High quality GH recommendations, US

[tropterrarium]

I'm planning for a larger new GH and am looking into options with following parameters:

- 300-500 sqft, freestanding
- Metal, double pane low E glass.
- Options for extractor fans, louvres, swamp coolers etc.
- Location: Santa Barbara, CA.
- Plants: miniature botanicals, mostly mounted.
- temperature intermediate, humidity 70-80%.

I found Florian Geneva series and Gothic Arch Traditional series. Experience with either? Anything else to consider? Happy to pay for good quality.

[dounoharm]

make sure it is wide and tall! it makes all the difference in the world! I like farmtek for incidentals.....fans etc....as you are in cali, cooling is going to be your hardest hurdle to overcome

good luck, and I am sooo jealous!

[tropterrarium]

Thanks for the pointer to farmtek. Those other pieces certainly will need serious consideration. I'm about 1 year out from pulling the trigger, so a good amount of time to think it over.

Re cooling, swamp coolers work pretty well for intermediate plants. I have a mini GH (9x4") right now. I won't try Draculas and a few specialty cool plants are in a separate actively cooled terrarium.

Re tall, how tall is tall? I've been thinking 10 feet at eaves. Slope of roof is another variable, and not sure what the pros and cons are of various slope angles.

[Whimgrinder]

That depends - what is your budget??

[tropterrarium]

Originally Posted by Whimgrinder

That depends - what is your budget??

I did a quick pricing for a 300 sqft Florian with top end glazing at 28K for the box (without foundation, utilities, gear, racks etc.), and that is perfectly fine. Shipping and installation is another ~20K. I think I want to keep it from bare earth to functional GH <100K.

[dounoharm]

Re tall, how tall is tall? I've been thinking 10 feet at eaves. Slope of roof is another variable, and not sure what the pros and cons are of various slope angles.[/QUOTE]

think of tall as a place for excess heat to go....you will be in an area that is hot...I am in texas, and it is well over 100 degrees all summer....so, I put in an enormous exhaust fan that pulls that heat out....I run the evaporative cooler day and nite....and I also have a jaybird 700 to keep humidity up.....

my gh is dictated by our small lot...no room for a freestanding. I built on to the back of the house, and I have 2 solid walls...not the best scenario, but it works....the eave side on the house is 9 feet. I had to make a good slope because of intense snow at times....you wont have to deal with that!

don't forget the floor! dig down and use a strong weed cloth, then put in gravel! so much humidity in gravels!

if you have room, go for a freestanding one! and, invariably greenhouses are too small after a year....gl!

[tropterrarium]

Dounoharm: SB is quite a bit cooler. It is rare that it gets above 90, average high by month is 76F in August with daily fluctuation of +/-5F. Even if sun heats up the interior, I don't foresee too many problems with swamp coolers. Even in the heat of Los Angeles, the temp-probe controlled swamp cooler always turns off after sunset.

Re floor, will get contractor to take care of all of this and deal with permits and regulations.

Re size, I think that depends a lot on what you grow. I grow mainly miniatures mounted, so even wonder whether 500 may be too big. I can pack a lot of plants into a relatively small area. Different story for a Grammatophyllum collection!

[Selmo]

You should be able to better than 300sqft for 100K. Here you could get a 100ft X 60ft house with exhaust fans, louvers, 8mm lexan, 2 doors, and shipped and built for that! I know life is more expensive there, than here. Try Stuppy's Greenhouses or Grower Solutions.

Always build it as big as you can afford and land will allow, you will fill it up sooner than you think. As to the height, the taller you go, the more vertical you can go. With hanging/mounted plants that's what you'll need. The sidewalls need to be the first step in getting height, 6ft should be the minimum. Then the roof arch can be the rest of the height. The shape of the roof arch depends on the load that it will bare. Here that means snow, and 20"+ of wet snow weights more than you think. I have seen many greenhouses fail under these conditions. Your worry will not be snow but wind. Wind can do serious damage to greenhouses if not designed for it. I have seen the coverings torn off houses at only 35mph

Remember that weather will be your biggest enemy. Prepare for cold snaps, heat waves, hail storms, power outages, wind, and torrential rain. Spend your money wisely, do your research, and the best of luck with your new greenhouse

[tropterrarium]

Selmo: I don't need to spend 100K, but that is my approx top range. If I can get it done for 50, I'm happy.
6000 sqft would be completely over the top too large for one person growing miniatures.
Struppy: all polycarbonate, but I am looking for double pane low E glass glazing.
Grower solution: not even close.
Have a look at Florian or Gothic Arch, which is much more towards what I am looking for. Florian has some nice post hurricane images of their GH.
Re weather, good point. Snow is no concern, wind is. I would think that steeper roof is worse from the perspective of wind. Any solid information anywhere?
Re research, that is what I am currently doing.

[estación seca]

I suspect a large problem with wind is vents and doors being open or getting blown open, leading to the entire thing becoming a wind catcher. I've always been surprised greenhouses built in windy areas have symmetric long sides. I would think the roof on the side facing the worst winds should extend almost to ground level, and there should be no vents there.