A Gardeners Forum Forums Gardening Reference Gardening in 2003 Need some pointers on greenhouses...

Need some pointers on greenhouses...

If we get one,
How do we keep it clean?
Do we heat it?
Do we shade it?

Weezie

Catlover

LOL I knew that was coming!!!!!!!!!

Where's Nikkal lately?
Catlover

I don't know,
I haven't seen any posts from
her lately, or any of the reads
I was reading when I was gone????

I was thinking the same thing???
Wondered how hers was doing???

Thought she could give me some pointers.
But I thought for suuuuuuuure Bill would have some.
Specially with him having so many of those cactus' in his green houses!!!
"?"
Gotta go, still not feeling well from the doctors office visit where we caught colds from last week. I might go to bed early tonight!!
Weezie

Hi guys!
I'm here (well, sorta) been reading some of the posts, thanks for wondering about me!
I had posted a week or so ago that I'd been feeling kinda yucky, that's why y'all haven't heard much from me. Thought it was a bug, or maybe early flu, but I couldn't shake it. Ended up at the Dr., and it looks like one of these nasty mosquitos may have given me West Nile. Dr's been running tests, they pretty much test ya for alot of other things, and if it's not any of them, they assume it's West Nile. There's really not any treatment for W.Nile, if you're healthy otherwise (thankfully, I am) ya pretty much just ride it out, rest, drink plenty of fluids, etc. I feel like a pincushion, I've been poked and stuck so much! The Dr. says she just wants to makes sure it's nothing more serious (silly me, I thought W. Nile was serious )
Anyway, I'm sure I'll be fine soon, just got to get to the point where I feel like doing more than laying on the couch and sleeping! with y'all, but right now, I think it's time to go back to

Talk to y'all soon
Nikkal

Well, Nikkal,
I am GLAD to hear you are okay,
Weezie

Tip #1..... Decide how big you want your new greenhouse to be..... then double that size!

BTW, Weezie, all my greenhouses and cactus collection disappeared one night. I don't have them anymore!

Bill,
I knew that,
You told us.
But I figured you'd have a hint or two or six.

The little greenhouse is on the ULR on top of
this post. It's from Harborfrieght, It's small.
I told my mother we needed two if it was such a reasonable price, one for her and one for me, but
she just gave me one of those motherly looks!!!
(My looks never work on my two boys!! )

But I figure I at least get a little one to play in too!!!

What URL, Weezie? I wanna see! What's it made of?

I'd recommend a brick path down the center of the greenhouse, with a 3-5 inch layer of pea gravel for the remainder of the floor.

The amount of sun that you want to let in will be determined by what you are growing. You can always add shading if the sun is too intense, but you can't add more sun to a shaded house... Don't forget... ventilation is critical!

Cleaning...... Spic-n-Span and a stiff brush.... LOL.... what part are you concerned about cleaning?

OOooopss!!
The ULR on top of the Take a Peak
It's a little one, 6ft by 8ft or so...
My mom and I are both 5 ft., so we fit! <img border="0" alt="[clappy]" title="" src="graemlins/clappy.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[clappy]" title="" src="graemlins/clappy.gif" />

The cleaning as far as moisture and molds??
Heat vs no heat????
I would suppose it would depend on what we use it for.
Just starting seeds, or into winter???
(Oh, maybe I could get a GUNNERA and put it in the middle of it!!! That's my dream!! I love those plants!!!
My mother would not like me!)

Anyhow, I knew that flooring can make a difference too. If dirt falls on the floor, water, etc. I see many with just dirt.
What's your thoughts on a basic wooden floor.?

We're ordering the green house today! <img border="0" alt="[clappy]" title="" src="graemlins/clappy.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[clappy]" title="" src="graemlins/clappy.gif" />
Weezie

That's a very nice house for the money! Polycarbonate panels are the best material to use, in my opinion..

Heating is a very expensive option, especially in the middle of winter. I'd recommend just having a thermostatically operated heat lamp in there if you have to overwinter some plants. It will keep it from freezing in there, but little else.

You can get a very early start in the spring if you buy a propagating mat to start your seeds on. These rubber mats come in a variety of sizes and have a built in t'stat and heating coils that provide a constant 75 degrees. They really speed up your seed growth as well as rooting time for cuttings.

Wood is a very bad idea for the floor. First off..... the wood will stay wet most of the time, and rot before long. Wet wood also makes it hard to control the humidity. Wood also provides a safe harbor for insects and diseases. Using gravel and bricks allows you to hose the floor down and any spilled soil will disappear. A plain dirt floor will be slightly cooler, and again will hold extra humidity in the house.

You should have a small fan running in the greenhouse to keep the air circulating. This keeps the plants happy and prevents a lot of the condensation problem.

I usually added a cup of bleach to my cleaning bucket to control the mold, mildew, and moss.

Yeah, we've been peaking at greenhouses for a bit.
And for the money not too bad,
and NO Shipping & Handling and NO TAX,
it's a bar~goon!!!! Can't beat that with a stick!
She'll be in 7th heaven
Weezie