Mini greenhouse move-in day

[rogerman]

For me and my huge shade house, to keep up humidity i built a four x one metre round fishpond right in the middle. I'll also be putting coarse sand on the ground (rather than shingle). I don't have too much problems as the ground has been kept wet.

With the monsoon season over here, it's not going to rain for the next four months, which means i'm going to have to finish my sprinkler system fast

[RonCo]

Originally Posted by rogerman

With the monsoon season over here, it's not going to rain for the next four months, which means i'm going to have to finish my sprinkler system fast

Having spent some time in southeast Asia years ago I found it hard to believe how dry January, February and March could be. What was nothing but rain and more rain in September turned into the biggest dust bowl imaginable 6 months later.

Ron

[RonCo]

Originally Posted by BikerDoc5968

Ron, I'm just north of you in Michigan and with our "dry" winters, it is somewhat difficult to increase the humidity without misters or a humidifier. It is true that as your collection increases in size the humidity will naturlly increase as well as following a goodd watering...common sense! I have a real problem keeping the humidity up even with wetting the floor and benches and misting the plants...but they survive and even flower for me....enjoy your beautiful new GH

Last week I spent a lot of time watching how the humidity would fluctuate after watering and wetting the bench and floor. With the greenhouse open to my 400 sq ft workshop anything I did to increase humidity was like spitting in the ocean. Even open trays of water did nothing to help the situation.

Now with the ghouse sealed off from the shop it's a different story. You can even feel the difference if you step inside and close the door. Leave the door open for a few minutes and the recording hygrograph will take a nosedive but quickly recovers when once the door is closed.

Ron

[mojomick]

Congratulations RonCo. You will fill it up in no time and be building on before you know it. I don't know how big the Columbus society is but I'm sure you will be getting free plants in no time. We often bring our divisions to our meetings and let people bid on the plant. The money goes to the society and people go home with $1 or $2 plants. I am quickly filling up my 8 x 12 house and am looking to build on. Enjoy. Stay warm. Betty

[Amanda L]

Congrats on your new orchid home and keep us posted on any new additions! I'm so jealous!! I want a greenhouse!

[Brooke]

Ron eventually your ground will get saturated from watering and the humidity will increase on it's own, particularly at night. Wait until it rains outside and the walls drip humidity on you and the plants :>)

During the winter when the sun is out and the humidity levels fall I don't worry about the drop because it will go up at night when the plants can use it the most.

Enjoy your g/h, you did a great job.

Brooke

[dounoharm]

post some more pics ron as you fill up your space! MORE PICS!

[rogerman]

yeah thats right..... Things are drying off quite fast here at the moment....hasn't rained for a couple weeks i think.

Waaa That means i have to do more watering. Haven't done any for a few months.

[gixrj18]

You shouldn't need a lot of humidity during the winter, anyway, the plants are used to dryer conditions during the winter. Too much moisture this time of year may cause problems with the dormant plants. You just have to fatten them up really good during the summer, so they can feed off that fat over the winter.

[RonCo]

Originally Posted by gixrj18

You shouldn't need a lot of humidity during the winter, anyway, the plants are used to dryer conditions during the winter. Too much moisture this time of year may cause problems with the dormant plants. You just have to fatten them up really good during the summer, so they can feed off that fat over the winter.

Right now I'm running about 60% RH at night and about 40% during the day if the sun is out. Do these numbers sound about right?

If I open the greenhouse to my shop air all the time, the humidity drops down to about 25%. That seems a little too dry to me.

Ron