Greenhouse idea for cold area

[Feerie]

Hope you all are well.

Hehehe, some of you are probably still sleeping while I post this.

I would love to build a greenhouse in my garden for my orchids, but the problem is weather. I do have lots of space on the west side of my garden that does receive sun in the morning from the east side, that is not my problem. The problem is winter. We get a lot of frost as well as black frost and snow that we get once a year during the month of June or July, that last about 2 - 3 days. I also do not know how to build my greenhouse that will be right for the orchids in these climates. It get as cold as -10 degree Celsius and in the summer it get as hot as 37-38 degree Celsius.

It there perhaps someone that can assist me with advice. Pretty please.

[RosieC]

It all depends how warm the orchid you want to have in it over winter like. If they are warm or intermediate ones you need to think very carefully about construction. For example deep foundations can help with insulation.

However if you will be keeping real cool lovers out there you can do things more simply.

I keep Cyms, Masdies, and some cooler Dens out there and in the winter only try to heat to 5C, though sometimes it drops lower. I also get snow and heavy frosts most winters. I have a very simple setup with just a small heater and I line with bubble wrap in the winter.

[Feerie]

Hi.
Thanks for the reply.
I got some phals, dens, and some cattleya. The dens I got is mini's.
I would like to extend my orchid collection but need the space to put them first. If I can not do that then I must just turn my head the other way and just be happy with what I got. But the orchid bug has got me bad.
I will have to do more research, the problem is to build the greenhouse within my budget.

[RosieC]

I think for phals and most Dens you would need to heat quite a lot in the winter. Phals like house temps , even a cool house can be too low for them to do well.

Ones can go cooler but generally need at least 12C. It could cost a lot in heating unless you insulate really well. If you are on a budget it might ne hard for those sorts (that's why I only do cool plants outside in the winter, the rest come in the house for the winter and the phals are always in the house.)