Mini greenhouse move-in day
 

Well, I bit the bullet yesterday and moved the chids into my little greenhouse.

For the past week I've been monitoring temps and humidity using my idea of borrowing the heat from my workshop to warm the ghouse. Well, half of my idea worked, the other half didn't. :(

Temperature wasn't too hard to control but I found I had no control over humidity. I could soak the greenhouse floor and benches with water and the humidity jumped to about 40% and then within half an hour it fell back to about 30%. My shop was supplying heat but stealing all the humidity.

This morning I went to Lowes and got a DeLonghi space heater. With the heater on and the doors to my shop closed things started to look much better. I added a small 4 inch muffin fan to help move the heat around. Tonight I think I might be able to grow orchids instead of cactus.

I just checked the ghouse tonight it's 25f outside and temps are right around 60F and the humidity is right at 50%, instead of 25% like last night. :shock:

Pictures of my puny collection. :_(

http://mrcol.freeyellow.com/greenhouse/P0005010.JPG

Looks great! You'll have lots more in there in no time ;)

it's sure to be full by next year... it's easy to fill a new greenhouse.

Remember too, as you add more plants the humidity will increase. There really is a good reason to fill it up :rofl:

Go to your local society meeting, you'll learn a lot and come home with new plants, maybe not 5 the first time but some. Then in March they have and Orchid Show (I was there last March ) and you can fill up any space left.

Thanks for your help about the reflectix, Lowes is definately the way to go. I'm just starting my 3rd year with my little gh and I'm still learning a lot about how to manage it. I bought some used light fixtures, two HID for $40ea. instead of $450 new from a Miami Valley OS member. The ondidiums are enjoying the new lights.

I've already joined the Central Ohio Orchid Society and after every meeting the collection seems to magically grow.

While at Lowes getting the heater this morning I did pick up a few plants to add to the tropical decor. Not pictured are a new dieffenbachia and a dracaena. :biggrin:

DW had me pot up one of her little babies this afternoon, just to see what will happen. Her little babies are GIANT taro tubers that grow to humongous sizes every summer. I think she is trying to get a jump on next summer's crop. By the middle of January I'll be whacking taro leaves down with a chain saw just to find my orchids. I wonder how many 48" elephant ear leaves will fit in my greenhouse. :rofl:

Wahooo! Looks great. Might want to get a humidifier from the drug store too - just to keep the humidity bumped up a bit.

Way to grow!!!

Want to come build me one just like yours but maybe a gazillion times bigger . . . I've already filled my greenhouse to the rafters after just three months.

Can't wait to see how you add on to it next spring! :rofl:

Those aren't puny....there just isn't enough.:coverlaugh: I'm sure there's a remedy for that. Space is such a wonderful commodity to have, you lucky! I have a friend that hangs pots of spagh. in his greenhouse to keep the humidity up and it works pretty good for him. He also keeps it lying, loose on the benches. That might work for your setup up too, possibly?

Looks great. Enjoy.

Thanks for the tip about the Sphag Sandy. Another trip to the garden store. :evil:

I just checked the ghouse this morning and all is well. It's 14f outside and 56f inside with 50% humidity. Slowly winning the battle of keeping all those water molecules from escaping.

Ron

Ron, I'm just north of you in Michigan and with our "dry" winters, it is somewhat difficult to increase the humidity without misters or a humidifier. It is true that as your collection increases in size the humidity will naturlly increase as well as following a goodd watering...common sense! I have a real problem keeping the humidity up even with wetting the floor and benches and misting the plants...but they survive and even flower for me....enjoy your beautiful new GH