GREENHOUSE LOCATION

[jcaballero]

So, I will be putting up a 6' x 8' GH, with 4mm UV stabilized twin-wall polycarbonate panels. I'm trying to figure out where to place the GH. I have 3 options: 1) full sun, 2) morning sun and 3) afternoon sun. My backyard faces north and option 1) faces east and option 3) faces west. Where do you recommend I put it?

[Discus]

I'd always go for full sun and then shade/cool as required; where are you located? If you're somewhere hot, you might like to cool things down by taking advantage of shade.
Also, what do you want to grow in there?

[jcaballero]

Originally Posted by Discus

I'd always go for full sun and then shade/cool as required; where are you located? If you're somewhere hot, you might like to cool things down by taking advantage of shade.
Also, what do you want to grow in there?

Mainly orchids, but I'll also throw in a few plumerias and a dessert rose. Summer gets pretty hot here. Above 90 and sometimes reaching 100. The GH has a vent at the top and I plan on leaving the door open during summer to help maintain the GH at a lower temp.

Because it will get too hot in the full sun location, I would rather place it in 1 of the other 2 locations.

[Discus]

Originally Posted by jcaballero

Because it will get too hot in the full sun location, I would rather place it in 1 of the other 2 locations.

Wow, with temps like that you're going to want something beyond passive cooling like that - probably misters if not a full on wet wall. Incidentally, if you suspend aluminised shadecloth above the outside of the GH, you effectively reflect a lot of the heat away from the GH - meaning you tame the summer, but can keep the light through the lean winter months, and for orchids that like conditions a bit shadier than full sun, avoid scorching the leaves.

It would help to know what kind of orchids - intermediate? warm? cool? What genera?

Orchids are not a one size fits all group; vandas might be happy in lots of light and heat, but masdevallias would hate it, for example!

---------- Post added at 11:46 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:45 PM ----------

Between the other two locations, I'd say maybe morning sun- because adding heat and light to an already hot condition (afternoon sun) is not a good idea, but some nice early morning warmth can help kick things off, particularly in cooler months.

[jcaballero]

The orchids I have are cattleyas, dendros, oncidiums, phals, 1 encyclia and 1 epilailiocattleya. The thing is that where I live we get some pretty hot summers and in winter it could drop to be in the 20s. Last summer the average temp was around 90. There was 1 day in July where it reached to 100, but by the following day it went down to the 90s. I do intend on getting a mist system.

[Ray]

I agree with Discus - put it in full sun, and get some Aluminet for shade. You can always add shade, but you cannot add sun, so by putting it elsewhere, you're giving away control.

[jcaballero]

Originally Posted by Ray

I agree with Discus - put it in full sun, and get some Aluminet for shade. You can always add shade, but you cannot add sun, so by putting it elsewhere, you're giving away control.

I agree. plus, it will help to heat the GH in winter too. I think I know exactly where to put it. My backyard faces north, but that's the only place where it will get the most amount of sun. Where can I get this aluminet?

---------- Post added at 07:45 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:39 AM ----------

I found a place on the internet. Now, what % do you think I should get?

[Discus]

Not all those plants like the same light levels; you may like to consider a couple of "sections" of different %, sized according to how many high/mid/low light plants you have (and considering movement of sun through day and related patterns in the GH). Of course, a 6'x8' GH isn't exactly giant, so you may just like to compromise, perhaps with 50% - I have not used this product, and certainly not in your climate, so I'm just guessing by thinking "most of the plants you list like quite a lot of light", and 50% seems like a good compromise. Hopefully some others will give you advice, and I imagine googling aluminet orchid will pay dividends (particularly if you can find experiences in similar latitude/climate to yours).

Some people are sneaky and have multiple layers.

This site recommends %age by plant type, but YMMV. 70% Aluminet Shade Curtain - Shade Cloth | Greenhouse Megastore

That said, if heat is more of a concern than light, err on the side of more shade.

[Vanda lover]

I had a sun room that faced north and it had the advantage of getting both east and west light, without the scorching hot mid day sun. It had bright light at all times, and there were times that I still needed to shade. The house was on the south side of the square sun room.

[Ray]

I think that Gothic Arch Greenhouses has some of the best prices on Aluminet.