Best Polycarbonate Greenhouses! Information and Kit Reviews

Polycarbonate Greenhouses enable gardeners to start the growing season early and to extend it past normal times, into the early winter. There is nothing quite like growing your own vegetables, especially when so many health concerns are rising up from pesticides and fertilizers. Having your own greenhouse allows you to get active, to manage your plants in a controlled environment, and to potentially even save some money in the long run as you will have to make fewer trips to the supermarket.

Best Polycarbonate Greenhouse

Out of the five Polycarbonate Greenhouses we researched and reviewed, we found the Climapod Virtue Complete Kit is formidable greenhouse which can fit almost any need. Coming in at a whopping 9’ x 14’ size, it comes packed with automatic window openers, solar fans, and a louver. Like most of the greenhouses featured, the assembly can be difficult, but once finished (along with a decent base like timber or concrete), this greenhouse should last a while - and is backed by their 10-year warranty. It comes complete with full length shelves on either side, so you won’t need to go out and spend more to get it up and running. Overall this may be the best value, though it is still quite expensive, and out of the reach of many hobby gardeners. For a complete review of the Climapod Polycarbonate Greenhouse, see below.

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If you’re not looking to spend thousands on a new greenhouse, the Palram Nature Series Hybrid Greenhouse is small enough to fit in any yard while retaining the characteristics of other successful greenhouses (such as polycarbonate panels and a lockable door) without breaking the budget. At 6’ x 4’ x 7’, it could just as well fit on some decks, or squeeze in anywhere in the yard. With that said, smaller greenhouses like this one are typically more prone difficulties with severe weather conditions. Be sure to take proper care of this as you would with a larger, more expensive greenhouse by way of attaching a proper foundation, and taking care where you place it. For a complete review of the Palram Nature Series, see below.

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Polycarbonate Greenhouse Kit Reviews

In this section, we will look at five hobby greenhouse kits, all with polycarbonate walls, from a variety of price points. We compare and contrast, and determine our favorites. If the polycarbonate styles are all too pricey for your needs, be sure to consider a significantly cheaper portable greenhouse as well! As a supplement, you may want to look at mini greenhouses, and what they can do. After you have your greenhouse all set up, you’ll want to install a drip irrigation system. These designs make watering your greenhouse plants so simple!

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Climapod 9x14 6-MM Twin-wall Polycarbonate Greenhouse, ClimaPod Virtue Complete kit

The Climapod 9x14 twin wall polycarbonate greenhouse kit, with its 6-mm walls, is an outstanding, top of the line greenhouse that is sure to please the hobbyist who is looking for the best. With a huge footprint and high quality, feature-filled build-out, the Climapod is an excellent choice for those looking for quality.

Key Points at a Glance

• 6mm polycarbonate panels
• 2-tier shelf system, 4 automatic window openers, 2 solar fans, 1 louver
• Sliding doors & magnetic locker
• 10-year warranty

Dimensions and Specs

8’9” x 14’2” x 7’11”

124 square feet

6mm polycarbonate panels

5” base

Item weight280 pounds

Shipping weight310 pounds

This twin-walled polycarbonate greenhouse is loaded with accessories, while also being quite sturdy. This is the experience of this greenhouse: As you prepare to enter, there is a sliding door with a magnetic locker. Once inside, there are two-tier shelves that run the full length of the greenhouse. Looking up, you’ll notice two solar fans and one louver, allowing for greater ventilation. And there is so much space for plants, and workspace as well! These extra features are maintained by the overall durability of the greenhouse; coming in at 280 pounds with 6” polycarbonate walls and a 5” base, allowing it to withstand heavier weather than some of the other greenhouses we will cover next. As with any greenhouse, it is important to take care of this unit during inclement weather, especially snow. Climapod touts that this greenhouse should be able to withstand up to a foot of snow, which can be useful during those cold winter months. It cannot be stressed enough that this is an extremely sturdy greenhouse - once assembled. That said, it’s always a good idea to clean off excess snow with a roof rake. The assembly is really the only downside to the product, and many will find the ground preparation and assembly too much for them and may want to investigate hiring outside help to build it. If in doubt, it may be worth hiring a professional to help out and factoring that into the overall cost.

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Palram Snap & Grow 6’ Series Hobby Greenhouse - 6 x 8 x 7 Silver

The Palram Snap & Grow Series is a simple, stylish hobby greenhouse that looks great, functions fairly well, and hits a nice price point. It is significantly smaller than the Climapod but is similarly structured, with polycarbonate panels, though only one layer per wall. Unfortunately, not many accessories like shelves are included, so be sure to pick up accessories when purchasing. But once you get this one set up, you’ll be working on the patio plantings in no time!

Key Points at a Glance

• Polycarbonate roof and wall panels
• Adjustable roof vent and rain gutters
• Double dutch door
• Galvanized steel base
• Rust-resistant aluminum frame
• 5 year limited warranty

Dimensions and Specs

100.8 x 75.6 x 82.5 inches

118.8 pounds

53 square feet of growing space

6’8” of headroom

Compared to the Climapod Greenhouse we just reviewed, the Palram Snap & Grow greenhouse touts just a single layer of polycarbonate walls and roof. It also boasts fewer features and is definitely a lower quality build-out. It has integrated rain gutters, which could potentially be used to collect rainwater for your own irrigation system. The two-piece door allows the user to reach different ventilation standards in calmer weather, along with the adjustable roof vent. It is best described as a midsize greenhouse, although on the smaller side. It is quite a bit smaller than the Climapod, and roughly similar to some we will review next. As with the Climapod, the assembly for this may be difficult… if not more so. With this greenhouse, it’s important to consider additional base support for more inclement weather, such as custom straps.

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Rion Grand Gardener 2 Clear Greenhouse, 8’ x 12’

The Rion Grand Gardener Clear Greenhouse is a fairly sizable greenhouse with an interesting gambrel roof line. It looks great and definitely has some excellent options. Available in four different size configurations, along with single and double layer polycarbonate walls, the Grand Gardener has an offering for most everyone!

Key Points at a Glance

• 4mm twin-wall polycarbonate roof panels
• Clear side panels
• Resin frame
• Barn style roof design
• Roof vent
• Optional base kit
• No explicit warranty; manufacturer’s warranty can be obtained by contacting Rion

Dimensions

153.1 x 105.1 x 93.5 inches

Item weight 297 pounds

Similar to Palram, this greenhouse comes with clear polycarbonate panels, as opposed to the cloudy panels from Climapod. There are four size configurations, and the 8’ x 12’ we are looking at today is slightly larger than Palram, but a tad smaller than Climapod. It still fits in the mid-size category. Like the two previous greenhouses we reviewed, the assembly can definitely take some time. Users have reported an assembly time varying between a day up to 20 hours. There may be close to 1,000 pieces that arrive shipped, mostly varying pieces that help hold together the greenhouse - which can be no small task! Some potential troubles may be in the form of the door (difficult to secure the second french door if you only want to use one), and a difficult to install cabling system overhead. You may want to hire professional help to build this greenhouse; it’s not Ikea! Despite these potential downfalls, the charcoal-colored barn-house style frame, and see-through polycarbonate walls are what set this apart aesthetically. There should be plenty of headroom and space in this greenhouse due to its clever roofline, and plenty of room to place your potting bench inside!

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Palram Nature Series Hybrid Hobby Greenhouse - 6’ x 4’ x 7’, Silver

The Palram Nature Series is a hugestep down in price, though it is a much smaller scale greenhouse and definitely fits into what most people would consider a “hobbyist” price range. This greenhouse looks great and functions pretty well.

Key Points at a Glance

• 4 mm twin polycarbonate roof panels
• 90% light transmission
• Rust-resistant aluminum frame
• Adjustable roof vent, rain gutters, lockable door
• Galvanized steel base
• 5 year limited warranty

Dimensions

51.1 x 72.8 x 82.2 inches

Item weight69.5 pounds

The Palram Nature Series begins our review of two smaller greenhouses which can be more accommodating for beginners, or those with less space. Coming in at just a 6’ x 4’, it manages to pack in a few of the features the larger greenhouses have in a small footprint. The Nature Series has an adjustable roof vent, rust-resistant aluminum frame, magnetic door, and stainless steel base; all of which seem to be mostly standard for higher quality greenhouses. The crystal clear polycarbonate panels allow for plenty of sun to enter with 90% light transmission, though these panels are only 4mm thick, and are a step down in quality from the higher end greenhouses. This greenhouse does not come with shelves or cables so it is important to consider buying them separately as they can be a staple in many greenhouses. Compared to the first 3 greenhouses we reviewed, the size of this greenhouse should make for easier assembly. Once assembled, it can be moved to the desired location with as little as two people, something that cannot be done with some of the larger structures. It is dubbed ‘hybrid’ since the roof is twin walled polycarbonate while the siding is a single layer.

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Outsunny 6’L x 6’W x 7’H Polycarbonate Portable Walk-In Garden Greenhouse

Outsunny is a general outdoor goods brand and does not focus solely on greenhouses. While they have a reasonable product here, we generally would suggest buyers stick with established brands that focus on greenhouses exclusively. However, it’s hard to argue with the price point here, so we have included it on our list for those interested in a greenhouse of this scale, at a bargain price.

Key Points at a Glance

• Powder coated aluminum alloy frame
• UV resistant polycarbonate
• Single sliding door
• Rooftop vent
• Rain gutters

Dimensions and Specs

Overall dimensions87.25 x 74.25 x 74.25 inches

Roof vent dimensions23.5 x 22.5 x 12 inches

Door dimensions20 x 64.5 inches, 1 inch thick

Polycarbonate thickness2mm

Total weight60 pounds

Capacity110 pounds

This greenhouse is the most basic of all on our list, with a simple sliding door and a single vent. Compared to Climapods 6mm polycarbonate panels, or any of the other greenhouses 4mm panels, the Outsunny comes with a mere 2mm for each of its panels. 2mm is on the thin side for a polycarbonate sheet, so quality will likely suffer here, and overall heat retention will by necessity be lower. You may want to pick up a greenhouse heater with this greenhouse, to supplement. There is also concern about durability, especially during inclement weather, so be careful to monitor this greenhouse! Despite the overall simplicity, many have had problems during assembly, resembling the larger and more intricate greenhouses we’ve reviewed. It is slightly larger than the Palram Nature Series but still considerably smaller than the mid-sized options.

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Conclusion: Polycarbonate Greenhouses

When you’re in the market for a hobbyist greenhouse, it is important to consider your needs so as to determine which greenhouse will be best for you. We suggest considering durability, material and build quality, size, warranty, and aesthetics as primary signals of quality. In the end, the Climapod Greenhouse has the highest build quality, a great size and scale, a great warranty, and looks quite nice, which makes it our top choice.

The durability of the greenhouse should be the first concern; and this is mostly impacted by the material, base, thickness of the polycarbonate, and the overall weight of the greenhouse. It is pretty easy to consider the warranty an extension of the build quality – the longer the warranty, the better the greenhouse construction. A heavy timber or cement base should help almost any greenhouse withstand heavier winds and rougher weather conditions. After durability, space considerations should be the next factor to look at. Both the available space you have to place the greenhouse as well as how much room you need to garden inside of it play the most important role in determining the best fit. For example, the Climapod Greenhouse provides a whopping 9’ x 12’, but will need reasonable accommodations as well as a heavy base to ensure its longevity. The final factors to consider are aesthetics. These will vary by person and some will have a preference for greener looks, while others like the stainless and polycarbonate look better. When these factors are accounted for, almost everything else remains the same: greenhouses bought online can be difficult to assemble, require typical maintenance (such as basic cleaning and checking the foundation yearly), but provide an excellent means to start your own plant growing adventure.

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