Growing Alpines in the Greenhouse

Using a greenhouse to grow alpines is quite different from most other types of greenhouse use, because all you are doing is protecting the alpines from the extremes of the British weather – and in this case we don’t mean cold, but rain!

True alpines are classified as plants which grow between the permanent snow line and the limit of conifer tree growth, essentially around 6000 metres in height. This means alpines are designed for survival in extreme conditions.

For many months of the year naturally-growing alpines are protected by a layer of snow which keeps them dry and at a constant, low temperature, but not nearly as low as the air temperature above the snow. In spring these alpine plants receive copious amounts of moisture as the snow melts and they make rapid growth.

This means that to grow alpines in a greenhouse it needs to be unheated, with a well-drained soil and another point to remember is that some alpines are lime-haters and will perish where lime is present.

Really serious growers use a specially built alpine greenhouse, where the plants are grown on benches. Growing alpines in this way allows them to give each variety its separate cultural needs, but the greenhouse has to be well ventilated, using not only roof ventilators but side louvre vents every 2 feet or so, these are usually placed just above the bench if you are growing on benches, or at ground level if growing on the greenhouse floor.

Most alpines grow in a soil that is not rich in nutrients and require excellent ventilation at both roof and bench level. Shading of an alpine house is necessary in hot months from spring to autumn.