Misc. Greenhouse Photos

[Knnn]

Just straightening up the greenhouse today, Thought I'd post some misc. photos.







The warm weather has sure helped things pick up,

[Wes North Van]

Great looking greenhouse. I would love one that size. How big is it?

[Knnn]

12' x 12' x 8'

Actually looks better from the inside, This was constructed of all recycled materials, (even the lumber came from a neighbors scrap pile) Would liked to have built a plastic hoophouse, but not with the winds & hail we get here.

Already either going to have to expand it this year or convert the garage to more space. I have a bad habit of planting hundreds of things instead of being happy with several

[Jay-Admin]

That's awesome. I wish i had a greenhouse like yours. Maybe someday.

[Knnn]

I guess it is time to think about expanding this one or building another.

[Alchris]

You've got some beautiful specimens there.

Allen

[DesertZone]

Sweet

[Knnn]

I guess picking up a plant here and there starts to add up after awhile.....

Edit: Thanks for your comments !, ( I need to pay more attention to some of these threads)




Was able to get some seedlings going this year

[oppalm]

I think everyone on this forum would like to have a greenhouse. Once you hit a forum you have gone beyond a casual interest in anything it has become an obsession. My basement does not hold as many plants/palms as your greenhouse but I too have way more palms than I need. I am not sure how to go rid of things.

What kind of heat source do you use in your greenhouse? and also what's the minimum temperature you try to maintain?

Nice pictures.

[PALMETTOMAN]

Knnn,

Alright...sounds like you might be setting a trend...Do you have plexi on the roof?


Palmettoman z6-Ajax, On

[Knnn]

oppalm - The inside of my house is also starting to look a lot like the greenhouse........

I never got around to getting a larger heater this year. Did run a 240V feed with that intention.
Currently have two 1500W ceramic heaters , These seem to produce enough heat without using too much electricity. Maybe about $30 per month (averaged)
Trying to keep about 40F-45F Min. temps, During the daytime with sun it will get up to 70F - 80F which keeps things growing.

I'm going to have to reduce my inventory a bit here before things get too much larger, Most everyone in town here has palms in ther home already

As for getting rid of things - I like to pass things on, Will probably offer some on the boards, put some up on the web site, sell some for a ridiculously small price on eBay. In that order too.

- Steve

[Knnn]

PALMETTOMAN ~ Roof is the translucent fiberglass panels, ( same as on the front)
Works pretty well for keeping the light levels up, I have the GH sited so that it is shaded by the deciduous trees in the Summer, Once the leaves drop it is in full sun for the Winter.

The GH has been fun, These can be anything from a hoop house to as fancy as one can build


- Steve

[PALMETTOMAN]

Steve,

You are right, placement is the big factor.

To me....the home made GH or Orangeries are far better than the Home Depot type(s) because you can create your own size (providing you have the space in your yard).

You can also make additions as you have done...

I'm thinking of a lean to..(added to my back porch of my house) however, it gets very little sunlight in the winter (faces east).

Palmettomanz6-Ajax, On

[oppalm]

Our homes association in our neighborhood does not allow stand alone structures on our property. I am going to have to do a room addition (pre approval required) in order to get a sunroom structure. You would think if a guy is growing palms in Kansas they would relax the rules a bit but I guess they don't care. Anyway, my sunroom is going to be expensive.
Gotta start saving and looking.

[Knnn]

I guess I am at an advantage being in a more rural location, I did file for a permit just to be on the safe side, In most locations it seems if there is no permanent foundation involved it classifies as a temporary structure. An attached Sun Room sounds like a great idea! How large of one you think they would approve?

Kansas does try to serve the intrest of agriculture, Link below will take you to application for a Live Plant Dealers License,
http://www.ksda.gov/Default.aspx?tabid= ... ntryId=695

This is something you would want if you are planning on selling/shipping any plants , Out of state shipping requires an additional insp. ( details of all with app)
If you plan on selling less than 10K a year there is no charge, Just mail it in and they mail your license back

Since you are in KS too I just thought I'd pass this on...You may already have one, Seems to be talk of new laws and restrictions on shipping plants so it might be a good thing to have.

-Steve

[Kansas]

I also hear there is a guy in Topeka that will come to your house and pick up your overstock
I have talked to a couple folks that I gave some palms to and they too are doing ok in the winter homes.

[Knnn]

That things are still alive
Those Adonidias are proving to be pretty tough, They grew in the GH last Winter with 40F lows and fairly low light levels. Should turn out to be great indoor Palms.

How are your Trachy's doing?

[Kansas]

That things are still alive
Those Adonidias are proving to be pretty tough, They grew in the GH last Winter with 40F lows and fairly low light levels. Should turn out to be great indoor Palms.

How are your Trachy's doing?

Honestly, I am disappointed in them. I thought they would be much bigger. They are still on the third leaf and since I brought them in they are either not growing or actually drying out. Joe SSI sent me 150 seeds and I think I have about 10-15 trees left
But those were my very first thing I EVER grew from seed, so they were my test pilot.
Those Christmas Palms you gave me are AMAZING! I have not lost one, and in fact all are growing new leafs since bringing them in from the outside. I REALLY like them.
Hey, I went to Wichita today on a trip that I couldn't stop, but I went by a Church on Kellogg, at the Washington exit, and I looked over and saw 2 trunked Yuccas about 4'-5' tall and you could tell they were not pot planted like mine, but were long time residents at that church. They were on a South facing wall and looked GREAT!!!
Next time I am down there and have more time, I may stop by and ask about them.

[Knnn]

Thanks for the ones you sent my way, Happy to have some out of SSI Probably going to be more slow growing with the Summers here but should adapt over time. The bright side is the ones you have left should be the hardiest out of the bunch. Watch for drafts and heater ducts inside - That can dry them out real quick. Seems to take a lot of seedlings about a year before growth really starts to pick up. A good example is some 1 year old 2 leaf CIDP seedlings this Spring that are now pinnate in 5 Gallons.

Are you overwintering your robusta outside? If so what are you using for a shelter?

The Coonties, ( Zamia floridana Var "Palatka Giant"), Are doing great so far. Pine tree canopy with just leaf mulch, 18F with no sign of leaf damage. Did I mention I also have a Hyphaene planted? snuck it in next to one of the robusta's

[Kansas]

Well since you mentioned the draft, I thought I should put a fan in the room (inside the house) to keep the air circulating. Now the breeze never hits the Trachy's, but is the fan hurting everything else????? No heater vent is getting them at all. I have all my stuff in a room in the basement, with three grow lights, a fan and two huge tarps to keep the light inside.
Yes, I did buy a Robusta and plant it outside. That dang Iowa guy with his post talked me into it
Up until about two weeks ago, it was doing GREAT!!!! Better than the two I brought inside. But after that cold snap a week or so ago w/ high 20's at night, the three leafs all browned and I cut them off just tonight. The half emerging spear looks good and the tiny emerging spear looks good.
If you read the Iowa guys plans how to winterize, thats kinda what I am doing....
wrap the trunk with X-Mas lights, wrap the X-Mas lights in Burlap. Add tons of "Sugar Maple" leafs, wrap those with transparent plastic wrap up to the top, but leaving room open for air. Then I have some extra house insulation that I will wrap that around the trunk area too w/ wrap around that.
I am a little worried about the top and letting water (rain & snow) on the crown, but I think if I put enough leafs on top too to not suffocate the spear, but also not let it get too wet, I'll be alright.

If it doesn't work, heck, it was $10 tree and all the winterizing stuff was free so I am only out my knowledge of what NOT to do next time.

[Knnn]

As long as the humidity is not too low the air circulation will be good for them, It's just heater vents and cold drafts to watch out for.

Just keep a tarp to throw over your robusta if rain/freezing rain is in the forecast. If you have an old umbrella you could stake that up ~ ( things like that like that will sometimes set the neighbors off

[oppalm]

Steve - the back of my house faces west and would get plenty of sunshine in the winter. At least enough to maintain my palms until spring time. I am thinking something along the lines of about 6X12 with the 12' side running along the back of the house. I don't know how the homes assoc feels about the these things but I've been told that it has to match the construction of the rest of the house. i.e. no glass structures, etc. meaning it has to look more like a knock out room than a greenhouse structure or fabricated sunroom. But with adequate glass and a few sky lights I think I can get adequate light in there. We'll see.