Am I nuts?

[Pattywack]

Swamp coolers. This could help along with a fan or two. Winter here is out, period. We have snows here where we can't get out until the plows come. One year the snow completely covered our deck doors.

After reading many posts I don't believe I am the only grower wanting to use a greenhouse during the growing season. I'm not in Texas, been there done that got the t-shirt. I'm willing to deal with the heat, properly. If our deck is unacceptable, I have other options.

[Orchid Whisperer]

I think I am hearing universally from several very experienced growers that this 6x6 greenhouse is a potentially dangerous and costly solution to a problem easily addressed by a shade house. BAD IDEA.

Please consider your own title to this thread carefully.

[katrina]

Originally Posted by Orchid Whisperer

Please consider your own title to this thread carefully.

sorry...couldn't help but laugh at that comment.

I just realized you are in Maryland...if your area of MD is as humid as where my friend lives...a swamp cooler will very likely struggle to keep the space cool. If you're hell-bent on doing this then look at getting an a/c...again, if your area is very humid much of the summer. Swamp coolers work by adding moisture but if the air is already saturated then they just don't work well.

No, you are not the only one who would like to grow in a g/h. I rank in that list. But, weighing the pro's vs the cons, for my area, it's not practical. I'm not willing to build a large g/h at this property because we don't intend to be here forever and a small g/h (as has been stated) in my area of the country would create more problems than it would solve. I opted for some shade structures in various areas around the property...some my husband built and some I bought. They work great for the 3-3.5 months the orchids are outside.

FWIW - having a g/h does not protect your plants from insects as they make their way in via the vents/exhaust systems. It does protect them from critters, heavy winds and/or too much rain.

There is an old thread on here somewhere by someone dealing w/cooling a g/h (it was a much bigger g/h but still) in a very humid environment...SC, I think. He did some rigging something or other w/the exhaust and the a/c system so it would pull some of the heat out of the g/h and then kick on the a/c. I don't remember the details but I'll see if I can find it and then link it here. I am not mechanically inclined but I do recall thinking it seemed very clever. I also don't know if he/she ever gave any update on how it worked out but I'll see if I can find it.

Something to keep in mind...you don't want to situate it in such deep shade that the plants don't get the light they need. Not enough light will affect growth and blooming so that really isn't a good trade off. Too much heat vs not enough light...it's a balancing act, for sure. I'll see if I can find that old thread.

[Selmo]

If you are interested in using a greenhouse to grow during the summer months. Go around to your local nurserys in your area and see what they do. If they are like the ones in our area, they move ALL of their plants out side to shade houses or protected areas. As it can easily get to 150 degrees in the greenhouse. We do the same with our plants, as soon as we can, usually about mid April we can start moving some of them out of the greenhouse and now we have 90% of them out side. Just a few dendrobiums left inside. And will move them back in in mid October. In the greenhouse we try to keep the heat in for six months and then try to get the heat out for six months. With the reflective shade cloth (alumashade 50%) and fans, we can keep the greenhouse about 10 degrees above what it is outside, but it has been 97 degrees here allready and we are not to the hot part of summer yet. Keeping plants in the greenhouse at those temperatures is suicide. It seems that you have lots of places, under the deck, under the canopy of trees to move your plants out doors if that is you goal. A temperary shade structure that you can remove the shade cloth from in the winter, with the snow you get it will crush it. Or use what you already have, the underside of your deck sounds perfect, use some lattice for more shade and places for hangers, if you really want an outside growing structure. A greenhouse for summer growing only seems like an exercise in futility.

[Pattywack]

Again, thanks for all the constructive advice. I do appreciate it. Looks like maybe a shade house is the way to go. I have a nice potting bench that my husband made from wood leftover from our deck. It isn't very big, 4 ft. wide x 2 ft. deep, it's about my height so 5 ft.
There is a lower shelf, 4 x2, and a smaller shelf at the top. I'm thinking I'll add some lattice to the sides and back for hanging plants. Make a roof frame to keep rain off of the plants and add shade cloth. Not exactly what I had in mind but it should be the best thing for the orchids for now. It's pretty heavy but we've moved it several times and we can locate it where we need it.

Seems a greenhouse should be bigger than we would like on the deck so that project will wait until we can plan for the area and larger size. A lot more to think about.

And ya, I've always been a bit nuts. I'm too old to change now but willing to take advice. Thanks