Whilst the majority of gardeners will choose a traditional style of greenhouse, there are many others on the market that provide either a more decorative style, specific growing conditions for certain plants or perhaps just good value for money.

Polygonal

Many-sided greenhouses (usually hexagonal or octagonal) are often chosen where appearance, rather than practicality is the major consideration. They tend to be much more expensive than other greenhouses of the same size, and buying equipment and replacement parts is often difficult due to their non-standard shape. There is also less growing space in a polygonal greenhouses in comparison to a traditional one.

Alpine House

Alpine houses are shaped in the same way as a traditional span greenhouse and are designed to keep alpines and other rock plants protected from the damp of winter. The plants require a good flow of air over them, so these houses are usually equipped with louvre vents extending all along the sides. As the alpines do not typically need protection from the cold (only the damp), alpine houses are not heated, making them unsuitable for tender plants.

Domes

A dome shaped design is usually the best choice if you need to site a greenhouse in an exposed position, as it offers less wind resistance than traditional greenhouses. Its multi-angled glass panes also provide excellent light transmission. However, the dome shape means that there is a limited amount of headroom around the edge and plants may be difficult to reach.

Mini Greenhouse

The mini greenhouse looks somewhat like a glass display cabinet built against a wall. Its small size and low cost makes it ideal for the novice greenhouse gardener. The downside is that its limited space means that only a small number of plants may be grown and all work must be done from the outside. To capture the maximum amount of light, they should be positioned so that they face south-east or south-west.