Fanaticactus' Greenhouse 2013

Do-it-yourself projects such as greenhouse or shadehouse builds and related topics.
fanaticactus
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Fanaticactus' Greenhouse 2013

Post by fanaticactus »

I decided to try to solve the lack of shade problem in the greenhouse with what I had on hand. I remembered I had a whole roll of gray fiberglass screening and decided to give it a try before spending more money on shadecloth. I duct-taped it to the inside of the roof and side panels and and some on the west. It worked extremely well in cutting down both the intensity of the sun hitting the cactus flesh and reduced the temperatures to reasonable levels (60s to 90s depending on the time of day)--no more 121s! I have a circulating fan going and the roof vent open during the hottest hours. It doesn't look the greatest--not like a professional GH would, but I don't care because it works and it didn't cost a cent! Here are some pictures:
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majcka
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Re: Fanaticactus' Greenhouse 2013

Post by majcka »

Nice and cosy. Image

Still plenty of room for more cacti. And even more if you go in levels. Image
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Re: Fanaticactus' Greenhouse 2013

Post by *Barracuda_52* »

:D Hey whatever works use it, i use a tarp to cover one side for shade when the sun gets to the hottest part of the day and yes its duct taped to LOL!! Light still gets in thru the top and sides exposed. Even when leafs are on the trees my GH gets sun all day long. Nice job there are you going to build benches or racks for inside?
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Re: Fanaticactus' Greenhouse 2013

Post by Tony »

I am growing hundreds of plants under that stuff and have been for many years, works great! :thumbright:
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Re: Fanaticactus' Greenhouse 2013

Post by daiv »

Looks good! I would not think you'd need to block too much sun in VT however. I notice my own plants here are definitely not getting the same sun levels as they did in CA with NO shade cloth.
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Re: Fanaticactus' Greenhouse 2013

Post by iann »

I'm also one that just throws something over the greenhouse on those rare occasions when it is just too hot. Maybe five days last year :shock: I can't bear to shade everything the other 360 days a year :lol:
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Re: Fanaticactus' Greenhouse 2013

Post by Tiggy »

I'm with Tracey on this, if find something that you can use for nothing and it works, why not? Looks alright and the plants seem happy enough with it. :thumbright:

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Re: Fanaticactus' Greenhouse 2013

Post by Ralf »

The cheapest solutions are most often the best! I use black insect screen therefor. It works perfect since a couple years.
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fanaticactus
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Re: Fanaticactus' Greenhouse 2013

Post by fanaticactus »

Thanks to all for your encouraging comments. Being a New Englander (for those of you who aren't familiar with U.S. geography and traditions) we "Yankees" (NOT the baseball team!) are known for our cautious, frugal, thrifty (some say "cheap" in a derogatory way) lifestyles and solutions. I would like to get more permanent benches in there, so I keep looking in yard sales and junk shops. But I'm holding off because I was made aware of a Vermont company who builds incredible greenhouses to custom specifications--either attached or free-standing--with cement floors, double wall 8mil polycarb panels, durable hardwood construction, automatic venting w/oxygen rich air, etc., etc. and are committed to sustainable living and environmental concerns. I will call them to come out and assess my situation to see if the cost will be worth it in the long run. Meanwhile, I can get by with what I have now as long as the cacti continue to grow and produce some great flowers.
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Re: Fanaticactus' Greenhouse 2013

Post by CoronaCactus »

Just a word of caution about the duct tape. Although it's not as hot and dry as is it here in SoCal. Over time the duct tape will become very dry and brittle and will start to just fall apart. I used duct tape to wrap all the purlin connectors on one of our nursery greenhouses (to avoid any rips in the shadecloth) and the only reason it's still there is because i wrapped several layers. I sometimes find little pieces scattered on some plants.
fanaticactus
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Re: Fanaticactus' Greenhouse 2013

Post by fanaticactus »

CoronaCactus wrote:Just a word of caution about the duct tape. Although it's not as hot and dry as is it here in SoCal. Over time the duct tape will become very dry and brittle and will start to just fall apart. I used duct tape to wrap all the purlin connectors on one of our nursery greenhouses (to avoid any rips in the shadecloth) and the only reason it's still there is because i wrapped several layers. I sometimes find little pieces scattered on some plants.
Thanks for the reminder, Darryl. I go into the GH every day to check on progress, slow as it may be, and always keep an eye out for problems with the screening and tape. I had a hunch that I'd have to deal with the tape drying out over time, so I'll be prepared. I knew when I put this together it was just a temporary solution. But if it lasts the season with just a few more strips of tape, I'm happy. :D
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Re: Fanaticactus' Greenhouse 2013

Post by Arjen »

nice place you have there! plenty of room to add to your collection!
the fiberglass screening looks like a great solution for now, I myself use a paint called 'temperzon' for this, don't know if there's a variant available to you
but it's worth checking out, it blocks 20% of the heat and sunlight when dry and let's through 80% when it's raining, it's not very expensive too!
I've bought two pots, which will last me for 15 years
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fanaticactus
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Re: Fanaticactus' Greenhouse 2013

Post by fanaticactus »

Arjen wrote:nice place you have there! plenty of room to add to your collection!
the fiberglass screening looks like a great solution for now, I myself use a paint called 'temperzon' for this, don't know if there's a variant available to you
but it's worth checking out, it blocks 20% of the heat and sunlight when dry and let's through 80% when it's raining, it's not very expensive too!
I've bought two pots, which will last me for 15 years
Thanks, Arjen. That sounds like something worth my looking into. Is it waterproof--even though it would be inside--in case of any condensation?
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Re: Fanaticactus' Greenhouse 2013

Post by *Barracuda_52* »

CoronaCactus wrote:Just a word of caution about the duct tape. Although it's not as hot and dry as is it here in SoCal. Over time the duct tape will become very dry and brittle and will start to just fall apart. I used duct tape to wrap all the purlin connectors on one of our nursery greenhouses (to avoid any rips in the shadecloth) and the only reason it's still there is because i wrapped several layers. I sometimes find little pieces scattered on some plants.

Agreed on that point but since mine gets put up only when i need it having few rolls duct tape around is not a bother but i have also found using super duty clear packing tape seems to work to depends on what you stick it to, this yr we have rigged ropes on the shade tarp and will just pull it up and down when i need to as i wont always need shade tarp. :P
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fanaticactus
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Re: Fanaticactus' Greenhouse 2013

Post by fanaticactus »

With the beginning of the construction of my new, professional GH only days away, I thought I'd show the old one once more. This is the one that had a huge snowdrift inside during our first major snowstorm last winter! The new one will have an insulated cement floor on a 4" thick crushed stone base, and will made of white cedar and double-thick polycarb walls, with flow-through ventilation and roof vents, benches and trays and electricity. It will be 8x10 and set in the other direction (turned 90 degrees) so that the doors will be north-south facing. Here is the current one, as I was emptying it today. I plan to keep it as an "isolation" GH for any diseased cacti undergoing pesticide/fungicide treatments and maybe for starting vegetable and flower seedlings in late winter.
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