I got my shade cloth installed yesterday and so far the temperature inside is about 20 or so degrees cooler than what it was before For instance on the west side where my orchids are before installing it the temp would be 80 outside and 100+ at the orchids. Today it was 85 outside and 87 at the orchids and that was at 3:30pm. I'll probably keep a log for a few days just to see how good it's working.

The shading seems to be doing the trick.

Most definitely Ken. Now to put my lights in and a fan and it's done.

You'll want plenty of air-movement, Chris.

@chris1948 I'm not far from you, in Georgetown -- have had all my plants out of the GH since mid Feb - but as you know we did get a few nights around 38, but I don't have orchids or anything like that - so everything survived quite well. I have an area that I fence with a low cheap fence with a line of low voltage electric fencing at the top - bought it at Home Depot, and for about $125 the deer don't get to harvest my garden.

I've got everything out of both of mine now except the orchids of course, even all my seedlings are enjoying the fresh air and sun. The electric fence sounds like a good idea. I've got my Hibiscus out front this year and so far, knock on wood, they're being left alone. I don't know whether they've not started coming around yet or the Milorganite I put down in them is keeping them away. I need to put some more down though since we had rain yesterday and it probably got washed into the soil.

Nice greenhouse. I have a similar one only a bit longer. I ended up with fans on both ends and after five years of fighting it getting to hot I finally installed a top vent. I turn things on and off manually and have doors on both ends. Keep an eye on the heat, you can always add fans and vents as you go. I think I've finally got mine working properly. A greenhouse has it's own set of challanges for the gardener.

Hi, Dee. My sister-in-law and her husband live in Arroyo Grande. My wife of 44 years was born and reared in Fresno.

I can't use my two greenhouses when the weather begins to get hot here, basically from May till October. I have vents, open doors, and four fans in each, and they still get over 110F (and often well above 120F) when it is in the 90's outside. I also use 80% shade cloth on the one that gets lots of afternoon sun and 60% on one that gets less sun. We get far hotter here than you though.

The only thing the greenhouses are used for during those hot months is rooting plumeria, curing garlic, and starting vegetables. And the vegetable starts are in April/May and the garlic is cured in late May till mid-June. I use that time when the greenhouses are pretty much empty to redo the cypress subfloor, disinfect everything, and perhaps spruce up the shelving.



greenhouses winterized

I built this small lean to Greenhouse off my shed . I'm in NJ and it's been sort of a raw cold rainy Spring start.....but the full Sun days We've had caused temps of 125° so with the Vent window open I put the shade cloth over as I raise Coleus... It's much better
Now temps are at 85°....except lately with rain & temps between 43°-59° .....I've been using a small ceramic heater on low which keeps the Greenhouse temps at a constant 80°..... But I'm concerned with " Air movement " ...the fan on the heater is on low...the heat seems dry.... Should I Vent every few hours to get good Oxygen movement?? Without the heater temps eventually fall to around 48°..... I'm afraid to lose my Coleus plants

If it were me, and I have two greenhouses and a solarium, I would install a box fan on a timer to better move the air. Air movement is one of the least understood and least appreciated aspects of growing in greenhouse settings.

drdawg said:If it were me, and I have two greenhouses and a solarium, I would install a box fan on a timer to better move the air. Air movement is one of the least understood and least appreciated aspects of growing in greenhouse settings.

I will look into getting a small fan as my Greenhouse is very small.....7 ft Wide x 8 ft Long by 8 ft high..... The disc heater has a built in fan which moves the air but it may not be high volume enough. Will definitely get a fan before the summer heat arrives! THANKS

Jimmy, believe it or not, air movement is more important, even critical, during the fall and winter months. That's when the combination of cool, perhaps more shade, and moist conditions lead to insect, fungi, and bacterial infestation.

A box fan is very inexpensive, both to purchase and to run. If it moves more air than you are comfortable with, you can always cover the back of the fan with plastic or cloth. That alone will reduce the air-flow by about 50%.

Thanks Ken ( drdawg)!! I happen to have the perfect fan in my garage which I will move to the greenhouse. I have been ventilating the greenhouse daily and already my Coleus seem to look much improved. Its been overcast , cool (48-58°) & rainy for goibg on 2 weeks now in NJ but this, weekend expecting the Sun to return which I could really use. I havent watered the Coleus in a few days because its been so damp.....even with the heater.....Ive misted a few times but the soil in 90% of my pots have a nice mixture of a damp & dry. But I know they could really use a shot of sunshine!!!

Just am update....I have been making a point to Open up the door & Vent windows each day to get the O2 flowing through my Greenhouse and my Coleus are really looking good!! Im trying my best to tweek my Greenhousing habits of the nearly 600 Coleus I have potted in 4" nursery pots..... proper watering & fertilizer , Ventilation and Sun Lighting . I thank everyone here on the forum for their helpful suggestions!!!

Glad you're enjoying your greenhouse. It does take some getting used to, caring for plants inside a greenhouse.