Greenhouses?

sashaeffer · Post by **sashaeffer** » Mon Sep 05, 2011 4:53 am

Does anyone here in the forums, zone 6 or colder have a green house of any kind that you use to over winter your palms and other tropicals?

Thinking about getting one of those 6x8..or larger green houses since I have a nice concrete pad to put it on. Just curious if other members have green house type structures and how they use them.

Scott/Omaha

Knnn · Post by **Knnn** » Mon Sep 05, 2011 8:43 am

Scott,

Have one made of recycled windows, etc.

Some photos here,
http://www.flickr.com/photos/steveks/se ... 148492053/

Steve

JackLord · Post by **JackLord** » Wed Sep 07, 2011 9:15 am

I am in Zone 7A, but I used a FlowerHouse greenhouse and a 100w bulb to protect my Butia last winter.

It worked well. Indeed it worked so well that the Butia has already outgrown the greenhouse.

The only thing to remember is that on sunny days, you must open it up a bit to vent it.

sashaeffer · Post by **sashaeffer** » Wed Sep 07, 2011 9:34 am

jacklord,

How cold did it ever get for you last winter? and was there any extra insulation besides the panes?

Scott

JackLord · Post by **JackLord** » Wed Sep 07, 2011 11:13 am

sashaeffer wrote:jacklord,

How cold did it ever get for you last winter? and was there any extra insulation besides the panes?

Scott

It hit the teens a number of times and of course we had Snowmageddon.

Once or twice, I may have thrown a painters tarp over it. Other than that, no extra insulation. I used a 100w bulb with one of those shoplight fixtures attached to a Thermocube. I also put a few jugs of water dyed dark blue inside to generate some extra heat.

Let me tell you, the Butia never skipped a beat. As I said, its now too big. I will use it for a grouping of two small Sabals and a Med. The Butia will probably be wrapped in burlap with Xmas lights.

I say go for it. Just get the biggest you can afford lest the palm grow fast- and it probably will.

sashaeffer · Post by **sashaeffer** » Wed Sep 07, 2011 2:21 pm

Jacklord,

where did you purchase your greenhouse, and what size did you get?

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Wed Sep 07, 2011 4:05 pm

Try a geodesic greenhouse. I dont have one but theyre interesting...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rn6YtCC670

I found a video on how to make the geodesic dome for 50 bucks a while ago, but I cant find the link....

Theres some good suggestions here, and quite a few vids on the right side as well

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j87VqVsKBdo

JackLord · Post by **JackLord** » Thu Sep 08, 2011 5:01 am

sashaeffer wrote:Jacklord,

where did you purchase your greenhouse, and what size did you get?

Either #2 or #3:

http://www.greenhousemegastore.com/prod ... ?gwo=prod2

I cannot remember where. Shop around a bit. Plenty of options out there

sidpook · Post by **sidpook** » Tue Sep 13, 2011 4:00 am

Knnn wrote:Scott,

Have one made of recycled windows, etc.

Some photos here,
http://www.flickr.com/photos/steveks/se ... 148492053/

Steve

That's cool. Nice use of recycleables. It actually looks like my house in the Peace Corps. Hated it when the goats would clunk around up on the roof and piss all over early in the morning...SO loud!!

sidpook · Post by **sidpook** » Tue Sep 13, 2011 4:01 am

JackLord wrote:
sashaeffer wrote:Jacklord,

where did you purchase your greenhouse, and what size did you get?
Either #2 or #3:

http://www.greenhousemegastore.com/prod ... ?gwo=prod2

I cannot remember where. Shop around a bit. Plenty of options out there

I bought an umbrella greenhouse a few yeras back for a med sized trachy. I made the mistake of keeping it closed too much and not a,lllowing enough air to flow, killed the poor thing. They do work well imo if air is allowed to get in. Good Luck

sashaeffer · Post by **sashaeffer** » Tue Sep 13, 2011 4:30 am

Mike,

Did you store/over winter anything in there? if so, did you supply any heat source?

Scott

sidpook · Post by **sidpook** » Tue Sep 13, 2011 4:53 pm

sashaeffer wrote:Mike,

Did you store/over winter anything in there? if so, did you supply any heat source?

Scott

In my umbrella greenhouse I stored the trachy that died...Probably won;t use it again. It snowed 30 inches and it was nearly impossible to get to it to open the zippers, too much moisture

sashaeffer · Post by **sashaeffer** » Tue Sep 13, 2011 5:40 pm

So it was a moisture issue and not one of too cold? did you moniter the inside temps at all over the winter?

sidpook · Post by **sidpook** » Tue Sep 13, 2011 5:42 pm

sashaeffer wrote:So it was a moisture issue and not one of too cold? did you moniter the inside temps at all over the winter?

No, it was my first year using one. I was too negligent I guess. It was definitely a moisture issue. I felt in there and it got very hot during the sunny days

sashaeffer · Post by **sashaeffer** » Tue Sep 13, 2011 6:00 pm

Will keep that in mind. About to go out and buy my greenhouse and get it up before winter sets in. I will put a wireless thermometer in it and watch temps over the winter. I've heard of others that put a bucket of water in the green house FOR moisture, but after reading about your experience will hold off on that at first.

Thanks for the info.

sidpook · Post by **sidpook** » Tue Sep 13, 2011 6:35 pm

sashaeffer wrote:Will keep that in mind. About to go out and buy my greenhouse and get it up before winter sets in. I will put a wireless thermometer in it and watch temps over the winter. I've heard of others that put a bucket of water in the green house FOR moisture, but after reading about your experience will hold off on that at first.

Thanks for the info.

Yeah, the moisture defiitely killed it..
Here is another use for the greenhouse though...A large umbrella during a major noreaster at Oktoberfest

<object width="576" height="432" ><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="movie" value="http://www.facebook.com/v/188384200615" /><embed src="http://www.facebook.com/v/188384200615" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="576" height="432"></embed></object>

sashaeffer · Post by **sashaeffer** » Tue Sep 13, 2011 7:18 pm

No video. Shows it's "secure"

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Tue Sep 13, 2011 7:19 pm

Mike, either you posted porn, or you have to friend the peole on FB before you show them the vids..

I cant even cpoy MY OWN PICS.

sidpook · Post by **sidpook** » Wed Sep 14, 2011 4:02 am

Yeah Bummer, it was a really funny video too. Not porn, just private I guess.....Bummer. I'll have to put on youtube.

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Wed Sep 14, 2011 7:33 am

I used the larger sized umbrella G-house the first year with my 2 Trachys.
I loved it but you need to open the flaps anytime temps are over 30ish (F)
and once you get into Feb anytime over 20F or it will easily go over 100F.

This worked great,I planted my Trachys Nov 1.
They both made it through the winter with no s-pull and took off in spring.
Temps ranged from 10-90F over the winter-you have to watch them-
even on a day with Arctic chill/sun it can go over 80F.

The only thing about them is they are not very efficient but you can
throw a canvas tarp/blanket over them and get an extra 10-20F
temp boost.

I would still use them but I have limited watts I can pull from my Apt
and I now have 30 palms and 30 cactus to protect.

sashaeffer · Post by **sashaeffer** » Mon Sep 19, 2011 2:28 pm

Those free standing plastic type green houses?

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Tue Sep 20, 2011 10:47 am

Great use for a GH...a party rain-shelter.
Or as someone said..."there's no room in the condom".

Sounded like a good party Mike.

Barb

sashaeffer · Post by **sashaeffer** » Sun Sep 25, 2011 3:44 am

Bought this 6x8 green house at Menards. $320 Took us about 5 hrs, and 8 beers to assemble. Planning on adding a heat source, remote thermometer and seeing what kind of temps I can keep it at over the winter so I can figure out what plants I can over winter in there.

http://s1085.photobucket.com/albums/j43 ... n%20House/

Knnn · Post by **Knnn** » Sun Sep 25, 2011 8:27 am

Looks great, nice work!

Steve

oppalm · Post by **oppalm** » Mon Sep 26, 2011 8:16 am

looks great. but .... 5 hours and only 8 beers. thats's part of your problem, had you doubled the beer consumption the time to assemble the GH together would have been cut in half, which would have given you more time to put stuff in your greenhouse.

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Mon Sep 26, 2011 2:50 pm

sashaeffer wrote:Those free standing plastic type green houses?

It was kind of like this one only round and twice as tall-

http://www.amazon.com/Educational-Insig ... B000HV2JBA

sashaeffer · Post by **sashaeffer** » Mon Sep 26, 2011 3:03 pm

Funny how temps in those can get so hot. Today it was 68deg outside, and 124 inside the green house. Don't have any plants in there as of yet...to early. But is amazing how hot it can get on a other wise cooler day.

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Mon Sep 26, 2011 3:07 pm

I know what your saying-my Washy enclosures were like 115F last spring.

Better picture of the one I had-the bigger of the 2

http://www.growerssupply.com/farm/suppl ... 04051b.jpg

sashaeffer · Post by **sashaeffer** » Mon Sep 26, 2011 3:14 pm

How do they handle that kind of heat?

I'm not going to put anything valuable in my green house this winter. Maybe a snake plant or two. Windmills I have in pots I will bring into garage for the winter. I told my wife the 3rd car side will be where palms will go. I have a insulated garage, and never gets below 35 when doors closed.

If my one experimental windmill survives my over winter method outside, I will do the rest the same for the following winter.

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Tue Sep 27, 2011 8:16 am

Well they are Washys,many grow in the deserts of Az and Cali
and see those temps fairly regularly there.

Not the best coming out of winter but they are tough!

We really have to watch the environments we create for our
palms growing them so far out of zone....

Besides moisture/cold heat is a very real issue later in winter
inside enclosures as the sun angle gets higher.

sashaeffer · Post by **sashaeffer** » Tue Sep 27, 2011 8:40 am

Well yesterday at one time it was 68deg outside, but got up to 124deg in green house..although it didn't feel that hot.

Well see about how the ranges are this winter. Going to add a small heater attached to a thermocube. If I can keep inside temps above freezing I will be happy.

BTW, figured out how I'm going to try and over winter my experimental wind mill. Will document, and take pics as I build it and post on here for others to see.

sashaeffer · Post by **sashaeffer** » Fri Sep 30, 2011 2:22 pm

hardyJim, question. When in the fall (time wise) do you put your windmills to sleep in their plastic enclosure?

I started to build my support structure using 3/4 inch PVC pipe. I put 4 "legs" into the ground where they will stay all year long. I left 3inches sticking out. Using 3/4 T's I can then easily add the upper PVC pipe at the last minute with side supports and even using angle joints make a "roof" at the top. I went this way so as the palm grew, I could just add more vertical pvc tubing. I don't glue any of it together since it is a pretty tight fit anyway. I will have buried a 9' section of heat tape around the root ball and leave it in the ground as well all year, just protecting the plug end during growing season. Like you, I'll add either Christmas lights or rig a single light socket with maybe a 40W bulb plugged into a thermocube. I'll have a wireless remote temp sensor as well so I can watch the temps in case I need to go smaller or larger with the bulb.

This palm sits against the garage with full southern exposier and partially protected from above by the garage over hang of the roof. I will allow for some venting at the top when I make the "roof" Like you, I want it removable when we have nice days.

I was just wondering when you wrap your windmill with the plastic and bubble wrap as I will do the same. If this system works out, then I will plant the other really big one I have in the ground in the spring.

Scott/Omaha

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Fri Sep 30, 2011 3:37 pm

I don't actually wrap them but about the time temps
are forecast to be under 20F at night,unless there is rain
forecast before that-in which case I try to keep them dry.

The plastic b-wrap to insulate the trash can lid was a mistake,
I now use burlap to help absorb moisture/insulate.

sashaeffer · Post by **sashaeffer** » Fri Sep 30, 2011 7:57 pm

Thanks Jim. It's all about trying things and sharing results. This is a great site for that! I'll be taking pics and posting as I go.

Again, Thanks for your advice.

Scott/Omaha

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Sat Oct 01, 2011 8:50 am

PalmsNorth.com

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