Greenhouse Style

[Alan Sailer]

I really like how that looks.

I am curious how you measured light levels. With a lath structure the light intensity should be like a zebra's stripes, full sun and shade with an average giving you the total light value.

Incidentally, I may have found a used small greenhouse locally. I plan to check it out soon and see if it will work for me.

Cheers.

[Jmbaum]

Looks Great Coconuts,

While the lath house's can greatly improve ambient humidity levels in So.California most of the year, it unfortunately cannot stand up to the bone dry winds of the Santa Ana winds. Even just a couple days can desiccate an entire collection that is not meticulously tended.

I do miss growing in humid environments, makes many things so much easier.

[Roberta]

A sprinkler system is really easy to set up so one can take a vacation. There are battery-powered timers that fit on a hose connection, or putting the controller on the house where it is sheltered (and can get power) and a wire to the valve is easy too.

[Alan Sailer]

jmbaum,

Yes the Santa Ana winds worry me very much. I am most worried about heat.

Roberta,

I will have to check other threads for more information about humidity and heat control.

The small green house I mention will probably end up being my house. It is larger than I want and has one open side. Once again keeping it cool is my chief worry.

Cheers.

[Jmbaum]

A solar tracker app is very useful, I use “sun seeker” so I can can consider where the sun moves across the year and use the live camera mode when consider where to place my plants throughout the years. Especially useful right now where the sun is so low, but still very intense, I can raise or lower my plant to compensate.

Passive cooling can be accomplished under planting benches with all manner of terrestrials and using lots of terracotta. Active cooling, we are in luck, especially in dry Santa Ana condition, evap coolers work like a charm since you can lower the temperature quite a lot prior to hitting the dew point.

In regards to potting… I pot my plants very low in the terracotta, usually half the height of the pot, it fosters a humid realm to protect new growth. If I get around to it’d like to double pot everything

[Roberta]

Alan,
Cooling is definitely something that you need to consider - along with air circulation. So electricity is something that you have to factor in ... I can't think of any other way to run fans. I also use a fogger to control heat in mine (which boosts humidity too).

[Alan Sailer]

Jmbaum,

I had not considered using pots as mini evap coolers/humidifiers. Cool idea.

Roberta,

Yes electricity is a given As will be water. I've been doing even more forum browsing and seems higher temps can be OK with good circulation. Also people seem to be moving shade cloth over the course of the year.

How effective are roof vents?

Cheers.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by Alan Sailer

How effective are roof vents?

I consider them vital. Heat rises - so that's an important way of getting it out. The ones that work with a piston, where the expansion of an internal wax do the job splendidly - no power needed, they open when it is hot and close when it is cold.