Need to move the operation outside... 1st greenhouse!
 

.... And boy do I need some help!!!

So I tried the indoor growing under lights thing, and I got some really great growth and some WONDERFUL spikes and blooms, however... it wrecked my room. I literally had NO problem with humidity. My paint started to bubble. I have to go outside with this, and I'm a little bit scared.

I'm in Texas and I know that we have a Super mild winter, But I just didn't have the ca$h for one of those super awesome greenhouses. So I got a 10x10 from nothern tool. It should be here by Wednesday, but I haven't really figured out much, as I have been working too much lately.

So, it's 10w x 10l x 8h, It's ...

here's the link... Shelterlogic Grow-It Greenhouse — 10ft.L x 10ft.W x 8ft.H, Model# 70606 | Green Houses | Northern Tool + Equipment

I have racks for days, and I have a back yard that has both full sun and full shade. how much sun should I be letting it get? Is this something that I should just put it out there and let it get full sun? Or shelter it in part sun? I also was thinking about heat... and in the winter, I'm wondering do you think that I'm going to need to put a heat lamp or heater of some sort in there? I am having a bunch of reservations about this.... but my spare room looks like someone threw paint thinner on my walls... yeah, I know... it's rediculous! The fish tanks in there had a bit to do with it, but so did the humidifier and the lack of central air with a closed door, and ... well.. I accomplished the humidity indoors, let's just say that.

ANY help and advice is appreciated.

I Thank You in Advance.

Don't think I NEED to say this... but this is just an interum green house, I will be upgrading hopefully within a year. After we buy a home, this will not be what I use.

I would first assess what conditions I wanted in the greenhouse.
Do most of your plants need bright indirect light or shade?
That would determine where I put it first of all.

Then, how much humidity?
San Antonio is pretty dry so then you would need a mister or fogger of some kind.
Do you have electrical capabilities to install in the unit? Water line?
If not, you would need to do some research for humidity control.

Ventilation is next...
If you plant on putting the unit in the sun you will need a lot of ventilation. Although the cloth will provide enough shading for "bright indirect light", it will surely get hot inside.
If your ventilation is limited you may need to put the unit in a shaded area afterall.

That's a start!
Good luck :)
D

Oh, wow, yeah, I forgot to mention that, I am going to be installing a mister system inside. There is water and electricity easily accessable.

I have a Ocdm, Ctsm, Phals, Paphs, Catts, Dends, Haraella's, ... etc.

So some are Low light and some are high light. For right now, this is the largest and the most I can go with a green house, we weill be building an upgraded one hopefully this summer (talked to hubby).

Is that going to be a serious problem with the differences in light requirements? I'm starting to think that I already need a bigger greenhouse! :lol:

So, really should I just go with bright light, or part shade?
It always seems that the 'chid nurseries aroung here are in bright, but not full light. and they do get mighty warm... but I know that a fan and some misters will help with that.

With knowing what I'm keeping, what would you suggest?

/rambling

Go with brighter light and use some shade cloth over your orchids that need shade.

As I recall...San Antonio Texas doesnt have frost...you can put the orchids in a table or a layered wooden stand outdoors under a shady tree or invest on a netting to shade the plant...if you get a below 40F temps...you start to get them indoors...but as far as I can recall ...you dont even have a full month of cold weather...I was there in mid January and they are in shorts and tees...I dont know why you want to enclose your orchids outdoors at all...

Bud, the past two years here we have had a little bit of snow, and a lot of ice! Not to mention, we do get to freezing temps through most of the winter. Farther south, they don't get that as much. I wish that shorts and tees were a year round thing... but alas they are not. we hit 40 and throw jackets on... I have close to 70 orchids and I really can't grow them indoors in the conditions that I want to. and I don't want to have to be moving them around. I want to simulate the closest that I can to natural climates, not one constant temp. Besides, my collection is constantly growing.... running out of room!!!:biggrin: besides watering is getting to be a BIG operation.... outdoor and the added humidity in a green house, as well as being able to control the heat in the summer, we hit 110+ almost every year, in a green house will be nice.

Now that the sun came out again, I think I found the area that I'm going to put it in. It's actually near the house and it's mostly sunny, with spotty shade near a tree. with access to water and electricity right there!

Need to move the operation outside
 

As you can see, I live east of Houston, just north of I10 in Liberty county. I have a greenhouse where I shelter my 200+ orchids in the winter. They spend the summer outside on a plant table or hanging from wherever I can hang them. If you plan to keep your plants in the GH full time then you need serious ventilation in the summer. My GH can get to 110 degrees in summer. That is why they spend the summer outside. If you are going to keep them in the GH you will need some good shade cloth as well. And the misting system will be good for them. Pay attention to your heating for winter if your winter is bad like it was last year. I have two electric heaters in my GH and barely can keep the temp. where I need it. (My GH is 14x16). MY DH fixed me an automatic system whereby the vent shutters open at a certain temp. and I have a large fan running 24/7.
You will need to give frequent checks to the conditions while you get everything set up but frankly, IMHO a 10x10 GH will be hard to keep regulated temp.-wise.
Beverly A.

Thats something that I am worried about is the winter temp. For right now I know that everything is fine, but in another month or so...

I figured that I would run 2 space heaters inside it during the winter, and being that it is small, I hope to keep up.

Need to move the operation outside
 

I also have a temp sensor in the GH and a receiver in the house to keep track of the temps in there. I feel it is especially important in the winter.
Beverly A.

you will likely spend a lot of time at first day and nite to check temps.....while the space heaters may keep you warm enuf at nite, the sun will want to cook your plants during the day....even in winter the temps can go up in a hurry in a small greenhouse so beware! 5 gallon buckets of water under the benches will help regulate the temp at nite, they will heat up during the day and gradually lose heat at nite....if you use gravels for a flooring it will assist with temp control also as well as humidity....misting system is a necessity, but be careful of the heaters, water and elec do not mix! ventilation is still very much needed in the winter months, so probly two fans for your size gh as well as an exhaust fan and intake shutter....automate everything you can to save your time....gl and enjoy!

Honestly, if your grow room is already trashed, then I don't see the need to move your orchids out immediately. I would wait until its safe to move your 'chids outside again. No need to tempt fate over the winter, especially with a mild to moderate La Nina settling in (think repeat of last year until February). I would keep them inside until spring and throw them outside then. I put mine outside on March 15 this year and it worked well. Then you can erect a shadehouse (much cheaper) until next cold season. When will you be getting a place of your own?

Well, so far everything is going very well, I have been able to keep the temp about 60 at the lowest at night, and during the day it does nicely.

After I read through so much info and really concentrated on the temps and how to get a hang of the weather here, I decided that moving the 100+ that I have now to the gh. It honestly so far has been a really good idea. I'm looking at a freeze in the next few days, but I'm going to get a few supplies for that tomorrow.

I did decide on the buckets of water and that has seemed to regulate the temp nicely. my accurite temp gauge, says that it's raining in there almost all the time, so I'm guessing that the humidity is right where it needs to be. I have a few spots where there is a little bit of a draft, and that's something simple enough to fix.

I'll post pictures of the inside of it soon, I have tons of spikes since I moved them out there, and I was able to get the house back into order before the inspection by the land lord.

I appreciate all the help and even some of the opposing thoughts, helped to really let me make my decisions!

Y'all are awesome!

San Antonio dry?!?!? LOL

Im from Corpus and spent plenty of time in SA and unless you are in the northern part, its pretty humid year round.

I would think a tiny electric heater would work on those nights you get frost on something that size.

Yep! That's what I was thinkin too!