Greenhouse vs. Hothouse — What's the Difference?
By Urooj Arif & Fiza Rafique — Updated on May 14, 2024
Greenhouses and hothouses both foster plant growth, but a greenhouse primarily uses natural sunlight, while a hothouse employs artificial heating for tropical plants.
Difference Between Greenhouse and Hothouse
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A greenhouse is designed to create a warm environment for plants by trapping sunlight and heat, which promotes year-round cultivation. In contrast, a hothouse goes a step further by maintaining higher temperatures, typically through artificial heating, which is essential for growing tropical and subtropical plants.
Greenhouses are versatile structures, often using glass or plastic to maximize light entry and natural warmth. Whereas, hothouses are specifically engineered to support plants that require a consistently warm climate, making them less energy-efficient due to the need for additional heating.
The typical use of a greenhouse varies from amateur gardening to commercial food production, accommodating a wide range of plants. On the other hand, hothouses are particularly favored for specialized botanical needs, such as orchids and exotic fruits, which require more controlled conditions.
Maintenance and operational costs for greenhouses are generally lower because they rely primarily on passive solar heating. Meanwhile, hothouses incur higher costs due to their dependence on active heating systems and potentially more complex climate control technologies.
The choice between a greenhouse and a hothouse often depends on the gardener's goals. If the aim is to extend the growing season for a variety of plants, a greenhouse is suitable. In contrast, for those looking to cultivate heat-loving plants year-round, a hothouse is necessary.
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Comparison Chart
Light Source
Natural sunlight
Natural sunlight and supplemental lighting
Heating Method
Passive solar heat, occasionally augmented
Active heating systems
Typical Use
General gardening, commercial agriculture
Cultivation of tropical/subtropical plants
Energy Efficiency
Higher due to passive systems
Lower due to active heating requirements
Maintenance Costs
Generally lower
Higher due to complex climate controls
Compare with Definitions
Greenhouse
A structure with walls and roof made chiefly of transparent material, used to grow plants under controlled conditions.
She cultivated her tomatoes in a greenhouse to protect them from the cold.
Hothouse
A place or environment that forces rapid growth or development.
The tech startup was a hothouse of innovation and creativity.
Greenhouse
An eco-friendly project area for agricultural development.
The community greenhouse focuses on sustainable farming techniques.
Hothouse
A resource-intensive project requiring high maintenance and care.
Maintaining a hothouse involves careful temperature and humidity control.
Greenhouse
An educational resource for schools to teach botany.
The school's greenhouse is a hands-on classroom for students learning about plant biology.
Hothouse
An artificially enhanced environment to simulate tropical conditions.
The university’s hothouse simulates the rainforest environment for research purposes.
Greenhouse
A facility where plants are grown for commercial sale.
The local greenhouse supplies all the flower shops in town.
Hothouse
A heated greenhouse used to grow plants that require an elevated temperature.
The botanical garden’s hothouse contains a collection of tropical orchids.
Greenhouse
A greenhouse (also called a glasshouse, or, if with sufficient heating, a hothouse) is a structure with walls and roof made chiefly of transparent material, such as glass, in which plants requiring regulated climatic conditions are grown. These structures range in size from small sheds to industrial-sized buildings.
Hothouse
A heated greenhouse for plants that require an even, relatively warm temperature.
Greenhouse
A glass building in which plants that need protection from cold weather are grown.
Hothouse
An environment conducive to vigorous growth or development; a hotbed
"With its mix of African, Latin, European, and pan-American influences, the Caribbean is truly a musical hothouse" (New Yorker).
Greenhouse
A structure, primarily of glass or sheets of clear plastic, in which temperature and humidity can be controlled for the cultivation or protection of plants.
Hothouse
Grown in a hothouse
A hothouse orchid.
Greenhouse
(Slang) A clear plastic bubble or shell covering part of an aircraft.
Hothouse
Delicate and sensitive, as if from being grown in a hothouse.
Greenhouse
A building used to grow plants, particularly one with large glass windows or plastic sheeting to trap heat from sunlight even in intemperate seasons or climates.
Hothouse
To cultivate in a hothouse.
Greenhouse
The glass of a plane's cockpit.
Hothouse
A heated greenhouse.
Greenhouse
(medicine) A structure that shields the operating table to protect against bacteria.
Hothouse
(figurative) An environment in which growth or development is encouraged naturally or artificially; a hotbed.
Greenhouse
(climatology) A hot state in global climate.
Hothouse
(obsolete) A bagnio, or bathing house; a brothel.
Greenhouse
(transitive) To place (plants) in a greenhouse.
Hothouse
A heated room for drying greenware.
Greenhouse
To nurture in order to promote growth.
Hothouse
(climatology) A hot state in global climate.
Greenhouse
A house in which tender plants are cultivated and sheltered from the weather.
Hothouse
(transitive) To provide (a child) with an enriched environment with the aim of stimulating academic development.
Greenhouse
A building with glass walls and roof; for the cultivation and exhibition of plants under controlled conditions
Hothouse
A house kept warm to shelter tender plants and shrubs from the cold air; a place in which the plants of warmer climates may be reared, and fruits ripened.
Greenhouse
Of or relating to or caused by the greenhouse effect;
Greehouse gases
Hothouse
A bagnio, or bathing house.
Greenhouse
A scientific lab for studying plant growth under varying climatic conditions.
Researchers at the greenhouse are experimenting with drought-resistant crops.
Hothouse
A brothel; a bagnio.
Hothouse
A heated room for drying green ware.
Hothouse
A greenhouse in which plants are arranged in a pleasing manner
Hothouse
A facility particularly designed for cultivating exotic plants.
His hothouse boasts an impressive array of exotic plants from the Amazon rainforest.
Common Curiosities
Are hothouses more expensive to operate than greenhouses?
Yes, hothouses typically have higher operational costs due to the need for active heating and more complex climate controls.
What plants are best suited for a hothouse?
Tropical and subtropical plants such as orchids, bromeliads, and certain fruit trees are ideal for hothouses because they require a warm climate.
What is a greenhouse?
A greenhouse is a structure with transparent walls and roof primarily used to grow plants by harnessing natural sunlight and warmth.
How do hothouses affect the growth rate of plants?
By providing constant and optimal warm conditions, hothouses can significantly accelerate the growth rate of heat-dependent plants compared to outdoor environments.
What is a hothouse?
A hothouse is a type of greenhouse designed to maintain higher temperatures for growing tropical and subtropical plants, often requiring artificial heating.
What type of heating is used in a hothouse?
Hothouses generally use active heating systems such as electric heaters or gas heaters to maintain the necessary warm temperatures for heat-loving plants.
Can you grow tropical plants in a regular greenhouse?
While it's possible, a regular greenhouse may need modifications like additional heating to properly support tropical plants, which thrive in warmer conditions.
What are the primary materials used in constructing a greenhouse?
Greenhouses are usually constructed from materials like glass or polycarbonate panels which allow light to penetrate while retaining heat.
How do greenhouses help extend the growing season?
Greenhouses trap heat and light from the sun, creating a warmer microclimate that can extend the growing season by protecting plants from external cold temperatures.
Can greenhouses be used in any climate?
Yes, greenhouses can be adapted to almost any climate, from cold to temperate regions, by adjusting the materials and the heating methods used.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
