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#1
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Orchid Greenhouse
I am considering building a greenhouse for my orchids. It is the humidity
that I want/need. Living in Southern California, low temperatures are not much of a problem. Also, seems like most orchid growers in the area (Normans, SBOE) use shade cloth or opal translucent polycarbonate panels overhead. I am looking for a greenhouse kit with these opal translucent polycarbonate panels for the roof. All that I can find seem to use clear panels. What are you folks using? Clear glass/polycarbonate with shadecloth or opal panels? Also seems that clear glass would make the GH hotter than heck, even with the use of shadecloth. Thanks for any advice. Vito |
#2
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Orchid Greenhouse
I always vote for shadecloth, as it can be changed or removed, depending
upon your needs. If you start out with a permanent reduction, such as tinted glazing, you're stuck with it! The best shade scenario is twofold: 1) Aluminet 2) supported 6" or so above the greenhouse roof. Aluminet is aluminum-coated Mylar, so it is very effective in reflecting the light and heat away - much better than pigmented polymer fabrics. Putting the cloth outside of the greenhouse is always better than inside, as part of the attenuation process absorbs and converts some of the light into heat, and it's better to keep that outside. An air gap between the cloth and the roof allows it to dissipate more easily. If you MUST put it inside, then going with the Aluminet is a "must"/ -- Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com Plants, Supplies. Books, Artwork, and lots of Free Info! "Uncle_vito" wrote in message ... I am considering building a greenhouse for my orchids. It is the humidity that I want/need. Living in Southern California, low temperatures are not much of a problem. Also, seems like most orchid growers in the area (Normans, SBOE) use shade cloth or opal translucent polycarbonate panels overhead. I am looking for a greenhouse kit with these opal translucent polycarbonate panels for the roof. All that I can find seem to use clear panels. What are you folks using? Clear glass/polycarbonate with shadecloth or opal panels? Also seems that clear glass would make the GH hotter than heck, even with the use of shadecloth. Thanks for any advice. Vito |
#3
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Orchid Greenhouse
They probably get their polycarb from someplace like Farmtek
http://www.farmtek.com When I built my GH I took the position that I wanted to have the most light available, figuring I could always subtract light by using shadecloth, but I could never add light, and since light is the limiting factor in getting blooms I went with clear dualpane polycarbonate. You might want to look at this page at the Farmtek site. http://www.farmtek.com/farm/supplies...cessories.html There are loads of sites on the web that discuss GH siting and construction. Charley's GH has a lot of info about building a GH and sells overpriced kits. Costco has decent prices and packages on their GH kits. Sundance Supplies has a ton of info incase you want to build/design your own (you have to dig around to find his info on construction, IIRC its under FAQ, but look for yourself.). http://www.sundancesupply.com/index2.html What ****ed me off about kits (and why I decided to build my own) was becasue (at that time) the kits cost thousands of dollars and all you got was the exterior building. No benches, no fans, no nothing. I figured for the same thousands of dollars I could buy wood and build it myself, bigger, taller and cheaper. Which I did. But that ain't for everyone. Nowadays kits are cheap. I saw one at Harbor Freight 10x12 and 11 feet tall for about $700. You can't beat that. Not with a stick Plus sometimes you can get a 15% off coupon in their flyer. Now that's cooking with gas! K Barrett "Uncle_vito" wrote in message ... I am considering building a greenhouse for my orchids. It is the humidity that I want/need. Living in Southern California, low temperatures are not much of a problem. Also, seems like most orchid growers in the area (Normans, SBOE) use shade cloth or opal translucent polycarbonate panels overhead. I am looking for a greenhouse kit with these opal translucent polycarbonate panels for the roof. All that I can find seem to use clear panels. What are you folks using? Clear glass/polycarbonate with shadecloth or opal panels? Also seems that clear glass would make the GH hotter than heck, even with the use of shadecloth. Thanks for any advice. Vito |
#4
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Orchid Greenhouse
Dear Uncle Vito,
Yes a greenhouse here in S.Calif., will certainly give you some humidity. I will say this first, the cost of the g/h is nothing, it's all the equipment inside needed to simulate a decent environment to grow plants that costs. We live about halfway between LA & San Diego, 7 miles from the coast so do get a little sea breeze. Anyway, I have "opaque" polycarb on one greenhouse roof with clear sides & still are covered with (shadecloth @ 65%) finer that the weaved stuff you can buy at H/D etc. My shadecloth lets in good light & cuts down the heat by 10 degrees. I had shadecloth custom made complete with grommets & reinforced hemmed edges. I have read the the polycarb sheets are coated with a UV ray protectant that only lasts 10 years or so? I don't know how true this is??? I have gas heaters for winter, & swampcoolers for summer. Fans blowing 24/7, misters & fresh air. Timers, thermostats, autovents etc., all add up but in the end it's worth it as it's my hobby. My hubby's hobby is cars!!!! Costco has some good prices right now on kits. Don't forget there's the foundation, raised sidings (pony rails) optional, have gas, water & electric piped in. Oh by the way, my 1st green house was a used SunGlo found for sale in the PennySaver, paid $150 for 8 x 10 was able to build on to it at a later time. One more thing, one summer the electricity went out at noontime & the temps went up to 110 degrees inside the green house! Had to open up & just wet the place down. Good luck, Cheers Wendy "Uncle_vito" wrote in message ... I am considering building a greenhouse for my orchids. It is the humidity that I want/need. Living in Southern California, low temperatures are not much of a problem. Also, seems like most orchid growers in the area (Normans, SBOE) use shade cloth or opal translucent polycarbonate panels overhead. I am looking for a greenhouse kit with these opal translucent polycarbonate panels for the roof. All that I can find seem to use clear panels. What are you folks using? Clear glass/polycarbonate with shadecloth or opal panels? Also seems that clear glass would make the GH hotter than heck, even with the use of shadecloth. Thanks for any advice. Vito |
#5
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Orchid Greenhouse
On Tue, 13 May 2008 21:27:31 -0700, Uncle_vito wrote
(in article ) : I am considering building a greenhouse for my orchids. It is the humidity that I want/need. Living in Southern California, low temperatures are not much of a problem. Also, seems like most orchid growers in the area (Normans, SBOE) use shade cloth or opal translucent polycarbonate panels overhead. I am looking for a greenhouse kit with these opal translucent polycarbonate panels for the roof. All that I can find seem to use clear panels. What are you folks using? Clear glass/polycarbonate with shadecloth or opal panels? Up here we have both extreme heat (2-3 weeks or so 100š in Summer) and some cold (2-3 weeks or so of frost with 20s and 30s in Winter). I built a Charley's Greenhouse Solar Gro kit with polycarbonate twin wall, a gravel floor, an under bench misting system, and an exhaust fan. I also use a metallic shade screen during the Summer. This has kept my orchids alive without a cooler except when a power failure and surge triggered the GFCI while I was away for a weekend. Tom Walnut Creek, CA Nikon D200 |
#6
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Orchid Greenhouse
tbell wrote:
On Tue, 13 May 2008 21:27:31 -0700, Uncle_vito wrote (in article ) : I am considering building a greenhouse for my orchids. It is the humidity that I want/need. Living in Southern California, low temperatures are not much of a problem. Also, seems like most orchid growers in the area (Normans, SBOE) use shade cloth or opal translucent polycarbonate panels overhead. I am looking for a greenhouse kit with these opal translucent polycarbonate panels for the roof. All that I can find seem to use clear panels. What are you folks using? Clear glass/polycarbonate with shadecloth or opal panels? Up here we have both extreme heat (2-3 weeks or so 100š in Summer) and some cold (2-3 weeks or so of frost with 20s and 30s in Winter). I built a Charley's Greenhouse Solar Gro kit with polycarbonate twin wall, a gravel floor, an under bench misting system, and an exhaust fan. I also use a metallic shade screen during the Summer. This has kept my orchids alive without a cooler except when a power failure and surge triggered the GFCI while I was away for a weekend. Tom Walnut Creek, CA Nikon D200 The biggest problem I have with the kits is the glazing I have seen on them is awfully thin. A friend nearby spends quite a lot trying to heat her Charley's aluminum-framed one here in Ohio; the glazing while doublewall isn't a very good insulator because it's so flimsy and the aluminum doesn't help much either, being a good conductor of heat out of the GH, as is the concrete slab its on. I went with building my own wood frame over an insulated (on the outside) foundation with triple wall glazing that is about twice as thick as her glazing. I also atttached it to the house. As a result, the 24x14 structure is pretty cheap to heat and though the glazing only admits about 85% of the ambient light I still need 50% shadecloth in the spring/summer/fall to keep most plants from burning and of course it helps the evap cooler do its job, too. |
#7
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Orchid Greenhouse
A friend helped me build a shelving systemg. It consists of five steps
up, made with (at that time) treated lumber slats. There are two sections, each six feet long and just less than five feet high. This allows about a two-foot access space between the sections and at the ends. Chris, I wouldn't mind seeing this system over on abpo, if you have time to take the photos and post them. I'm having a hard time picturing it, and I'm always looking for ways to increase my space. Diana |
#8
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Orchid Greenhouse
In article ,
"Diana Kulaga" wrote: A friend helped me build a shelving systemg. It consists of five steps up, made with (at that time) treated lumber slats. There are two sections, each six feet long and just less than five feet high. This allows about a two-foot access space between the sections and at the ends. Chris, I wouldn't mind seeing this system over on abpo, if you have time to take the photos and post them. I'm having a hard time picturing it, and I'm always looking for ways to increase my space. Diana I use pre cut step boards to create step up units...mine are 4, 5 and 6 steps high. I also use plastic lattice as a roof over my orchids (about 60% shade. Each unit is built 4 x 8 feet in size. In the spring the shelf boards (which are held in place by gravity) are removed and we carry the units out of the greenhouse around to the east side of the house and set them up in the weather for the summer. I have 4 units that we move each spring and fall. I use the lattice "roof" in the spring to start seedlings of tomatoes and other garden plants - this helps cut the direct sunlight at mid day more.. End view... ---------------- Lattice roof XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX 2 x 4 on edge every 4 feet X X 2 x 4 vertical every 4 feet X X X X ==== X top shelf PPPP ==== X X OPPPP=== X X O PPPPPP===X XXXXXXXXXPPPPPPX Where P is 4 step pressure treated desk stairs runner Where = is 2 x 6 cedar shelf boards 8 feet long Where X is a 2 x 4 Where - is white plastic lattice Where the "O" in OPPPP is a 2 4 that runs the length of the bench (parallel to the shelf boards and is used to secure the 3 frames (one at 8 inches in, one at the mid point 4 feet in and one at the other end 8 inches in)... Where the other O is a similar 2 x4 that is attached at the base I use 3 1 x 2 to run the length of the top under the lattice to keep it from sagging too badly - 6 inches in from front and back and in the center - they run the same direction as the shelf boards... Hope this helps - the bench once dry (about 4 months for the pressure treated boards to get fully dry) weighs about 60 pounds and 2 in shape adults can easily move it from place to place. We normally balance it on our garden wagon to roll it - spring and fall. Doug |
#9
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Orchid Greenhouse
"Doug Houseman" wrote in message
... In article , "Diana Kulaga" wrote: A friend helped me build a shelving systemg. It consists of five steps up, made with (at that time) treated lumber slats. There are two sections, each six feet long and just less than five feet high. This allows about a two-foot access space between the sections and at the ends. Chris, I wouldn't mind seeing this system over on abpo, if you have time to take the photos and post them. I'm having a hard time picturing it, and I'm always looking for ways to increase my space. Diana I use pre cut step boards to create step up units...mine are 4, 5 and 6 steps high. I also use plastic lattice as a roof over my orchids (about 60% shade. Each unit is built 4 x 8 feet in size. In the spring the shelf boards (which are held in place by gravity) are removed and we carry the units out of the greenhouse around to the east side of the house and set them up in the weather for the summer. I have 4 units that we move each spring and fall. I use the lattice "roof" in the spring to start seedlings of tomatoes and other garden plants - this helps cut the direct sunlight at mid day more.. End view... ---------------- Lattice roof XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX 2 x 4 on edge every 4 feet X X 2 x 4 vertical every 4 feet X X X X ==== X top shelf PPPP ==== X X OPPPP=== X X O PPPPPP===X XXXXXXXXXPPPPPPX Where P is 4 step pressure treated desk stairs runner Where = is 2 x 6 cedar shelf boards 8 feet long Where X is a 2 x 4 Where - is white plastic lattice Where the "O" in OPPPP is a 2 4 that runs the length of the bench (parallel to the shelf boards and is used to secure the 3 frames (one at 8 inches in, one at the mid point 4 feet in and one at the other end 8 inches in)... Where the other O is a similar 2 x4 that is attached at the base I use 3 1 x 2 to run the length of the top under the lattice to keep it from sagging too badly - 6 inches in from front and back and in the center - they run the same direction as the shelf boards... Hope this helps - the bench once dry (about 4 months for the pressure treated boards to get fully dry) weighs about 60 pounds and 2 in shape adults can easily move it from place to place. We normally balance it on our garden wagon to roll it - spring and fall. Doug Shelving is always an entertaining topic. Bob Gordon in his phalaenopsis books describes stepped shelving running from eye level to the ground with 55 gallon drums (heat sink) in the resulting space beneath. I went with flat benches covered with those egg-crate light diffusers at alittle better than waist height so I could stick shelves underneath if necessary. Gold Country (and the now defunct Orchid House) has flat benches that roll from one side to the other, yeilding only one aisle whose position changes as the bench moves from side to side, making more bench space, less aisle space. Others have skipped benches all together and made walls covered in wire so the plants hang from the wall. I believe Ray once looked for a plan described in the AOS Bulletin where such a wall also housed a drip watering system. Simplest is just to stack cinder blocks and put wire mesh on that. Speaking of wire mesh I put the 4x4 inch wire mesh used to strengthen concrete overhead to hang plants in any variety of positions, not just along a rod or pole. |
#10
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Orchid Greenhouse
I forgot to mention Uncle Vito, your initial query on humidity. If I had
to do it again, & no existing concrete slab, I would put heavy duty plastic weed liner down (it breathes) then crushed brick. Building suppliers actually sell it & I heard it holds moisture like crazy & therefore more humidity. Cheers Wendy "Uncle_vito" wrote in message ... I am considering building a greenhouse for my orchids. It is the humidity that I want/need. Living in Southern California, low temperatures are not much of a problem. Also, seems like most orchid growers in the area (Normans, SBOE) use shade cloth or opal translucent polycarbonate panels overhead. I am looking for a greenhouse kit with these opal translucent polycarbonate panels for the roof. All that I can find seem to use clear panels. What are you folks using? Clear glass/polycarbonate with shadecloth or opal panels? Also seems that clear glass would make the GH hotter than heck, even with the use of shadecloth. Thanks for any advice. Vito |
#11
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Orchid Greenhouse
Thanks for all the great comments. Seems I have lots of work to do.
Vito "Wendy7" wrote in message ... I forgot to mention Uncle Vito, your initial query on humidity. If I had to do it again, & no existing concrete slab, I would put heavy duty plastic weed liner down (it breathes) then crushed brick. Building suppliers actually sell it & I heard it holds moisture like crazy & therefore more humidity. Cheers Wendy "Uncle_vito" wrote in message ... I am considering building a greenhouse for my orchids. It is the humidity that I want/need. Living in Southern California, low temperatures are not much of a problem. Also, seems like most orchid growers in the area (Normans, SBOE) use shade cloth or opal translucent polycarbonate panels overhead. I am looking for a greenhouse kit with these opal translucent polycarbonate panels for the roof. All that I can find seem to use clear panels. What are you folks using? Clear glass/polycarbonate with shadecloth or opal panels? Also seems that clear glass would make the GH hotter than heck, even with the use of shadecloth. Thanks for any advice. Vito |
#12
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Orchid Greenhouse
Measure twice, cut once. God is in the details. Hitchcock said filming a
movie was superfluous since he'd already 'seen' the movie whilst planning it. K "Uncle_vito" wrote in message ... Thanks for all the great comments. Seems I have lots of work to do. Vito "Wendy7" wrote in message ... I forgot to mention Uncle Vito, your initial query on humidity. If I had to do it again, & no existing concrete slab, I would put heavy duty plastic weed liner down (it breathes) then crushed brick. Building suppliers actually sell it & I heard it holds moisture like crazy & therefore more humidity. Cheers Wendy "Uncle_vito" wrote in message ... I am considering building a greenhouse for my orchids. It is the humidity that I want/need. Living in Southern California, low temperatures are not much of a problem. Also, seems like most orchid growers in the area (Normans, SBOE) use shade cloth or opal translucent polycarbonate panels overhead. I am looking for a greenhouse kit with these opal translucent polycarbonate panels for the roof. All that I can find seem to use clear panels. What are you folks using? Clear glass/polycarbonate with shadecloth or opal panels? Also seems that clear glass would make the GH hotter than heck, even with the use of shadecloth. Thanks for any advice. Vito |
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