HF 10 x 12 Poly Carb Greenhouse build

[Polarizeme]

I have been concerned about our temperatures being so cold so early. The heater barely keeps up when the temps dip into the mid 20s outside with 40 or so in the greenhouse. I was particularly worried since the expected lows are in the teens for the next week and highs in the 30s.
Then I had a revelation. It came to me 2 nights ago in a dream, I kid you not.
I was dreaming about my old house... and it occurred to me that I had to use plastic in one of the rooms due to the drafts. So when I awoke it occurred to me that the ceiling in the greenhouse was 6 ft above the walls and wasted space... no need to heat it. So, I bought some 8 mil plastic and made a "drop" ceiling in there..
The temps haven't gone below 50 and it was 27 last night! So relived!

[dounoharm]

winters in north Carolina were harsh too...I bought a huge solar pool cover, put grommets on the sides, and covered the roof and down the sides of my gh there...it helped a good bit...it was on the outside, and I used it for about 5 years....I hope your gh stays warm enough! good luck!

[stonedragonfarms]

Liana:
I hope that you are holding down up your way...it was 13F here in Eugene when I got up this morning I didn't go out to the gh because I'd rather not open the door and let the heat out...on a separate note, the house that I grow my "big" masdevallias in was down to the mid 30's the past few nights and they seem to be loving the cold...veitchiana is a strange one though...
Adam

[Polarizeme]

We were at 38 in the greenhouse last night for a low. If it drops to 9 like its forecast to, It'll get too cold in there as I am gaining 20 degrees of heat with my present set up. I'm going to pick up the pool solar blanket today and some straw to cover everyone. That's going to be a mess, but better than losing all my orchids.
I really only need to gain 10 degrees of heat to weather this cold snap. Otherwise, they are all coming into the basement... all 600 or so of them.

[RJSquirrel]

I would like to blame the cold for my troubles but the truth of this matter is my troubles are of my own exacting specifications and design ..

[Polarizeme]

Oh hooray! I bubble wrapped the inside of the greenhouse last night. It was Very successful! I now have a 40 degree temp variance. My greenhouse leveled out to 55 degrees top and bottom. The outside temps went down to 21, but the greenhouse didn't waiver. I am ecstatic!
I can sleep again!
We are expecting temps at 9 degrees Saturday night. Let's hope we stay warm enough..

[Polarizeme]

Well, here it is on Sunday morning. I can say that the modification was truly successful, as we had a low of 8 degrees and the greenhouse hovered near 50.
I was out there half of the day yesterday cleaning up the carnage created by installing the bubble wrap all around. Plants had to be shuffled around so I could climb up in the benchs, and nothing ended up in it's normal spot.

Here are some pics of the bubble wrap job. We got the ceiling done on Friday after work.

I had to move the Draculas up from their spots under the benches. It's too cold down there.







My little gargoyle on the floor near the fountain. He's trying desperately to ward off the cold. I think I need to get my Griffins in there to help with that.

[RosieC]

[Polarizeme]

So, I've been keeping my eyes open for some necessary items for the greenhouse, besides orchids...

I had been watching a couple of swamp coolers on craigslist, hoping to get an opportunity to grab a good deal.

As luck would have it, the worlds most wonderful everything, my fiancee, decided to snatch something up and present it to me at Christmas...

Feast your eyes on this!



This is a beautiful, pristine vintage swamp cooler. It looks like it was used for maybe part of one summer! It was probably manufactured and purchased sometime between 1955-1965. The whole thing weighs near 18 lbs.

What a beauty this is! The fan motor is beefy and the water compartment is large enough for us to put a small float valve into for auto filling.

[Polarizeme]

Originally Posted by stonedragonfarms

Liana:
I hope that you are holding down up your way...it was 13F here in Eugene when I got up this morning I didn't go out to the gh because I'd rather not open the door and let the heat out...on a separate note, the house that I grow my "big" masdevallias in was down to the mid 30's the past few nights and they seem to be loving the cold...veitchiana is a strange one though...
Adam

Adam, how have you fared with the cold? I've been thinking about you down there in the chilly South...