[IBC] Greenhouses

Tom Kehoe

Folks,

I've reached the point where I need a small greenhouse, 6x8 to 8x10 or so,
to overwinter my tropical trees. Here on Florida's space coast it gets just
a bit too cold for some of my ficus and more exoctic trees. I'd really like
to hear from anyone who has taken the plunge: What did it cost, who did you
get the materials from and how is it holding up? Are there certain features
(roof vents, for example) that I really need, or certain ones I should
avoid?

many thanks

Tom Kehoe
tkehoe@cfl.rr.com

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Billy M. Rhodes

Tom

Take a look at this site. This is the company that made mine. It has been
in place since the spring of 1990.

http://www.turnergreenhouses.com/

Billy on the Florida Space Coast
BSF Annual Convention July 1 - 4, 2005 Radisson Hotel, Cape Canaveral,
Florida
Workshops with Jerry Meislek of Whitefish, Montana and Chase Rosade of New
Hope, PA.

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Brent Walston

At 03:13 PM 6/20/04 +0000, Tom Kehoe wrote:
>Folks,
>
>I've reached the point where I need a small greenhouse, 6x8 to 8x10 or so,
>to overwinter my tropical trees. Here on Florida's space coast it gets just
>a bit too cold for some of my ficus and more exoctic trees. I'd really like
>to hear from anyone who has taken the plunge: What did it cost, who did you
>get the materials from and how is it holding up? Are there certain features
roof vents, for example) that I really need, or certain ones I should
>avoid?

Tom

A greenhouse in Florida is a pretty simple affair since you don't have to
worry about venting and a small electric space heater for emergencies is
about all you need. For an 8x10 house you don't need any active systems.
You can vent by simply opening one or both doors. In summer you will need
50% shadecloth to prevent overheating.

A very simple one that I built and used for years is constructed of S4S 2x2
lumber joined with plastic corners and angles. These are available from
many places, but I know that CharleysGreenhouse.com has them. They are
about $30. You can use gravel or ground cloth for the floor and make your
own doors. Buy only 4 year greenhouse film for the covering. Fiberglas or
polycarbonate will greatly increase the cost, not worth it in my opinion. I
believe you can buy the plastic by the foot from some greenhouse suppliers.
Use only UV protected 6 mil greenhouse film. Ordinary film won't last a
single year.

If you pull a single sheet over the greenhouse you don't even have to
fasten it except at the door ends. Along the base of the long walls you can
just cover it with sand to hold it in place. In fact that works better than
staples and battens, since the sand also anchors the entire structure from
wind. Use staples and battens on the end frames.

I suppose you could do the whole thing for under $200.


Brent in Northern California
Evergreen Gardenworks USDA Zone 8 Sunset Zone 14
mailto:bonsai@pacific.net
http://www.EvergreenGardenworks.com

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++++Sponsored, in part, by John Quinn++++
************************************************** ******************************
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+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail BONSAI-REQUEST@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM +++++

Tom Kehoe

Billy,

I'm having some trouble with my newsreader, so I'm not sure if you got this
already.

Thanks for the note. I didn't quite remember the name of the company when
you tole me about it a couple of weeks ago.

They have a great selection (And the company didn't come up on any of my
googles). Since I'm in a kind of standard suburban neighborhood, I need
something that will look "pretty" enough that neither my wife nor my
neighbors will compain these certainly fit the bill.. I wonder how the
different models stack up against each other?

tk

"Billy M. Rhodes" <GOPHERHILL@AOL.COM> wrote in message
news:c0.f9629f2.2e070bb0@aol.com...
> Tom
>
> Take a look at this site. This is the company that made mine. It has
been
> in place since the spring of 1990.
>
> http://www.turnergreenhouses.com/
>
> Billy on the Florida Space Coast
> BSF Annual Convention July 1 - 4, 2005 Radisson Hotel, Cape Canaveral,
> Florida
> Workshops with Jerry Meislek of Whitefish, Montana and Chase Rosade of New
> Hope, PA.
>
>
************************************************** **************************
****
> ++++Sponsored, in part, by John Quinn++++
>
************************************************** **************************
****
> >>-->> The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ <<--<<
> +++++ Questions? Help? e-mail BONSAI-REQUEST@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM +++++
>