heat - Orchid Board

chilipepper · #1 01-20-2014, 07:22 PM

I am considering a small greenhouse but I live in Oklahoma where the summer heat can be INTENSE. I'm not sure if it would be too much. Can anyone recommend a strategy?

---------- Post added at 05:22 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:05 PM ----------

Okay kinda answered my own question. Evaporative cooling system, but from what I saw the price seems prohibitive. Are there cost saving alternatives?

AussieVanda · #2 01-20-2014, 07:53 PM

If its shade cloth you are using, try a dripper system of water to trickle down the sides.

chilipepper · #3 01-20-2014, 07:57 PM

Well the whole thing is still in the planning stages and I am trying to figure out how much it will cost and more importantly how much I can afford. We usually have a few days of 105 to 110 f here and several weeks of upper 90f

AussieVanda · #4 01-20-2014, 07:58 PM

Also quite common here are pedestal style fans that have a hose connection to fine nozel spray jets.

chilipepper · #5 01-20-2014, 08:00 PM

Okay that's a great idea

AussieVanda · #6 01-20-2014, 08:03 PM

That's me, an ideas man! 😉

dounoharm · #7 01-21-2014, 09:19 AM

I have agonized over greenhouse potential in Oklahoma too....and I decided against it because mainly, the winds! it would absolutely devastate me to have those awful winds trash my greenhouse in the night!...I think if you do get a greenhouse in Oklahoma the only thing to do is build a knee wall and put real glass on top of it...you have to have a really substantial structure! because of severe hail in this state, you need a very strong glass roof. having had a polycarbonate structure in north Carolina, I can tell you they just wont stand up to Oklahoma weather. just not strong enough. if you get past the actual build expense, you will need to have a good evaporative cooler/mat system...the heat and dry conditions out here demand it....another big expense...then you have to have a really good natural gas heat system. fortunately, out here nat gas is cheaper so that is feasible....if you are going this distance financially with a greenhouse, you want one that is of a size that makes all this 'cost effective', at LEAST 12'x24....and that is why I opted not to build a greenhouse out here. I use a light stand, and only keep a few plants....there just isn't a kit made that will survive these conditions....good luck!

chilipepper · #8 01-21-2014, 10:08 AM

The more I investigate the more I am inclined to agree with you. I am , however running out of window space and my wife's cats tend to knock off my catts. I do have a small grow light in a box on a shelf in my garage. It's only a sun system 150 watt sodium light so it's not really enough. May I ask what type lighting system you are using? I have a covered porch on the north side of the house but not sure if there will be enough light to suffice being on the north. The south side of the house has a raised concrete patio which is not covered so that is not an option unless I can get it covered. I know there's a solution, I just have to find it.

DavidCampen · #9 01-21-2014, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dounoharm

...you have to have a really substantial structure! because of severe hail in this state, you need a very strong glass roof. having had a polycarbonate structure in north Carolina, I can tell you they just wont stand up to Oklahoma weather. just not strong enough.

I would say to use multiwall polycarbonate. Yes, the inexpensive ready-to-assemble polycarbonate greenhouses are not very strong but it is not too difficult to design a polycarbonate greenhouse that will withstand 100+ mph winds. The roof of my orchid room is multiwall polycarbonate and it had no trouble withstanding the 80-100 mph windstorm that we had a couple of years ago.

dounoharm · #10 01-21-2014, 03:32 PM

my nc greenhouse was a very stout twinwall polycarbonate, rated for winds in excess of 70 mph...but I would not dare to put it up in Oklahoma! you just have to experience these winds to believe it!...it might well work in southern California, but not here, not even triple wall polycarbonate can be trusted in this environment....chilipepper, I have a light stand I bought from hausermanns about 4 years ago...it came with 4 grow light bulbs, I really don't know what kind they are, lol....it is 2'x4' and comes with a humidity tray which I filled with gravel. I grow paphs well, and a few phals. I am looking to move to florida, lol