A greenhouse is also known as a glasshouse or a hothouse. The size of a greenhouse can vary from a tiny shed to a huge building. A greenhouse traps sunlight and allows heat to build up inside it. This allows flowers, plants and soil to flourish under controlled conditions. It also offers protection against extreme weather like rain, sleet, snow and sun.
The origin of the greenhouse can be traced back to Roman times. It was believed that a Roman emperor named Tiberius used to eat a cucumber-like vegetable everyday. This vegetable did not grow easily so farmers used artificial methods and a rudimentary version of a greenhouse to cultivate it. The modern greenhouse was invented in Italy in the 13th century to store exotic foreign plants, which were brought into the country by explorers and travellers.
These days, several different types of greenhouses are used. A lean-to greenhouse shares one of its walls with a house or another structure, giving rise to its name since it appears to be leaning against another building. A lean-to greenhouse is built when spaces are confined and when budgets are low. An even-span greenhouse is attached to a house or another structure and is one of the costliest types of greenhouse. However, an even-span greenhouse provides maximum space and uniform air circulation.
A window-mounted greenhouse is a smaller, low-cost version of a fully fledged greenhouse. It is usually made by widening a single door or a window of a house and then attaching a small enclosure to it. A window-mounted greenhouse can be a few feet in length. As the name suggests, freestanding greenhouses are constructed away from a house or sheltered by another building. Freestanding greenhouses usually have their own heating system, water and electrical outlets.
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