Patio Grow House

Comments about Patio Grow House:

I'm starting my seeds this year.
I rotate and plant using the trays.
I've wanted this for 3 years, and I'm really happy with it!!

Comments about Patio Grow House:

I was very disappointed in this from the beginning. It is way too flimsy and lightweight to use outdoors as a greenhouse. It would need to be anchored down somehow and probably would not last long in the elements. I ended up using mine on my porch for storage. The wood is very lightweight and flimsy ... think balsa wood. When we moved it temporarily to restain our deck the sides bowed in under light pressure. The wood is so fragile, that the knobs for the doors came off after a few uses. This is definitely NOT worth the money!!!

Comments about Patio Grow House:

Love my "mini greenhouse." Perfect for bringing sick plants back to life or storing your trays of plants until the danger of frost has past. Not sure if this complaint is specific to my shipment, but the doors do not fully come together at the bottom (hatches at the top) so they stick out an inch or so. Also, on one of the panels we had to "work" the plexiglass(?) back into the wooden frame grove since it was dislodged. I did not notify the company since I was able to fix, and I put a rock at the bottom of the doors to hold together.

Comments about Patio Grow House:

I bought this grow rack with the intention of using it to harden some of my sprouted seedlings that had outgrown their grow-light shelving inside my home. I'm delighted with how lightweight and portable it is--I can move it single-handedly, although it is bulky and fragile so a second pair of hands is useful. The wood isn't treated as stated in the ad--it's raw Chinese pine, and it was quite thirsty for the 4 coats of varnish it finally took before I was satisfied with it (the varnish also helps stabilize the shelving). I'd definitely recommend caulking around the panes, for added warmth & stability. Finally, you'll need to glue the doorknobs on, because the wood screws the kit comes with are not long enough to sufficiently bite into the knobs. Perhaps the only other modification I might make would be to tack a wooden slat between the doorknobs onto one door to prevent chilly breezes from invading my seedling house.

When you decide where to put the grow rack, keep in mind the following: it's lightweight and high cross-sectional area, so you definitely want to anchor it down with heavy bricks, stakes, whatever (I chose bricks on the bottom shelf plus a placement next to a shielded wall of my home). The frame is quite fragile, so make sure that you've placed it on a perfectly level surface (yes, get out a plumb bob or a level for this) or the doors may not open and close cleanly.

With a little common sense, this is a perfectly nice addition to my garden, and has allowed me to attempt this year some less hardy plants that simply can't be grown in my zone without a little greenhouse help.

Comments about Patio Grow House:

Plastic panels are flimsy and break easily.
Doors aren't aligned and warp easily. Don't close properly. Door "knobs" strip easily.
Blows over in the wind (then it's ruined). No way to anchor it.
Really light weight wood/materials used. Is not worth the cost.

Comments about Patio Grow House:

It would have been easy to assemble if the directions had been a little more clear. It's a much better design and more attractive than the plastic and wire greenhouses one usually encounters at this size. Unfortunately, the wood is thin and splintery, and easily split.

Comments about Patio Grow House:

The directions for assembly weren't very clear. It is good quality and durable though

Comments about Patio Grow House:

A good size for a small yard; lightweight, so I put bricks on the bottom rack to keep it from blowing over. Made of fragrant wood, smells good. Attached a simple garden latch to keep the front doors closed. The hinged roof is a good feature for ventilation.

Comments about Patio Grow House:

Although I like the fact that I don't have to take it down at the end of summer, I am very disapointed in this product. It has been on my patio in a very sheltered area and has blown over three times and one of the top wings has blown off. I have had to put a base on the bottom and went ahead and screwed down the one side, I only need one side to vent. Added a hook & eye to the bottom to keep it closed. Maybe now I will love it! Will be coating it with poly this summer, since I don't trust that the wood will hold up.

Comments about Patio Grow House:

The mini-greenhouse has really served me well this spring, as I don't have space indoors for seedlings. My main complaint is that the construction is flimsy. The doors are warped, and will need a second closure tab at the bottom. The roof panels that open are also a bit flimsy. The size is nice (although I could have used two, once I got going). The directions for putting it together could use a lot of clarification, though, for an only modertely experienced person. I had to take things apart and re-do them in a few instances. It's a nice little unit - just could have bee better quality.