Outside for the Summer

[Lilavati]

I posted something related to this down in outdoor growing, but I thought I would repost up here where it would get more traffic . . . I appologize if this is rude

I have about 100 orchids, ranging from brassovolas (that don't hate me any more, they started blooming, thanks guys!) to Paphs and Phals. Right now they are on light racks in the basement, which is their winter home. I want to move them outside for the summer like I did last year.

Last year I used the front stoop, but I had far fewer plants then. My collection will not fit on the stoop this year!

So I'm looking for a shadehouse/greenhouse type thing. It can't be too large (no bigger than 10 X 10, and that's pushing it), it has to be reasonably portable (it can't stay up in the winter), and preferably prefab, because I am a menance to myself and others with tools (I can assemble something, but don't ask me to BUILD anything!), and it has to be under $500. The spot open for it in the yard has some shade from the large trees overhead, but I would not refer to it as shady. It gets quite hot here in the summers, and it is very humid.

I've found very few prefab shadehouses, the best of which seems to be this http://www.shelterworld.net/page/S/CTGY/HSPCSH, however, I don't need that high roof, and its pretty expensive for what you get (and comes on a truck). I've also looked at things like this: FlowerHouse FarmHouse Portable Greenhouse Kits, but I am concerned, even with the venting, that I might cook my orchids.

Ideas? Suggestions? Other products? Things easily jury-rigged? Help?

[sisyphus]

can you or can you get someone to put up some poles in the ground so you could hang the shade cloth from. here is one company that sells the cloth. it is 12 X12 : 12 Foot Wide Knitted Black Shade Cloth-60% [GT-B-60-12] - $55.00

[DebsC]

How about a table or maybe two? I have a very simple wooden framed table with a wire top. It sets under a large Oak tree so I don't use shade cloth.

But if you need a top or shade cloth it would be easy to extend the legs a few feet or more above the table top and then attach shade cloth to them.

Good luck finding a summer place for your orchids!