Greenhouses and renewables!!

[Daethen]

Gary, I am about an hour away from Madison and am looking for an inexpensive personal greenhouse. Any ideas?

[rich63]

Jonada,Have you tried to do a internet search Cold Weather Greenhouse Kits ? There are a few good post in this greenhouse thread about forum members construction of their own greenhouses. Have Fun,Rich

[espranch]

Well, all I can say is:GOOD LUCK finding a cheap way to heat your greenhouse in the winter. I am in N. East Tex. and last winter was very cold...even for Texas. Even got down to 14 degrees. Yes, I do have an electric heater, but its not enough at times. My bill for the green house was running me about $100.00 per month. This Winter, when it gets really cold, ALL orchids are coming inside on shelves ( south window )with humidity trays. There's no way I'm paying that kind of money again for a hobby! Betty :-)

[Daethen]

No offense, Betty, but 14 degrees is a heat wave in WI in the winter. We had something like 20 below zero last year. We have a small propane heater that we used to heat our dog kennel when we used to need to do that. I was thinking of using that. I could always go to a wood stove and humidifier.

[espranch]

Jonada, I believe if you do a little research, you will find that orchids are very sensitive to wood or oil fumes in their growing space. And, as far as COLD, I lived in Wayzata, Minn. for 15 yrs. and had a very large greenhouse which was heated with #2 fuel oil. ( I had orchids then, but they were under lights in the house) Heating the greenhouse became too expensive, so we shut it down. By the way, I actually rode my horses in weather down to 15 degrees (above zero) in the winter. When it got below 15...they were not ridden. But...we still had to go feed them twice a day; even in 30 below zero in the winter. Sooooooooo, I UNDERSTAND what cold weather is. I have found that the cleanest heat is electric; however, I found it too costly for a "hobby!" Betty :-)

[rich63]

Jonada,I did find some information on AOS site that might interest you. Have Fun, Rich

AOS | Growing Orchids in a Window Greenhouse

[Daethen]

Betty, I used to have horses and rode year round as well. I loved it. I miss them very much. Thanks for the info on the fumes, though. I will just have to fight with my mom in law so that she can understand their needs. She loves the flowers, but is ready to throw her phal away since it hasn't bloomed in the last few months. And she thinks I have no patience!!

[Daethen]

Rich, thanks for the link. It was a great read and I will be searching AOS further.

[espranch]

I made a mistake...My husband, Andy informed me that we used # 1 fuel oil in the greenhouse. I stand corrected! Jonada, I rode English, trail & dressage, plus I showed the horses. Had a Quarter horse & a Pinto/Paint. Both are long gone now...Betty :-(

[Daethen]

Betty, I rode for fun only, but had about 25 horses at one point. I had a registered paint stud and several reg. mares and had a ball when the babies were born.