Fingers Crossed - Orchid Board

Daethen · #1 04-19-2012, 09:31 AM

Hoping I am not jinxing myself here. I bought 10- 4x8 glass panels yesterday that were part of a solar collector. I plan to turn these into my greenhouse.

I would love to have those of you experienced greenhouse growers give me any tips you can. I am planning on setting up a misting system. What do I need to have on hand for chemicals for outdoor growing? What would be best for the floor? I am not going to be able to afford a lot of equipment that is ready made for this, but I am handy and can rig what I need.

The glassed in part will hopefully end up 8 x 12. Lots to plan and lots more materials to collect, but it is a start and I am excited!!!!

RosieC · #2 04-19-2012, 09:51 AM

Wow, so many things to think about and I guess there will be differing opinions.

I know that a previous discussion talked about how the choice of floor can make a big difference to how insulated it is for winter growing. I went with concrete slabs laid on a bed of sand/cement to provide both the foundation and the floor of the greenhouse BUT I didn't care too much about insulation. I keep my greenhouse just above freezing in the winter so while it does need heating it's not massively above the ambient temperatures (we average about 5C in the winter in the UK and the coldest where I am is around -7C. I'm only really protecting against the coldest.

I remember Ramon talking about digging deep foundations to thermally insulate his greenhouse properly so he could properly keep it heated in the winter.

What actually forms the floor can be a matter of preference. I like a hard solid surface, but do have a slight slope and water can run down and drain away through a gap. Some people like gravel so that everything can just drain straight down. I can't find the discussion we had before on this but I know there were a few difference preference.

Marty our site owner does a good misting system called MistKing which looks quite affordable and can be scaled from small to large systems. I know a few people here have been very pleased with them. I've (still) not got my layout sorted enough to get this side rigged up but I'm thinking I will get something from MistKing when I do.

Daethen · #3 04-19-2012, 10:46 AM

Thanks for the good start, Rosie. I know I will be booed for this, but I plan on a wood stove for winter. I have unlimited access to free wood and I would not have to worry about the power going out at night. I lived with wood heat most of my life so I know how to deal with it. I realize it would be drying, but that is where the misting system comes in. Hubby has already made plans to dig in a water line (which surprised me). We have some old ceiling fans from when my FIL was an electrician to help with air flow. If you all saw my $20 shade house, this will be it's big brother. And yes, I intend to keep the shade house as well.

Leafmite · #4 04-19-2012, 02:04 PM

Sounds like fun! In the early days, greenhouses were kept warm with wood-burning stoves or broilers and they seem to have managed quite well. I think you have some really great ideas! I'm really excited for you! New greenhouse, Oak Hill moving nearby...perfect timing!

Wjs2nd · #5 04-19-2012, 08:57 PM

You can also get those humidifing cast-iron pots for on-top of a wood burning stove.

You'll need shade cloth for your greenhouse if the roof is glass. Especially, the outside during the summer to keep down temps. Outside vents can help with temp and bring in fresh air.

Ceiling fans will work great for air flow and giving your orchids a slight breeze!

Daethen · #6 04-19-2012, 09:00 PM

I should have no trouble getting ahold of another piece of shade cloth. I am going to try and mount on sheet of glass on each side of the roof to be able to open during the summer for extra air flow and heat reduction.

RosieC · #7 04-20-2012, 05:42 AM

Just thought of something I think is esential... a self opening vent/window. I didn't have one at first and was always worrying when at work that the weather had either gone too cold when I had left the window open, or too warm when I had left it shut. The £20 I spent on a self opening mechanism for the window was the best money ever spent. I don't worry half so much now.

Daethen · #8 04-20-2012, 07:46 AM

Thanks, Rosie. That is just the kind of advice I was looking for. Now if I can find one that will work on a window that is 4 x 8.

kavanaru · #9 04-20-2012, 08:36 AM

yeap! Self-opening windows are a must! furthermore, put the shade cloth outside, so that it will also help not only to reduce light, but to reduce temps in the greenhouse (and also protect the glass from hail!)...

As mentioned above by Rosie, I went for deep insulated foundations (you can see the process here: Greenhouse - a set on Flickr ) But that only because i wanted to keep my Greenhouse pretty warm in Winter (above 18°C) and decided to use any tricks to reduce heating costs... as well I wrap the whole greenhouse in bubbles foil every winter, as it reduces the heating cost by ca. 30%..

think of adding fans in the greenhouse (should be on 24h/day 7/7 Highly important! check that the fans move about 2-3 times the volume of air in the greenhouse per hour... sound like a lot, but it is not!

misting system.... don't invest that much from the very beginning... very often it is not that necessary, depending on the ground of the GH, your watering schedule, the heat of the summer, and so on... I am glad I did not invest the money I had planned for it, as I really do not need it in my GH at all... humidity stay above 65% all the time, and during the summer peak, I just water the ground a bit more often and done!

kavanaru · #10 04-20-2012, 08:41 AM

forgot to add... for the window, I would suggest to add two instead of one! this will allow some air flow and is a lot more effective! Especially if one window is on the roof and the other on a wall...

and also useful for the summer time, build a simple shade house where to put your plants between may and September/October... many plants will do better if during this time they are kept outside of the greenhouse (a bit cooler during the day, and a lot cooler during the night!)

and last but no least, the rule of thumb:
count the area need for your current collection, before you build the greenhouse! add 50% on top of that, and then double it! This is the size of the greenhouse you want build in order to have one year before running out of space for new plant! LOL