A Gardeners Forum Forums Gardening Reference Gardening in 2003 In the Greenhouse

Weezie asked about the greenhouse in an email earlier today, I went out and took some pics so y'all could see what it looks like with all the outdoor container plants snuggled in for the winter.
It's not full yet, thank goodness, I still have some room for winter "projects"!

Here's the link, click on the album entitled "In the greenhouse":

Plants in the Greenhouse


Nikkal

Great pic Nikkal! did you use the coated wire shelving like you would put in a closet or laundry room? I want to build one next year.

Jiffy, the wire racks you see are actually potato chip racks, "rescued" from the grocery store, where they were going to throw them away!
They are made of the same materials as the coated metal shelving you're speaking of, and they're adjustable, I use them for my grow lights.
And best of all, they were free!!!


Nikkal

Nikkal,
Thats a very nice greenhouse..You did a very good job on it..Looks like i might could us one of those here in Texas..But so far we haven't had a real cold night..Im collecting lots plants so if it ever does get cold im going to be in trouble..Guess my garage will be full..
When u move its like starting all over ..So a bigger house means more furniture..So the greenhouse will be on my want list too.. Thanks for sharing your pictures..

Nikkal,

You wouldn't happen to have room for an 8' tall Rubber tree and a 6'long Hoya, would ya? We will be needing a greenhouse by next year but it would have been nice to have one this year! Everything is looking happy in your gh!

Dawn

Well, sure Dawn Marie, the more the merrier! Funny thing is, a few of the plants in the pics actually belong to some of my clients, they (the plants) are "vacationing" with me over the winter!
Maybe next year I'll build another greenhouse, and rent out space in it!


Nikkal

Nikkal,
I was going to answer this one,
and somehow, I got sidetracked,
(Me??? You gotta be kidding, get sidetracked,
I never get sidetracked, everything here is in perfect, oiled and greased working conditions here, here, here, here, bump...........
That mechanic did a great job on my car,
Did you need your diaper changed????)
Oh, er, um....... What was I doing???????

No, really that looks great on the inside....
All tucked in....
Do you have a thermometer in there to tell
your temp's/??
Does it get cold in your area where you'd
need a heater for those types of plants???

Really, looks awesome, I can't wait for spring here.
<img border="0" alt="[clappy]" title="" src="graemlins/clappy.gif" />

Weezie

Weezie, you're just TOO funny!!

Well, it's not supposed to get really cold here, but...last night's low was 25* !! Even though it doesn't normally get that cold, it does get cold enough for the greenhouse to need a heater. So far, I'm just using an electric space heater (doesn't keep it much warmer though) I'm working on using solar heat through thermal water storage, and extra insulation on the north side. Even so, the plants have made it through the last couple of days just perfectly!
I have a digital max/min thermometer/humidity gauge that gives me the high/low temp and high/low humidity for the last 24 hrs., as well as the current temp and humidity.

It's been great to go out there and "play" the last couple of days though, in the daytime it's warmer than my house!

Does anyone have any ideas for low cost heating for the greenhouse
this year? I have a 20 x 50

20X50????
Holy Cow!
I've lived in apartments smaller than that!
WOW!

You Can Say, I jumped into the business BLIND!
It's filled with boston ferns!

Heck, Misty, I was in Georgia some years back and the humidity there was like a sauna! Your lucky plants! I'll bet your Boston's are happy!

They loved this summer but, I'll tell you something weird.
I put a few outside to see what would happen verses the ones i have
in the greenhouse and the ones outsided grew bigger and faster. (???)
This is my first year growing ferns and I'm still in the dark about
a few things but, i'm learning from some mistakes!!! The first time, I
put a bottled gas heater in my greenhouse boy was that a mistake!
I came out the next morning and had a mess, I didn't know that you needed
ventilation for the propane fumes to get out!!!

Hi Misty! Welcome to The Garden Helper! I think you'll really like it here! I wrote you a LONG post under the Heat topic, but lost it 'cause I used too many graemlins...
I've read a little on using the water pipes in the g'house, I'll see if I can dig up some of the sites for you to get some info.

Our gas heating prices are really high, too, I'm using some pretty drastic measures to avoid using my gas furnace! :rolleyes:

My bostons do much better outside in the summer, too. I think maybe they like our natural humidity better than that in the greenhouse.

What type of greenhouse do you have? (other than BIG ) Mine is the hoophouse type, pvc covered with greenhouse film. I'd love to hear more about it.


Nikkal

My greenhouse Is A Cold Frame Made With 2" Square Galvinized Tubing. (Hope Style)
I have an old wood burning stove in it and also have a gas space heater.
With the wood it's just so much trouble keeping it burning all night and the gas
is so exspensive. I'v talked with some other growers about what the lowest temp. a fern
can stand and they said around 40. Some nights down here we've gotten as low as 27 so far.
Without heat the greenhouses are about 10 degrees higher.
Thanks for the post and I hope to hear from you soon. Maybe we can come up with
some solutions to this high cost of heating!!!

Misty, just an FYI - my g'house temp has gotten down to just below freezing already this year (we had a very cold snap) and my bostons (and all the other plants)are just fine!! I have a friend here who is a horticulturalist, she tells me they're okay because the temps don't stay that cold for more than a few hours here. She says an extended cold period is what harms the plants. Since you're in GA, the same may apply to you.


Nikkal

Thanks For The Info. The Weather Here Usually Gets Below Freezing
In Janurary. Last Year Our Coldest Was 8 Degrees. I was growing Geraniums
In This House And Used A Wood Heater I Lost Half Of The House Due To The
Heat Not Flowing To The Front. Not To Mention I Was 7 Months Pregnant
And Tring To Load The Heater During The Nite After A Bathroom Run!!!
You Ladies Know What I Mean If You've Had Children!
You Can't Sleep Anyway, So Why Not Load The Heater!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anyway, I Was Just Lookin To Get Some Other Ideas.
Thanks