Cheaper temporary greenhouses - worth it?

[WaterWitchin]

When I used to schlep my orchids and house plants outside for the summer, I did it as soon as the night temps were 50F (May) and returned them inside latter part of September when nights started to drop under 50F. Never had an issue, and in fact probably better blooms the next season for the ones that need a temperature drop.

Also had an extendable patio table that went from 8 to maybe 12 foot, and a 10 foot picnic table. When I got impatient in the spring or too busy to deal with it in the fall I'd put everything under the tables. When we had a sudden cold snap I'd throw sheets and old blankets over the tables (like kids make "tents" of a card table and a blanket). Way back in the day I had a clothesline and I'd throw a tarp over the line to make a tent for the same reason. All worked well. Windy here in Kansas... I had a line of bricks I'd put on sides of the tarp or a combo with some tent stakes.

Buy a cool expandable patio table in metal or teak, and it will travel with you whenever you move. My experiences with popup type greenhouse when I owned a business and wanted to start water lilies and lotus early for sale was a waste of money and time.

[Dimples]

Thanks, everyone. It’s not the answer I was hoping for, but I’ll forego the greenhouse and will wait for warmer temperatures. Normally, I agree that lows in the 50s wouldn’t be a problem but we hit that temperature very quickly once the sun sets and it stays that cold, and we have extremely wet fog in the mornings. I’m not as worried about my orchids as I am my ficus lyrata. They’re too large to replace if something were to happen to them. I could get smaller replacements, but I would miss my indoor giants.

[estación seca]

The temperature swings in such a structure would likely be a problem for that Ficus. Ficus benjamina, nitida, pumila and triangularis aren't so fussy.

[Leafmite]

I do not know anything about that particular ficus so I cannot help you there.

[Dimples]

I know FLs have a fussy reputation. They are definitely not the easiest but my experience has shown them to be resilient and easy-care so long as they’re in aerated soil and get the right amount of light.

The spot outside is a deep recess where a long east-facing wall and a north-facing wall meet (blocks most of the wind). It has wide open exposure to the north and east, and a 4’ roof overhang. The area gets full sun in the morning and then the overhang/wall shade gets progressively deeper starting around noon. By 2pm, more than half of the hypothetical greenhouse would be in full shade, with the rest to quickly follow. Because of the house position and roofline, by 3-4pm the whole thing would be fully shaded (and that’s not accounting for any additional shade cloth).

I know you all have been worried about heat, and I appreciate your input. A decade working in non-profit farming and ag education taught me that heat-gain is definitely the most overlooked aspect of greenhouse use for your average consumer. Comprehension of how much hotter it will be inside a small plastic bubble when the sun is shining doesn’t come naturally to humans.

I have experience with small greenhouses (10x16 +/-) in this climate and am fully aware of their limitations and the disaster-potential. Shade cloth is a non-negotiable in summer. Once the inside temperature was regularly reaching 95F (35C) with both doors and all windows open, the plastic would come off and shade cloth would go on the frame.

It is a bummer that there aren’t quality options available for people that need a temporary greenhouse. I’ll be setting up some shade cloth along the roofline overhang and tucking the plants behind it for the season.

[Roberta]

The one thing that the little portable GH can do is to keep the heavy dew off the plant. Temperature is still ambient, but there's not the "cold water" effect... the cold water will make the leaf surface colder than just exposure to air, at least for a short time. Don't know if that would help enough to make it worth the effort.