If money was no object ...what features would you have in your greenhouse - Orchid Board

Miss Flower · #1 02-10-2015, 08:42 AM

I am thinking of building a greenhouse but I have no idea what bells and whistles there are already out there.

Obviously there is a money limit but in a perfect world what would you choose in terms of sensors and gizmos ....

....and what would you avoid if you have done so already?

Thanks for the input

Subrosa · #2 02-10-2015, 09:08 AM

It would be a largely earth sheltered, geothermally heated and cooled affair to help keep it cool enough during our summers to not have high altitude plants melt from the heat and not cost an arm and a leg to heat in winter. Think of a dry inground pool with a greenhouse over it.

Raqsharqi · #3 02-10-2015, 10:35 AM

I would have gone bigger, so it is easier to keep a shady side and a bright side. I would make it taller to keep the hot air on top in the summer. I would have a fogger, and all the electric and water supplies inside. I would have more tables and hooks to put the orchids on. I would have someone on call to monitor the place when I'm on vacation!

---------- Post added at 07:35 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:16 AM ----------

And I'd hire a professional to set up a floor plan for where to put what in every season. What worked well in fall/winter is causing problems in spring/summer because the light isn't the same!

tropterrarium · #4 02-10-2015, 10:50 AM

Mine next GH will have three temperature zones: 1/4 cool, 1/2 intermediate, 1/4 warm. Intermediate has a coffee table to just sit there and lose myself in the plants. There's a dedicated area for potting/mounting, with plenty of shelf space for tools and supplies. I like my current wood frame GH, but even with sealing/staining it with marine products, I still wonder about durability. So far (4 years) so good. I would use double pane glass rather than single pane and do a dual layer plastic (don't remember the name of the material) corrugated roof.

Everything is redundant, particularly heat and cooling. Daily watering for mounted plants is automated (maybe with injector system for fertilizer from RO water), along with heating, cooling, louvres, humidity control.

Size: depends on how much time you have (want) to spend on the collection. Some species require little attention (hardy potted hybrids), while others command daily fussing (mounted botanicals). I think the number of plants is more limiting than the size of the structure. 100 mini pleuros take more or less the same time as 100 phal pots. Having a decent occupancy rate will make environmental control (particularly humidity) much easier. So size of GH depends on a combination of factors: size of plants, fussiness, number of such plants, and time you are prepared to spend on plants. With that in mind, I think one size up from what you think you will need, is a good idea. Tall is good. My current miniGH is about 8', but 10' would be much better: have hanging baskets overhead, but you can still walk under it without bending down.

Tschimm · #5 02-10-2015, 11:55 AM

If money really was no object I would build this first and then put my little house in the middle :-)

Plodde · #6 02-10-2015, 01:09 PM

my dream/future greenhouse

Atalah · #7 02-10-2015, 02:30 PM

For a first greenhouse I'd try to keep it small. I would find out what is important as I grow more experience. However, I would like some windows to open automatically to release exessive heat and to aerate the greenhouse a bit as well.

I officially decided that I'll never want a greenhouse for orchids, so I won't worry about boosting humidity levels.

Now I only have a tunnel wich provides a shade. I use it for potted plants to give them just a little bit of extra protection during the winter.

FountainDesigner · #8 02-10-2015, 02:32 PM

Partially in-ground (as mentioned above), wet wall cooling system, automated venting and environmental controls, automated fertilization through irrigation, and definitely fog!