New member in need of greenhouse growing advice - Orchid Board

basicallyeileen · #1 11-11-2009, 03:54 PM

Hello. I'm new to the Orchid Board, and this is my first post. I've been growing orchids under lights for ~15 years. I finally dove in and bought a kit greenhouse. It's very exciting but a bit intimidating too. I had 60 orchids all over the house. My poor husband even put up with the cymbidiums in the bath tub trying to keep them cold enough to get their spikes.

My greenhouse is 6'5" x 13'. I guess I shouldn't have been surprised that the greenhouse already looks quite full. I definitely need limits when it comes to orchids, so I wouldn't have wanted a different size. I'd just end up filling that too. Anyway, if anyone has advice on learning to adapt to greenhouse growing, I'd appreciate it.

I've been reading the Orchid Board for awhile to answer my growing questions. It's so nice to read posts from all over the world. What a great community!

DebsC · #2 11-12-2009, 12:09 PM

Well hello and welcome to the board! Glad you decided to post. I agree, this is a great community!

I went from growing in a sunroom to a greenhouse about 3 years ago. To me, there was a huge difference!!! Some of the differences were not good and some were great!

For instance, in the sunroom the plants were relatively protected from insects. And rarely did they suffer from rots or fungus. I guess the humidity was too low for that. Not so in the gh. Always be on guard, look at your plants everyday!

While most of my catts did bloom, the blooms didn't last nearly as long as they do in the gh.

The growth produced in the gh is unbelievable compared to the sunroom. The new growths are huge!!! Oh and the roots are so gorgeous. I'm a big fan of roots.

As far as controlling your orchid habit? I've got no advice there. My gh is stuffed to the gills...and I still want more!!!!!!!

Just take one day at a time with your gh and watch your plants carefully, they're adjusting, too. If you encounter any problems, just come here and discuss them!

trdyl · #3 11-12-2009, 01:44 PM

Depending on your set up, it is possible to low light plants under benches of high light plants.

stonedragonfarms · #4 11-12-2009, 02:49 PM

Congrats on making the move! I think the only way to control your habit is to either specialize in one species, or to make a list of what you want and not deviate. Fortunately or unfortunately my thing is cymbidiums...now if i could just figure out how to pare down my wish list...lol
Seriously, as is mentioned above, watch your plants every day, walk around the outside of the greenhouse and take note of any mechanical problems that might be forming and just enjoy the space. Let us know if you have any problems, most of us all have a horror story & soultion or two that we can share...
Adam

basicallyeileen · #5 11-12-2009, 04:13 PM

Thanks everyone for the words of encouragement. I suppose it depends on where we each live, but are there any generalizations for watering or lights in a greenhouse? I don't know if I need to water more or less than what I'm used to in the house. My husband is an electrician, so I'm fortunate to be able have so many electrical options. I don't know if greenhouses use supplemental lights in the winter. Mike keeps asking me what I need, but I have no idea. We think we finally worked out what is best for a heater. Right now we are using an electric heater that we had. I laughed today, an overcast, cool day, that the heat was running, but the roof vent was open.

Here are some stats on my greenhouse: it's 5 wall polycarbonate, roof and walls, lean to style with an exhaust fan/intake shutter set up. Can't think of anything else that is important to say about it.

I took some pictures yesterday. I'll get them off the camera next and try to put them in this post. Eileen

basicallyeileen · #6 11-12-2009, 04:32 PM

Let's see if I've attached these pictures correctly.

stonedragonfarms · #7 11-13-2009, 12:18 AM

Very nice! If you think that this is crowded, you should see my gh (and most of my friends think that it is relatively lowly stocked...) Watering depends a lot on what you are growing; this time of the year I water my cymbidiums only about once every ten days, I water most of my dendrobiums about once a month, and I water my disa almost every day... I don't use supplemental lighting; about the only thing that I could see using it for would be vandas, but I grow in a mostly cold house, so no heat-lovers here!
Are your roof vents solar powered? You might think about putting a circulating fan near the ridge of your greenhouse to help distribute the warm air up there, and save on the vents open/heater running effect...
Have fun!
Adam

Bayard · #8 12-13-2009, 05:18 PM

You might consider changing your bench tops to a wire grid material. It will increase air circulation around the plants, but more importantly they won't rot. You can buy the material at Growers Supply: Greenhouse Kits, Garden Centers, Hobby, Commercial and Aluminum Greenhouses from Growers Supply I made my own benches out of the tubular steel and bench top material they sell.

Another thing to consider is shading from Spring through Fall, depending on your exposure (mine is South). In full sun, a greenhouse will heat up very quickly, making it difficult to control the temperature. I use Aluminet 50% in Summer right on the greenhouse. It reflects infrared (heat) and won't damage the polycarbonate.

Also, don't run the exhaust fan with the roof vents open - you won't get the kind of air exchange you need, especially in the Summer. You may be able to disable the fan and allow the roof vents to open with the intake shutter opening when the thermostat calls for it. This would be ideal for Spring and Fall, when it's cool outside. Passive ventilation won't cause radical temperature swings then.

Oh, and a fan running 24/7 to reduce air statification, especially when the heat is on.

Looks like you bought a sturdy greenhouse! I think I have the same type. Mine is a 10x20 lean-to with triple wall. Good call on the 4 wall polycarbonate - It'll save you money in the long run.

Here's a shot of my benches:

basicallyeileen · #9 12-13-2009, 10:50 PM

Thanks Baynard. Your greenhouse looks beautiful. I should have noted that I will eventually have the benches like you show. I'm lucky that one of my husband's customers is a machine shop. They are going to make my benches for me when their schedule isn't so crazy. We have installed an oscillating fan. Good to know about the exhaust system. I did spring for the 5 wall polycarbonate figuring that I would make back the cost in heating savings.

The problem I'm having is that some orchids seem to be having issues with their leaves. I guess I'll have to wait to see how they all adapt. Eileen