Lath House (It Rhymes with Math Mouse)

[DirtyCoconuts]

I have been wanting to expand my growing area for a long while but i keep out-thinking myself and just letting perfect be the enemy of good.

My considerations were as follows:
-my primary goal is to have a "high light" area to grow Catts. and other orchids that are "in the dark" in my heavily screened patio.
-even though i want more light, the south Florida sun is a scorcher and it gets REALLY hot here so open and airy were a must.
-budget: i try to use old and found stuff for almost any project BUT when i am building outside here it has to be strong (HURRICANES) and able to resist the abundant rain so i wanted PT wood or metal.

I decided on a lath house on the north side of my house partially tucked under the eave of the house. I went with lath because it is cheap more attractive than a metal frame with corrugated poly carbonate and it will allow a LOT more air movement which is key.

I have thus far only cleared the space
sunk my four corner posts (the two against the house are 4'deep and filled back with gravel and sand, no concrete) and the front two are 5' deep and filled with 150lbs of concrete
i added the rear top frame and the sides and front as well as the bulk of the side lath.

I still need to figure out exactly how i want the roof and if i want vertical lath on the front ( easier given the construction and matches the direction of the roof???) and how to best secure the roof without losing interior space.

Is is 8 feet deep and 10 feet wide with the eave sticking out 3.5 feet.

Lath house by J Solo, on Flickr

i am going to hang some wooden lattice in the back wall and use that as hanging space

Lath house by J Solo, on Flickr

Lath house by J Solo, on Flickr


the bottom will be gravel and i will have a bench inside as well.....I'd love and comments, feedback or experience you may have to help me avoid mistakes.




Oh, I also sunk 3 4x6's to make a little pullup and boxing gym.....balance the body and the mind with the plants

Lath house by J Solo, on Flickr

[Leafmite]

Good luck with your project!

[Ray]

Looks good.

And "lath" does rhyme with "math".

[DirtyCoconuts]

How are you saying "math", Ray ????LOL



some progress pics

Hoooooous by J Solo, on Flickr

i just included that one /\ just because i know it grey in a lot of people's neighborhoods and thought a nice sky would be a welcome sight


the view from the front

More haauuuus by J Solo, on Flickr


this is the prototype for the shelf..thanks for the tips guys

Some green stuff by J Solo, on Flickr


and here it is sort of in place to get a sense of how it looks

it will be about mid way up the wall, so above the rack on the left and with a smaller shelf underneath

Some green stuff by J Solo, on Flickr

Allllllllmooooost done

Some green stuff by J Solo, on Flickr


just need to source and add the floor covering ( white pea gravel) add the lath in the top of the sides and then build out the shelves and bench

[DirtyCoconuts]

getting started in the set up-- still not finished with the inside and i am going to add a shelf below these hanging guys but i am starting to move in


Some stuff by J Solo, on Flickr

[Ray]

Originally Posted by DirtyCoconuts

How are you saying "math", Ray ????LOL

I say it /maTH/, as in "mathematics", which does rhyme with "lath" and the first syllable of "catholic". It makes me wonder how you're pronouncing "lath"??? If you're making it a long a, then you're thinking of "lathe" (rhymes with "bathe"), and that's something totally different.

[DirtyCoconuts]

the stuff that people used to use to adhere plaster to walls. I thought it was said like bathe....with a hard A

HA jokes on me

[Paul]

Yes, Ray is quite correct. "Lath" is pronounced like "math." Lath is the name for a thin, flat strip of wood -- especially one of a series forming a foundation for the plaster of a wall.

"Lathe" (as in "bathe") is a machine which is used to rotate a piece of wood on its axis while it is being shaped/carved -- as one would use to shape the spindles of a chair.

It would not surprise me in the least if your confusion stems from hearing the word pronounced incorrectly by others. Not unlike how prevalent the mispronunciation of "keiki" is in orchid circles. (For those who may be interested, it is NOT pronounced "kee-kee." The correct pronunciation is "KAY-kee.")

[DirtyCoconuts]

excellent knowledge there, Paul, thank you for passing that along.




a few more updates:

gravel is half in....i did a calculation for the amount i would need ( 22 bags) that seemed like an impossibly high amount so i ingored my math and bought 10 bags ( i also wanted to save my back)



I was wrong and should have listened to science (D'oh!)
Funnels by J Solo, on Flickr

I am sort of doing the set up by "feel" but i would love anyone's insight..

i have the catts on the back shelf since that will be the brightest, then Oncy/Zygos and then Den types....does this seem proper given the general light needs of those groups?

Funnels by J Solo, on Flickr

that Arachnid on the left is no longer there, she was just there at the time as i was shifting a lot of plants and repotting

[DirtyCoconuts]

Id really appreciate any advice from you greenhouse growers (or anyone with thoughts) about how you arrange the plants

Thanks