Commercial greenhouses are a great way to combine your love for gardening with a profitable career. Deciding to start a commercial greenhouse business is a big decision.

If you’re willing and able to do the labor yourself you can shave a considerable amount off the costs of building commercial greenhouses. Best of all, as a business investment, a significant portion of the costs of building and maintaining your commercial greenhouses is tax deductible.

If you want to start small in your new venture, you might consider starting out with a limited line of products. Rather than trying to grow a little of everything, specialize in a few types of plants. For example, you could specialize in flowers. Or, if you want an even more narrow focus, you could build a commercial greenhouse which focuses on water gardens, butterfly gardens, or any number of other novelty garden concepts.

Ideally, you should tailor your commercial green houses to the type of gardening you most enjoy. Not only will running your own business be more fun that way, but chances are you already have a network of friends who share your gardening interests. If you do, they make the ideal first customers. Of course, as your enterprise grows, you will most likely want to add plants and other products which are the most in demand in your area.

Running a commercial greenhouse takes little more than a love of gardening and a willingness to work. Much of what you need to know, you already know by virtue of the gardening you’ve already done. Of course, there are some things you will need to educate yourself about, but you will have no problem finding all the information you need about running a successful commercial green house between the Internet, gardening magazines and your local library.

Obtaining Your Commercial Greenhouse

When it comes to starting a commercial greenhouse, you have two options: 1. purchase an existing commercial greenhouse, or 2. build your own commercial greenhouse. Your local real estate agent can help you locate existing commercial greenhouses on the market for purchase in your area.

If you’ve got your heart set on creating your own, uniquely personalized commercial greenhouse, you’ll need a commercial greenhouse kit and a chunk of land to build it on. Many commercial greenhouse growers opt to build their commercial greenhouses near their home, and haul plants and crops to local businesses for sale. If you live in a high-traffic area, you might consider creating a store area for your greenhouse and selling your own wares.

Getting Started with Your Commercial Greenhouse

Once you’ve obtained your commercial greenhouse, you’ll need to decide what type of gardening you will engage in. Will you grow fruits and veggies for local vendors over the winter months, coax spring flowers and seedlings to life for starter gardens, specialize in tropical orchids, water gardens, or herbs, or your own brilliant combination of gardening trends?

By far, one of your best gardening tools when it comes to commercial greenhouses is marketing. Getting the word out about your new commercial greenhouse will help bring in customers and build a solid reputation and customer base. Of course, growing spectacular crops at reasonable prices is one of the best ways to market your new greenhouse, but you’ll also need a little help with local advertising and word-of-mouth referrals.

Starting your own commercial greenhouse business is never easy, but if you have a passion for gardening, the results are some of the most rewarding you’ll experience in a lifetime.

Expert Tips

No matter if you are considering opening a commercial greenhouse, selling a few plants from your front yard, or simply want to grow better plants, knowing a few inside secrets of commercial greenhouses is an appealing idea. These tips from the commercial greenhouse experts can help your plants and your business flourish.

• Best Selling Plants: annuals, herbs, and foliage plants. 6 pots sell best, and carefully pruning off discolored leaves and over-ripe blooms encourages customers to purchase more plants. Marigolds and geraniums are good sellers as well. Ferns are terrific sellers and nearly every commercial greenhouse includes these green favorites. Include a few hydroponic vegetables, such as tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers, in your selection of plants.
• Displays: If you are selling your plants to consumers, include a display of basic gardening supplies and seeds to help boost sales. A selection of gardening books and magazines is also a great way to increase your profits.
• Nursery Log: Include important growing information for each type of plant for easy cross reference on peak times and suggested plant care.
• Fragrance and Colors: Place fragrant plants near the entryway of the greenhouse to entice customers into the structure. Mix colorful plants in with greens to provide a visually appealing selection.
• Ventilation: Fresh, moving air is essential to healthy plant growth, especially in winter months. Use a thermostat controlled heater to maintain temperatures of between 70-75° while ventilation flaps are open.
• Standing Water: Take care of any standing water inside your greenhouse to prevent excessive humidity. Some commercial greenhouses will dig a ditch along the sides of the greenhouse wall to aid proper drainage and avoid standing puddles of water.
• Cooling Pads: keep the humidity down and the soil moist. Keep in mind that using a cooling fan will decrease the overall temperature of the greenhouse by 10° for each fan used.