Planning to build a small shade house
 

I live in SW Florida and recently moved into a new home, but it's a rental so I can't build anything permanent. I don't have a large collection so I was thinking something 4'x7.5'x7.5' that will face east and be open on the front. I plan on including irrigation because this is primarily being built for my Vandas and maybe a few Cats. At my old house, I had a great setup with automatic watering on my lanai but I don't have that now and they're suffering badly.

I was thinking of using 1" PVC and making one of the top pipes do double duty as the irrigation pipe, but that part isn't set in stone. I have a few questions and if anyone has done something like this I'd love to see pictures.

For the sides and top should I use trellis or shade cloth? I like the idea of trellis because of better airflow and I could use the trellis on the sides for hanging a few Cats and the trellis on the top for hanging the Vandas. Also, there would be no sun hitting the top or sides after 2pm in the summer (or thereabouts) so I don't think shade cloth is really needed.

I'm going to use mulch for the floor because it's easy to remove if I move out and will keep the weeds down in the shade house area. That should be OK, right?

Please let me know if I'm forgetting anything. So many of you have done such amazing projects that I wish I could do, but my landlord won't give permission for anything permanent. What I need is something that can be easily disassembled when/if I move and in the event of a hurricane can be moved to my storage unit.

It sounds good to me. Put up pictures when you get it built.

I will definitely do that.

I spent the evening drawing it out last night and I think I have it all figured out. I have my parts list and I'll be heading to Home Depot next weekend to get what I need to start building.

I'm still working out the irrigation, but that'll take a trip to the hardware store to figure out how to tie into the spigot that's located right there.

If you put lengths of rebar inside the PVC pipe it will be stronger.

That's a great idea and one that I hadn't thought of.

I was also thinking of doing something exactly like this, but have not been able to begin yet. Hadn't thought about drawing it out, but what a great idea, think I'll do that tonight. Have you started?

If your plants are Vandas and Catts, maybe this won't be a concern, but I have a shade house with trellis and got sunburn on some lower-light plants through the top openings when it was new. I added a layer of shade cloth. I live just north of San Francisco, so not desert by any means.

Yes, updates! I built mine out of pressure treated 2x4's, chicken wire (to keep the dog out), clear plastic covering and shade cloth (only on top, open sides). Might go bigger next year. Ran out of space quick. Was thinking of doing a simple hoop house design, if I can get 20' pvc to the house... Without having to buy a trailer. I ran an extension cord and put fans in as well. It got hotter in there than I thought it would

You can use 90 degree or 45 degree PVC connectors to connect two smaller pieces of PVC pipe at the apex of each (what becomes a pointed) arch. You can make a frame for the base out of PVC pipe plus 90 degree and T connectors.

I have the whole thing planned out and priced out but I ran into some unexpected expenses so I haven't been able to get everything yet.

I'll be doing some shopping once I get paid this month (fixed income) to pick up most everything I need. I've also figured out the irrigation.

I'm really looking forward to getting started on this, but finances have stymied me so far.