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#1
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Greenhouse / Shadehouse
In Central to South Florida I call the elaborate gutter connected
greenhouses "OVENS" many commercial growers use them and in summer their 1,000 fans still will not bring the temps below 100. Plants grown in them need so much extra care as to warrent extra employees or more expensive automated climate control. I have opted to try to grow as naturally as possible so that when I tell a customer they can grow on a porch, patio, lanai or in trees their plants will do very well -- not having to "adapt" to new climatic conditions. Just a large structure covered with shade cloth so plants get the rain and air movement as nature supplys-- no fans or "wet pads" (which BTW are a big waste of money in Florida) [High humidity State]. I must admit to extra work during our usually" once every 10 years freezes." I can see "ovens" in states where freezing temperatures are the norm every year but in Florida they are a joke & will limit the type plants that can be grown in them, or greatly increase time and money spent to keep some genera alive. Electricity is getting more & more expensive. I know I'll hear from the "experts" on how this system won't work-- but I've been doing it for 35 years. Good growing no matter how you do it. Bill |
#2
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Greenhouse / Shadehouse
"Bill" wrote in message oups.com... In Central to South Florida I call the elaborate gutter connected greenhouses "OVENS" many commercial growers use them and in summer their 1,000 fans still will not bring the temps below 100. Plants grown in them need so much extra care as to warrent extra employees or more expensive automated climate control. I have opted to try to grow as naturally as possible so that when I tell a customer they can grow on a porch, patio, lanai or in trees their plants will do very well -- not having to "adapt" to new climatic conditions. Just a large structure covered with shade cloth so plants get the rain and air movement as nature supplys-- no fans or "wet pads" (which BTW are a big waste of money in Florida) [High humidity State]. I must admit to extra work during our usually" once every 10 years freezes." I can see "ovens" in states where freezing temperatures are the norm every year but in Florida they are a joke & will limit the type plants that can be grown in them, or greatly increase time and money spent to keep some genera alive. Electricity is getting more & more expensive. I know I'll hear from the "experts" on how this system won't work-- but I've been doing it for 35 years. Good growing no matter how you do it. Bill I wouldn't think anyone in a tropical climate would need or want a greenhouse, even if they grew cacti. To protect them from the rain all that would be needed is a cover overhead. |
#3
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Greenhouse / Shadehouse
Manelli Family: It's the "cover overhead" that Bill objects to, and he has
some very valid points, altho there are other issues to consider. The cover overhead increases solar loading, and therefore heat inside the shadehouse, even when all the sides are open. This is inescapable, short of ditching the roof, and it causes me not to grow anything but the most heat-tolerant orchids -- unless they are cold-hardy enough to stay out all winter in the one "uncovered" shadehouse that we have -- we are too busy to be carting plants in and out all the time during winter, which is our busiest sales season). And I do have to take some measures to cool things down (exhaust fans and overhead misters) in summer, which does make FPL happy. But without it: 1. It is indeed very difficult to heat for winter -- and yes, we have to do that here, at least enough so I DO notice the gas bill. We heat to 55F for our vandas, evergreen dendrobiums, and buds on all genera that we grow (not a concern for Bill given his specialization in the intergeneric Oncids, few of which would complain at high 30s, but do hate high heat). With a small shadehouse in the home setting, this may not be as much of a priority -- you could roll out a sheet of plastic as needed and tie it down, or even bring the tender stuff into the house at need. That's what we used to do when we were growing in a 15' x 15' "hobbyhouse" less than 12' tall. We had it set up much like opening or closing the drapes in one's home. We also had a heating element that fit on the type of small propane tank that one uses for a BBQ grill, and only needed one for the whole little house. Those measures don't work so well with a much taller 10K sq. ft. to cover and uncover. 2. You cannot control your watering. Where I am (a little over an hour south of Bill), we get periods in summer where it rains quite heavily every day for 2-3 weeks in a row. Some orchids like that, some will tolerate it if you spray enough fungicide, and some just plain won't. [Aother point not applicable to you home growers, but in a retail setting, you're also effectively closed for business when it rains ... ]. Even in the home setting, whether or not to use the overhead cover depends to a large extent on what you choose to grow, how you pot or mount them, and other factors. This is something we discuss at length whenever customers ask us to build a home shadehouse for them, to try to help them make an informed decision. Kenni "Manelli Family" wrote in message ... I wouldn't think anyone in a tropical climate would need or want a greenhouse, even if they grew cacti. To protect them from the rain all that would be needed is a cover overhead. |
#4
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Greenhouse / Shadehouse
"Kenni Judd" wrote in message . .. Manelli Family: It's the "cover overhead" that Bill objects to, and he has some very valid points, altho there are other issues to consider. The cover overhead increases solar loading, and therefore heat inside the shadehouse, even when all the sides are open. This is inescapable, short of ditching the roof, and it causes me not to grow anything but the most heat-tolerant orchids -- unless they are cold-hardy enough to stay out all winter in the one "uncovered" shadehouse that we have -- we are too busy to be carting plants in and out all the time during winter, which is our busiest sales season). And I do have to take some measures to cool things down (exhaust fans and overhead misters) in summer, which does make FPL happy. But without it: 1. It is indeed very difficult to heat for winter -- and yes, we have to do that here, at least enough so I DO notice the gas bill. We heat to 55F for our vandas, evergreen dendrobiums, and buds on all genera that we grow (not a concern for Bill given his specialization in the intergeneric Oncids, few of which would complain at high 30s, but do hate high heat). With a small shadehouse in the home setting, this may not be as much of a priority -- you could roll out a sheet of plastic as needed and tie it down, or even bring the tender stuff into the house at need. That's what we used to do when we were growing in a 15' x 15' "hobbyhouse" less than 12' tall. We had it set up much like opening or closing the drapes in one's home. We also had a heating element that fit on the type of small propane tank that one uses for a BBQ grill, and only needed one for the whole little house. Those measures don't work so well with a much taller 10K sq. ft. to cover and uncover. 2. You cannot control your watering. Where I am (a little over an hour south of Bill), we get periods in summer where it rains quite heavily every day for 2-3 weeks in a row. Some orchids like that, some will tolerate it if you spray enough fungicide, and some just plain won't. [Aother point not applicable to you home growers, but in a retail setting, you're also effectively closed for business when it rains ... ]. Even in the home setting, whether or not to use the overhead cover depends to a large extent on what you choose to grow, how you pot or mount them, and other factors. This is something we discuss at length whenever customers ask us to build a home shadehouse for them, to try to help them make an informed decision. Kenni Very interesting. Thanks. "Manelli Family" wrote in message ... I wouldn't think anyone in a tropical climate would need or want a greenhouse, even if they grew cacti. To protect them from the rain all that would be needed is a cover overhead. |
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