Can you make an unpowered "greenhouse" to remove heat instead of trap it?

Question

Love the sun, but it tends to kill the h**l out of my fledgling plants. I was thinking of making a small hotbox lined with moistened perlite and alternating vent holes for convection. But, I'm not sure if this would actually aid in normalizing the heat. Any suggestions other than indoor grow lamps?

Answer 1

I have a large glass greenhouse that is "unpowered" during  the summer. Roof ventilation during the heat of the day in early summer is primary but when that is no longer enough to cool it down I'll put white latex paint in a solo back pack sprayer and spray the roof white. This keeps my greenhouse really cool. As the summer season progresses the paint begins to fade with rainfall, etc. and by the end of summer it's virtually gone just in time for the warmth i need to return for winter. On a smaller scale you can top ventilate by placing the holes on top of your greenhouse because heat rises and if that doesn't cool it enough place a white sheet over your greenhouse to reflect the heat away.

Answer 2

I'd have thought shade cloth would be the answer, No?

Answer 3

I use my greenhouse even in summer by using shade cloth of 50% and keeping the door open and the vent open, too.... it's hot, but I still have plants in there...I suppose a mist system and a fan would be helpful, too.... it's come in handy when trying to harden off seedling plants... I only put the shade cloth over half the greenhouse so I have both shade and sun available.... most of the summer plants stay in the shade part.... only the lemon tree stays in the sun....with that constant heat, tho, watering becomes a daily chore....