Northern Palm Sanctuary "greenhouse"

BILL MA · Post by **BILL MA** » Wed Dec 01, 2010 4:30 pm

Hello folks,

Here's the outdoor greenhouse pictures that have been promised for way to long. I'm not sure if it qualifies as a sanctuary in biblical terms, but a palm sanctuary it is. Hopefully I didn't offend anyone

So Here it is from the beginning, I decided it was a good idea to buy a few hundred palms at the end of the season 15 gal.+, great plan for my stress level. This meant a green house. Well the green house I bought really didn't meet the needs for all the palms I purchased so I needed a plan. Plus the green house I bought along with the palms was missing about 12 hoops (thanks) from what was originally talked about. Beware of buying greenhouses unless you get a really good deal!!!

Needless to say I made what I had work by extending the sides by 4 feet giving me a real greenhouse with a 10'6" ridge or so. Good thing I have construction contacts for Schedule 40 galvanized pipe "super expensive otherwise" this is what I used for my 4 foot sides. Anyway pictures are 1000 words

http://i670.photobucket.com/albums/vv62 ... G_2218.jpg

http://i670.photobucket.com/albums/vv62 ... G_2219.jpg

Well Picture taking isn't my strong point so here is the the frame work after squeezing my 12 small hoops into my cemented pipes. By the way I saved about 275 bucks making my own concrete with sand, stone and portland cement. 24 holes 2' deep equals a ton of ready made bags

Here it is rough framed.

http://i670.photobucket.com/albums/vv62 ... G_2220.jpg

http://i670.photobucket.com/albums/vv62 ... G_2221.jpg

Now that it's up I gotta get my dad in the shot trying to escape!!! We're getting the plastic ready doubled over to make a dual layer.
Giving props to my dad right now, Thanks for the help! Love ya!!!

http://i670.photobucket.com/albums/vv62 ... G_2226.jpg

http://i670.photobucket.com/albums/vv62 ... G_2229.jpg

And a proud son inside the covered house. We had to dig a few holes for the big boys to fit in the house. Too busy to take pictures for awhile.

http://i670.photobucket.com/albums/vv62 ... G_2233.jpg

http://i670.photobucket.com/albums/vv62 ... G_2234.jpg

Here's some pictures from today, some palms are still outside toughening up since the weather isn't all that bad yet. Plus some pictures of the greenhouse doors finished up.

http://i670.photobucket.com/albums/vv62 ... G_2290.jpg
http://i670.photobucket.com/albums/vv62 ... G_2282.jpg
http://i670.photobucket.com/albums/vv62 ... G_2283.jpg

Palm house a little full!!!

http://i670.photobucket.com/albums/vv62 ... G_2285.jpg
http://i670.photobucket.com/albums/vv62 ... G_2287.jpg

Furnace pictures to come and all the others packed in there pictures.

Couple of trachy and front pictures of today, minimal damage on oleander, getting cut anyway. Palm covers came today so it's the last day for these trachies being exposed to the elements. Too bad because they can take much more but I'm leaving for Hobe Sound Fl. for 1 month in about a week or so.

Here's the pics I have of my front yard as of Dec. 1

http://i670.photobucket.com/albums/vv62 ... G_2291.jpg
http://i670.photobucket.com/albums/vv62 ... G_2293.jpg

Thanks for looking,
Bill

igor.glukhovtsev · Post by **igor.glukhovtsev** » Wed Dec 01, 2010 5:56 pm

Oh, yeah Bill! Thank you for the making it for palms and for the showing it to us! Nice and big work!

BILL MA · Post by **BILL MA** » Wed Dec 01, 2010 6:06 pm

Sorry guys not sure how I posted two post? Can you erase one Jay or moderator?

Thanks,
Bill

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Wed Dec 01, 2010 7:52 pm

You could probably "edit" one and erase it, then change text to, "see other thread."

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Wed Dec 01, 2010 10:59 pm

BILL BILL BILL BILL BILL !!!! THE PALM KING!!!!

H was heading to bed, I said he had to see these pictures from Massachusetts!!!
He said Holy Cow to every pic.
I was even more devoted

The schedule 40 is PVC, right? looks grey versus the white PVC.
foundation posts in concrete = great idea
Probably as much work measuring those holes as it would be to build a house.

OMG...that is so beautiful, Bill.
Where's MY "blue one"???? it's gone!

Great carpentry job, lots of tough angle sawcuts.
Will there be vent windows "cut" into the plastic, or self-openers on thermostats?

10 ml ? 12 ml greenhouse plastic? one day I'd like to see how/what is used to get it stretched so tight...is there a clamping apparatus?
And trying to figure out what that is that's holding plastic at the edges.

Plants and GH look wonderful...heck, new plants have grown a foot since you brought them home.
And your sideyard...nice growth on all of those this summer.

You and your Dad did a superb job.
Great construction work, you should both be very proud.

Really enjoyed the tour...Thanks

Paul Ont · Post by **Paul Ont** » Thu Dec 02, 2010 5:08 am

holy smokes. That's a lot of palms!

Is there room to walk around in there?

BILL MA · Post by **BILL MA** » Thu Dec 02, 2010 6:56 am

Thank You Barb and your husband too!

The schedule 40 pipe is actually galvanized pipe, I got it from a commercial fence company right do the street. It's about three times as thick as the HD stuff. Funny story real quick, when I was buying the pipe somehow I was actually talking to the owner of the company which turned out well since they don't sell anything to the public. As soon as I told him where I lived and what I was doing with the pipe he said I know that house those palms are amazing! He then said I could get anything I needed. When they dropped the pipes off at my place 21-24' lengths the guy said how did you manage to buy from us we haven't sold to the public in over 15 years. I thought that was kinda funny, anyway that's what the palm huts are going to be made of too, details to come.

Not really sure about the vents yet, there are two framed openings one on each side to put fans in when I need to. Both doors open in the front and the one in the back might do it, I'll find out in spring I guess.

The plastic is 6mil and was the easiest part of the job by far, I just tied 3 tennis balls to the ends and the middle and pulled it over with rope, wiggle wired my way around, then hooked the fan to it and blew it up like a giant balloon for my air gap. The ends go on after of course.

By the way your blue one is in one of the pictures by it self in the front right corner, that ones not going anywhere I'm keepin that one

Bill

BILL MA · Post by **BILL MA** » Thu Dec 02, 2010 7:01 am

Hey Paul,

Yeah, there's a lot of palms in there for sure. Not really much room to do anything in there either, I can walk down the edges and ends a little now but more stuff is going in soon which will really limit access. I'm going to run 5-6 soaker hoses in there so I can actually water stuff if I need to, will see what the temps do, today is the first sunny day with the ends closed in.

I really wanted to have a little area to sit in there and read, I'll come up with a spot hopefully.

Thanks,
Bill

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Thu Dec 02, 2010 7:15 am

You da man Bill!

Top notch job all the way!

It was nice to see the whole process and where it is today.

I can't say enough about how professional the whole thing looks- and
just think......when you sell all those palms what you can do with that G-house!

Those Trachys you had to dig holes for really are "big boys!"

If I had Trachys that big I wouldn't need no stinking Banana plants

Super duper nice job man,I really like the looks of your "other" palm cover too,
that should be really nice when it's finished,almost looks like you can beam your
palms to another zone-and I think you can!

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Thu Dec 02, 2010 7:24 am

he said I know that house those palms are amazing!

You deserve becoming the talk of the town!
The company prez will have to re-start selling to the public for all the folks that'll need a palm hut after they buy a palm from you.

Hey you could do a pencil illustration of how to construct a one-palm hut, some easy-heating tips, photocopy a whole bunch and attach one to each palm you sell.

Re my post last night...meant to say re last photo...looks like a platform for a high-wire act on your power line.

actually galvanized pipe

That must've been a b***h to bend...I can just imagine you hanging from a 24' length trying to bend it down

to put fans in when I need to

You don't need air circulating during winter?
I've got the dinky little ceiling fans running in the cold building, just to move air around.
Don't know if it's needed though.

I just tied 3 tennis balls to the ends and the middle and pulled it over with rope, wiggle wired my way around, then hooked the fan to it and blew it up like a giant balloon for my air gap.

Bloody clever of you two! Does your Dad rent out?
I'm so impressed with the wiggle-wire concept. Here's more:

http://www.puckettgreenhouses.com/categ ... le-Wire-61

Put a sign on the blue one: not for sale.
Your name, then mine.

Gonna go look at your pics again and again.
BTW, thanks to your photos, now H doesn't think I'm overdoing it.
Barb

BILL MA · Post by **BILL MA** » Thu Dec 02, 2010 7:28 am

Thanks so much Jim!

Just a few little things left to do other then the furnace but that's easy. I'm going to trade a trachy to a guy to make my duct work, good deal right

I didn't take as many pictures as I would have liked but what can ya do right

I can't wait to pull those trachies out of those holes in the spring

There some heavy buggers for sure. I can't believe I got them all out of the truck by myself

I like the beam my palms to another zone comment that's a good one, maybe I should put a point on the top of it so my neighbors really think I'm out in space

Thanks again,
Bill

ScottyON · Post by **ScottyON** » Thu Dec 02, 2010 9:00 am

What can I sat that's already been said! Looks awesome! You guys did a top notch job on the GH!! Looks really nice!! The washy enclosure looks just like I pictured it!! You're in the home stretch now eh!!!

Thanks for taking the time to post! Give me a shout on Skype this weekend if you have a chance!

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Thu Dec 02, 2010 9:04 am

Job well done. Everything looks so nice.

Okanagan desert-palms · Post by **Okanagan desert-palms** » Thu Dec 02, 2010 11:13 am

Bill that is an all pro job. Looks like your in it for the long haul. The people that will have a chance at growing cold hardy palms owe a debt of gratitude for all your hard work. What do you think it would cost to heat the greenhouse during a bad winter?I`m going to bookmark your pics for future reference to build my own. Thanks for sharing!

John

ZeroLT1 · Post by **ZeroLT1** » Thu Dec 02, 2010 1:08 pm

Super amazing!

BILL MA · Post by **BILL MA** » Thu Dec 02, 2010 2:03 pm

Thanks again guys! It's nice to be on the home stretch trust me.

Not really sure about heat John but I'm thinking it won't be all that bad. I'm hooking it in to my natural gas line which is much cheaper then anything else by a lot. I have a 100000 btu furnace that is 80% efficient which is way more then what is needed to heat it, plus there's some serious mass in there to hold the heat when the sun is out which will really save me. I'll let you know in the spring.

Scott, my skype is down because my cell phone crapped out. I can call you from my house phone though since it's free to call Canada, I'll need your number again since it was in my cell.

Bill

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Fri Dec 03, 2010 5:38 am

So what are you going to do with it in the summer? Im assuming some palms and or bananas might stay in, but you could get away with some nice ruit crops in there, or more tropical plants as well....

BILL MA · Post by **BILL MA** » Fri Dec 03, 2010 6:16 am

I'm going to fill it up with as many tropicals as possible to great a rain forest environment for best optimal growth. All the big palms are coming out in Early April and getting transplanted into tree boxes just in case they don't sell right away, this way they'll remain healthy. I'm sure they won't mind grabbing some nutrients out of the new soil either.

No real room for fruits and vegetables, I buy all my stuff fresh grown from a farm stand 2 mins. away. He's a really nice guy, and his product blows the market away, plus I've always liked helping the little people.

Bill

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Fri Dec 03, 2010 6:57 am

One of the nice things about cold hardy palms is you really don't need to heat
a G-house like you would for tropicals!

Your climate not being to cold at night and double plastic with a forced
layer of air really helps too!

Probably only need to heat during the coldest nights and the occasional
cloudy cold day if you need to bump the temp over freezing for the afternoon-
sure you already know this but just wanted to mention that.........

that's pretty cool!

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Fri Dec 03, 2010 7:04 am

Good to know, im glad it wont be sitting idle all spring/summer. To nice to waste

JackLord · Post by **JackLord** » Fri Dec 03, 2010 1:24 pm

One helluva job and a good one at that. You have some nice palms there.

BILL MA · Post by **BILL MA** » Sat Dec 04, 2010 5:06 am

Hey Jim,

Man does the greenhouse hold the heat good, after the sunny day two days ago the temps when up in there and stayed up for a long time after the sun went down. Yesterday the sun was out for maybe 45 mins. all day and it was easily 15-20f warmer then outside. All the palms packed in there are going to work to my advantage collecting heat for sure

Thanks Charles!

You know where to come this spring is you want nanital, a waggie, or just a plain good ole 8' trunk trachy

Bill

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sat Dec 04, 2010 8:00 am

the temps when up in there and stayed up for a long time after the sun went down

The mulch is a big heat accumulator.
Better than barrels of water, which you don't have any room for anyway.

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Sat Dec 04, 2010 8:28 am

Bill,
yes, keep us updated on temps in there but I think it will be easy to keep warm.
And, oh, the thought of an 8' trunk palm!

Maybe I can find one in Texas some year when I'm down there with a horse trailer anyways....
--Erik

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Sat Dec 04, 2010 10:21 am

Bill, did you say a furnace to heat that

JackLord · Post by **JackLord** » Sat Dec 04, 2010 3:57 pm

BILL MA wrote:Hey Jim,

Man does the greenhouse hold the heat good, after the sunny day two days ago the temps when up in there and stayed up for a long time after the sun went down. Yesterday the sun was out for maybe 45 mins. all day and it was easily 15-20f warmer then outside. All the palms packed in there are going to work to my advantage collecting heat for sure

Thanks Charles!

You know where to come this spring is you want nanital, a waggie, or just a plain good ole 8' trunk trachy

Bill

Should I visit family up there, I may just give you some business.

Do you vent that structure? My minigreenhouse has lots of moisture in it.

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Sat Dec 04, 2010 6:13 pm

BILL MA wrote:Hey Jim,

Man does the greenhouse hold the heat good, after the sunny day two days ago the temps when up in there and stayed up for a long time after the sun went down. Yesterday the sun was out for maybe 45 mins. all day and it was easily 15-20f warmer then outside. All the palms packed in there are going to work to my advantage collecting heat for sure

Thanks Charles!

You know where to come this spring is you want nanital, a waggie, or just a plain good ole 8' trunk trachy

Bill

I know what you mean brother

As you know,mine is only one layer of plastic...but get this,
it was below freezing all day today(Saturday)but in the Cactus G-house it was 40(F) inside!

Not bad considering it was cloudy all day!

wxman · Post by **wxman** » Sat Dec 04, 2010 9:13 pm

Nice job. Should do well for you all winter. I'm also curious on how you got the plastic so tight and tied down. Never seen a wiggle wire installed. So it is two layers of poly on top of each other and then u inflate air in between?

How much did this whole setup cost?

BILL MA · Post by **BILL MA** » Mon Dec 06, 2010 5:56 am

Sorry, for not responding guys I've been building palm houses and wrapping stuff up the last few days.

Barb,
Definitely no room for water barrels in there unless I load palms on top of them

Erik,
I don't have a digital thermometer in there yet, just a cheap little one but it hit 75f in there when the sun was out all day and it was in the upper 40's outside

Jesse,
Yeah, there's a regular house furnace in there, not quiet hooked up yet but soon, it won't be as bad as you think to heat, natural gas is cheap, plus I'm setting the thermostat to 30f. If I was heating it to 70f that would be a different story all together

Charles,
If your up here please stop by even if you don't need anything it would be nice to met you. I haven't chopped vents into it yet but I will need to before February, for now I'm just going to stick a huge fan in there with a thermostat on 65 or so and have it blow hot air around. It will cool off once it mixes with the colder ground air I'm thinking. I'm pretty much out of time to chop a vent in now anyways, Florida is calling me!!

BILL MA · Post by **BILL MA** » Mon Dec 06, 2010 6:09 am

Jim,
It's funny how even on cloudy days clear plastic can heat up like that, saves on heat that's for sure. My huts out front are going to get to warm being clear this year but I kinda planned on that anyways. Your going to love the idea I came up with to cure this problem, I'll post pictures when I finish it up

Thanks Tim!

The plastic is really easy, and this is the first time I did it to. You just need to do it in sections starting at the bottom pulling it out and then move up the sides doing the same. Once your doing it you figure it out pretty quick

I haven't added up the cost of it but it's probably in the 3-5 thousand range with no labor. Labor would have made it way expensive so being able to do it all myself saved me at least 5-8 thousand, including heat and wiring.

Thanks Guys!

Bill

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Tue Dec 07, 2010 5:12 am

Concidering the size... thats pretty damn cheap....

PalmsNorth.com

Northern Palm Sanctuary "greenhouse"

Northern Palm Sanctuary "greenhouse"

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