Portable greenhouse - is it solution for a winter?

[SiberianGirl]

Hello everybody!
I'm wandering if anybody uses small portable greenhouses, that you can get in a craft stores, for orchids - to get them through a winter. I was keeping my Phals, Dendrobiums, Oncidiums and Catts outside whole summer (protected from direct sun - learned that much at least), but it is getting cooler and cooler at nights here in Arkansas.
What kind of GH would you suggest? - there is quite a few of them available in stores on-line, it is pretty confusing for a newbie.
Would appreciate any experience sharing and advises. I'm sure I'm not only one why would be interested in options for getting their babies through a winter if you can't bring them all in (a toddler in the house, for example .
Thanks!
Oksana

[Cjcorner]

I'm guessing it would depend how cold and for how long it gets in your area. Several of our members are in your area and should chime in soon on your question.

[Lizgeo]

I have one shelf that comes with a plastic zip cover. It worked OK, but not great for me. Winter here rarely goes down below 35, so I kept catts inside of that shelf last year. I didn't use heater for them because it's so tight there and I didn't want to burn the plants. My biggest problem is that it heats up really fast as soon as the sun comes out. I leave home early in the morning for work, can't always remember to open the cover, a couple of days I forgot to open the zipper and a lot plants were "cooked" after a day in the sun. That's why I am asking for a permit from HOA to build a greenhouse.

[Brutal_Dreamer]

It gets really cold here in Arkansas, Oksana. Our first year here, we wrapped a gazebo with some heavy plastic and put an oil radiator type heater in the center of it and hung our orchids in there over the winter. Many died. If at all possible, keep them where you can really manage the temperature. At the AR Orchid Society show, connect with the orchid society members and see what they do in the Little Rock area. The show is this coming weekend right in your city. Best of luck.

Cheers,
BD