebs from corners and clearing debris from the floor. If your greenhouse has paving or a cement floor, a Cleansweep brush head with firm nylon bristles can clean it thoroughly. Use it dry or with a Spiral Flow hose for straightforward washing with water. Also keep the greenhouse gutters clear, particularly if you channel water into a water butt.
Clean the Frame and Glazing
Wash both the frame and glazing with hot soapy water or a greenhouse disinfectant. This protects the structure and helps maximum light reach your plants. Take particular care to remove algae or moss growing where glass panes overlap, as these areas can trap moisture and reduce light.
Disinfect Tools and Surfaces
Wipe down the surfaces of all benches and shelves. Wash and disinfect empty seed trays, pots and other containers. Soak water or capillary mats to remove algae or moss, then use perforated polyethylene over the mats to make future cleaning easier and keep the growing area tidier.
Routine Maintenance Checks
Regular maintenance and timely repairs keep your greenhouse an effective growing space and can help extend its working life.
Repair or Replace Damaged Glazing
Horticultural glass can crack or break over time. A small crack may be repaired temporarily with all-weather tape, but a completely broken pane should be replaced promptly to prevent further damage. Replace it with matching glass or with a polycarbonate panel, depending on your greenhouse and requirements.
Replace Missing Glazing Clips
Replace any damaged or missing glazing clip so the panes remain securely in place. This matters particularly during windy or unsettled weather, when pressure on the glazing can increase. Spending a few euros on replacement clips is far more economical than having to replace a damaged glass pane later.
Check Greenhouse Doors
Sliding doors on most greenhouses, including all Elite greenhouses, run on wheels for smooth opening and closing. Check regularly that the wheels move freely and replace them when needed. Make sure the tracks are firmly fixed too, as secure tracks help the door operate reliably.
Check Roof Vents
Make sure roof vents are fitted correctly and are not obstructed. If your vents have automatic openers, check that they operate properly and replace the cylinders when necessary. Roof vents are vital for better air circulation and should be used year-round to limit humid conditions, overheating and plant disease.
Seasonal Maintenance Tips
Ideally, carry out a thorough cleaning and maintenance check twice a year: before the main cooler-season growing period and again when the greenhouse is less crowded. In Malta, use the second check to prepare ventilation and shading for the hot, dry summer. This routine keeps the structure in good condition and ready for any insulation needed in cooler weather.
Follow these maintenance tips to enjoy a clean, efficient aluminium greenhouse that supports healthy plant growth throughout the year. If you have questions or need further advice, contact Bloomcabin today.
