Greenhouse advice sought from SoCal, Southwestern folks

[Roberta]

PVC pipe on the top of the slab can be used for protecting an extension cord from the elements and from being stepped on. Also, PVC pipe can be used to bring water from your hose bib to the GH (again on top of the slab) My last home was a condo with a patio, and I managed to create a whole sprinkler system above the slab (tapping into one side of a Y connector on the hose bib, so I could still use it for a hose as well.) A bit mickey-mouse, but it worked. (My watering encouraged -horror of horrors- moss growing on the front steps, however, generating a nastygram from the association that convinced me that I needed a house with a yard...where I am now) For heat, you can also use a portable propane heater using a 20-lb cylinder that is used for barbecues. The only disadvantage of that solution (other than the need to keep track of gas usage so that you don't run out in the middle of the coldest night) is that you have to manually turn it on and off, where a built-in heater can use a thermostat.

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Originally Posted by darby

---------- Post added at 06:14 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:02 PM ----------

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Thanks for your note--does the Aquafog qualify as an evaporative cooler? I wasn't clear on that based on briefly looking at its description online. My impression from doing research on the forum here is that I'll need a combination of evaporative cooling and a fogging system. Do you use the Aquafog mainly for temperature control, or does it also help raise the humidity?

The Aquafog provides a fine mist which cools as it evaporates and raises the humidity at the same time. You can run it on a humidistat to maintain a particular humidity, or a thermostat to maintain a desired temperature. I find that the GH stays plenty humid from the fogger plus watering, so I don't pay much attention to that factor. I'd rather have it running longer (and maybe getting things pretty damp) to keep temperature down. Extra humidity when it's hot is no particular harm that I can see. You can run it from a 5 gallon bucket if you are able to stay on top of keeping it full, but I think it would be worth the trouble to run that pipe over the slab so that you can provide it continuous water (I use the benchtop version. It has a reservoir with a float valve to control water flow so then requires no attention to keep it supplied)

[darby]

Got it. Ok, thanks, that's very helpful.

The PVC suggestion is good, too, I hadn't thought of that. This makes sense.

Side question: you mentioned that you built a kit GH, can I ask which one you went with? Do you like it?

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by darby

Got it. Ok, thanks, that's very helpful. The PVC suggestion is good, too, I hadn't thought of that. This makes sense.

Side question: you mentioned that you built a kit GH, can I ask which one you went with? Do you like it?

I don't recall the name, but the company is no longer in business for some years. I have a friend who has a Harbor Freight GH and is quite happy with it.

[darby]

Yeah, if I go with a kit, that's probably the one I'll use. Good to know it's worked out for your friend.

Sorry, stupid question, but is your Aquafog connected to an outside vent, or is it entirely inside your GH?

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by darby

Yeah, if I go with a kit, that's probably the one I'll use. Good to know it's worked out for your friend.

Sorry, stupid question, but is your Aquafog connected to an outside vent, or is it entirely inside your GH?

No question is stupid! The Aquafog is completely within the GH... here is a link http://neutronusa.com/prod.cfm/811771

This price is better... Jaybird didn't used to sell direct but apparently now it does
Products / Hydro SS Series / Bench Top | Jaybird Manufacturing

You may be able to find it for a better price... these things aren't cheap but then, neither are orchids. It just takes water from its reservoir, and pulls it through tiny holes in the propeller part, blowing a lovely cool fog. Totally self contained.

[darby]

Great, thank you. This helps a lot.

[dounoharm]

building on a slab isn't impossible....and running a water pipe is really easy, if you can diy...trench it a bit tho....

polycarbonate is readily available in 4 foot widths...so you put your studs up to accommodate that....our building skills are pretty limited....so what we do is to set the corners in 4 x 4's...and with our heavy heavy winds, I used a 4 x 4 post 'every other one'...the rafters are 2 x 6...
cedar is more expensive, but the only option with wood is treated, and I hate that stuff....the sun exposure warps it awfully bad....
so, we set the corners, then put up one sheet of poly at a time, then fasten the stud down or rafter....one at a time! you don't want to mess one measurement up and have to detach and re-do....
I lay down the poly and dry fit it, then use a bead of silicone caulk to hold it...once I have two sections, I go over it with 1 x 4 cedar to 'trim' it, and screw that down. if you put a fresh bead of caulk down, and screw into that, it seals nice.
go back thru this greenhouse forum, and you will see how we did our last two...
with cement pads, you have to lay down a 'sill'...put a good bead of liquid nail down and use one of those things that fire a 'bullet' into cement to permanently fix it...
my greenhouses are pretty stout...I think the house will blow away before my greenhouses, lol...

[Roberta]

Actually, the slab is a good foundation. And if you plumb in water and power, the pipe and conduit help hold the while thing down (those anchors suggested by dounoharm are also good idea) it isn't going anywhere in a wind. I do think that since electricity and water don't play nicely, that the power is worth getting an electrician to run.A separate circuit is worth the investment. (And you never have too many outlets... fans, fogger, electric heater all need them.) Water is easy - and pipe can easily sit on top of the slab.

[dounoharm]

actually, you could lay a row or two of cement block on the slab, and then put down a sill..then you could put some gravel over top of the slab for extra humidity....I like to run my water to the evap cooler and the mister thru copper pipe to avoid stepping over it, then cover that with gravel...keeps it from being stepped on and leaking...it is truly amazing how that gravel on the floor helps with humidity!

[darby]

Ok, good, thanks for the tips. I need to take a look at some more greenhouse build threads, I'm sure it will clear up some of the things that still seem a bit abstract to me.