Green houses are sealed structures that contain a high amount of moisture under its roof. When the water evaporates, it will have nowhere to go but the roof and sides of the hobby greenhouse structure.
Moisture will seep into the gaps between panels, roof and venting fans. The moisture will allow algae, mold and mildew to grow in these places.
To keep yourself and your plants healthy, these organic growths must be cleaned off. Remember, these things produce spores. They will saturate the air with the spores that may prove to be unhealthy for you and your plants. If you think that you need to clean you greenhouse for the sake of appearances, think again.
If you maintain and clean your greenhouse periodically, the most you will need is a sponge or cloth to wipe the greenhouse surfaces dry. If you don't have regular maintenance schedule for your greenhouse, chances are that mold and algae have already built up. These may be harder to remove so you might need some spray cleaner and disinfectant to go along with the sponge. For cracks and hard to reach places, you'll also need a medium soft brush and some patience.
Depending on the type of flooring installed in your hobby greenhouse, you will need to set a regular maintenance regimen to keep the floors clean. If your greenhouse flooring is wood, the frequency for washing the floors is more than that of a cement floor. Molds, algae and moss grow considerably faster on wood. They also make the wood slippery to walk on. Gravel flooring will let weeds grow through and no flooring or dirt flooring can turn into mud.
Some greenhouses use plastic for roofing material. Some of these plastics crack or turn translucent as years go by. The cracked roof will need maintenance because, well, they're cracked. The translucent roof will have to be replaced with transparent material so that the plants inside receive the full benefit of sunlight.
The best possible material for a greenhouse structure is glass paneling. Unlike plastic, glass paneling can last for 7 to 10 years before it needs to be replaced. You can possibly extend this to 15 years with regular cleaning.
Currently, polycarbonate materials are replacing the traditional glass paneling for greenhouses. Aside from being transparent, polycarbonate panels can last for a few decades. The only structural worry you will have is re-caulking or re-sealing the panels together when the old caulking starts to fall off.
By the way, just because they last for decades, it doesn't mean that you don't need to clean them. Algae and molds will grow on polycarbonate panels just like they do on glass. They take a little longer to grow so you can expect longer periods between maintenance.
If you built your greenhouse near a tree, you can expect to replace a panel anytime soon. Falling branches may shatter some panels on your greenhouse. If your panels are measured to standard sizes, it will be easier and cheaper to obtain replacements.
Now that you're keeping your greenhouse clean and clear, you'll have to check the water, electricity wires, soil nutrient levels and any other equipment you have installed in the greenhouse. If you just had an open garden, perhaps you wouldn't have to do so much. Hobby greenhouse maintenance isn't a joke.
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