Hidden Valley Hibiscus Forum

So I said that my husband was going to build me a greenhouse last year.  Well, he finally started it last month.  It is almost done... Here are some progression photos.
Its 10' x 12'.  In the last photo my brother is standing inside.  As a height gauge, he is 6'7"

Like I told you on Facebook, I am in LOVE with this! I showed my husband and already told him when our kids outgrow their swingset, he must build me one in its place. :)

How huge is your yard? I'd love a wide shot to see how this sits in your yard if ya feel like sharing! :)

What is your plan for heat?

Thanks for sharing.

LOVE IT!!!!

That's going to be an attractive greenhouse. What material are you going to cover it with? In your area heat retention will be an issue, but you also need to be able to ventilate it on sunny winter days. Kudos to your husband - looks nice and soild.

Charlie

Kristen, congratulations on your new greenhouse--looks great.

Erny

Matt put windows in it today.  They are thermal double pain windows that he got from various jobs.  He is a carpenter.  Some great "throw-aways".  I am working on him to insulate it.  He doesn't want to for some reason.  So for now I think I will get to keep them inside till December hopefullly.  Then probably get them back out there in March.  I really have no idea.  But if I convince him to insulate it, then it may be year round and I will use a space heater.  I hate the idea of having to bring them in the house.  Ill keep working on him.  :)
And I will keep you posted on future photos for sure!

Kristen WOWOW That looks amazing can't wait to see finished product. 

Thanks.  I am so excited.  And we are going to insulate it with insulation.  All the windows are double paned and have storm windows also.  And when it is chilly chilly... I will either add a space heater, or buy a new wood stove for the house and bring this one out there :)  Matt hasn't heard that one yet ;)  lol

Charlie.  I heard that you can fill buckets of water and keep them inside.  They heat up during the day and help heat during the night... is this true?

Yes, some greenhouses do this. For commercial operations large containers designed for the purpose can be placed near walls to absorb sunlight/heat during the day and then give it back at night. The downside is that they take up space and nearly everyone finds that they run out of greenhouse space for plants faster than expected.

Winters in the northeast are so cold that I'm not sure you can keep the greenhouse above freezing without some extra added heat. If the greenhouse is nice and tight and well insulated a little heat will help a lot but without it the temperature in most greenhouses drops to match the outside temperature or hovers a couple of degrees above it by dawn.

If it costs too much to warm the greenhouse to balmy you can set a space heater as low as 35F to protect the hibiscus from freezing. I've found that every 10 degrees over freezing makes a big difference in how well the plants do, with mid-60's being very comfortable for them. You also need to be able to open windows if the temperature rises to over 95F during sunny days.

Charlie

Well I won the Insulation battle.  I will keep you posted.  But for now.  Here is a new update from yesterday.

One of the photos show the cliff that Matt is building it on.  Not a pretty picture, but is a great use of wasted space.  One last photo of the interior.  I forgot to mention that this greenhouse is build almost entirely "green".

Wowie!  Kristen, that's an AWESOME "green" house!!!  :o

(Ummm... Do you think Taj might possibly think it's a dog house?)

 :D

Kristen, that's so beautiful!  My current greenhouse isn't big enough so I will need to get one built in my yard by winter.  Can you send Matt to CA for a week or so?  lol

I think Taj would like it to be a dog house!
And yes Jordan, would love to come to CA!

Oh my gosh, Kristen, your greenhouse is spectacular!!!! Amazing! So, so cool!!!! I can't wait to see it when it's completely finished!!!!

Cindy

Incredible, I'm very envious.  Really looking forward to seeing its completion and filled with your hibs.

dave

An update.  All thats left now is to insulate it and build tables.  Oh, and to hang some lights.

Kristen this is super awesome.  I couldn't have imagined a more perfect setting and completed product than what your husband created.  Spectacular to say the least!  Looks even better with some green inside...

Farmer D

Thanks Darren, I'm having and will have so much fun with it!  It is already getting down to the low 60's here!  So, It's much needed!  And it was a wasted space before.  It was just a cliff of rock and weeds.

It's such an attractive greenhouse! I forgot to mention earlier that getting water in and also out of the greenhouse is something to give some thought to when building one. A drain in the floor is always nice - makes cleaning up easier and allows you to water more freely. Anyway, it looks really great and I'm sure will help a lot with growing your hibiscus. Any questions come up, please feel free to ask.

Charlie

Thanks Charlie.  Matt was suggesting a drain... but I thought it would be bad for me to water carelessly as the floor is plywood...  Underneath it is pressure treated decking. And if the plywood rotted I guess wouldn't be the worst thing to have to replace, but I was just worried about the wood.

Having a floor that can get water on it allows you to use pots without saucers as well as a timer and drip system. But, if you use Kontos you need the saucers anyway for best results. If you decide later that it would help to have a waterproof floor I'm sure Matt could give it a water proof varnish finish or if he's feeling very generous you could put down rough tiles (nothing slick and slippery) on top of the boards.

These are minor points - I think its going to be great for you as is!

Charlie

Oh yeah, Kontos is a must!  It keeps my plants mite free for a long time now!  Saucers it is :)

Wow. That is one nice greenhouse.

We put some shop lights inside.  I moved my office corner shelving to a shady corner of the greenhouse and put the christmas cactus and philodendron there.  Think they should be pretty happy.

Thats a nice little oasis :)

Oh Kristen, it's sooooooo beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!! It makes me want to go sit in it and hang out!!!!!!!! Just GORGEOUS! Your husband is quite a carpenter!

Cindy

Thank you, he is quite talented!

Some loaded greenhouse photos.  I will be bringing them all in tomorrow as the temps will drop into the 30's at night and stay there.  I started cutting back some of them.  Saffron got a partial haircut.  It was so tall this summer that I couldn't see the blooms in the corner spot I put it. Gonna have to find a better spot next year if I cant get it to stay short.

Kristen, your greenhouse is looking great!

thanks chris!

Looks like home to me! Beautiful space with great greenery and color.

Charlie

Thanks Charlie.  I think they will be making the big move into my house for the winter today... what a chore that will be... 

Again congratulations on such a lovely greenhouse.  Good to see no damage from Sandy and it is so beautiful in there!  I take it there is no way to keep it warm enough during winter to not have to move your plants out? 

Farmer D

Well, It has been getting down to the 30's this week and with the electric heater on we keep it at around 45-50º.  If it gets lower outside at night, I don't think I can keep it warm enough without bringing out the big heaters... My husband doesn't want to spend money to heat it.... not sure how much it would cost...  Everything is super insulated, but the roof lets out a lot of heat.  They didn't make it inside today once again... maybe this week.

I feel your pain as my 1000 gallon tank of propane gets refilled several times per month in winter. Unaffordable with the prices these days. What we do to make it feasible is hang a sheet of clear poly plastic at the 8 foot level (it could be lower but 8 feet fits our greenhouse). This prevents much heat from leaking out the actual roof and reduces the cubic feet of air that is heated, and saves a bunch of money on heating. I use the savings to bring the temperature up to lows of 60F instead of saving money but its worth it since we must get the plants ready for spring shipping over the winter and heat is needed.

Charlie