Beautiful greenhouse, Ursula. First class.

By the way, I see where our old friend Fred Rump had a huge greenhouse built up in Georgia and trucked down to Naples. It is very impressive as well. I'm still thinking about converting my lanai to a greenhouse/sunroom. I need to get an estimate.

Jim

Oh would love to see Fred's gh. Tell him to show us!
You are in trouble, JIm!!!!

I didn't communicate with him but rather found his posts on the Florida Gardening site over at DG. Perhaps I could send him a Dmail.

Jim

Thanks Jim! Yes, I would also love to see Fred's Greenhouse. Sounds more like a Greenpalace.

That would be great Jim!!

I Dmailed him with this link.

Jim

Great!!

Got Jim's mail and reminder to post here. I'm just in the process of venturing outside again. The summer months are just too much for me. I just can't handle the humidity for any length of time and since I don't wish to get a heat stroke or whatever, I pretty much stay where my body is more comfortable - inside.

The greenhouse has poly carb sidinga and roof. I haven't gotten any shelving yet and will first move the tables I had from the lanai in there. The tables on the lanai did not work out as well as I had supposed in that the constant rain left lots of black mildew underneath them. I now have to powerwash the whole area. Also, there is simply too much rain during the summer. I need to do something about covering the orchids during that time out in the open. The screened lanaii seemed to be OK as far as light goes but my tropical palms want more shade. So I will probably get a denser screen over those areas.

Ok, so I started to move my orchids into the greenhouse with the fan going full blast. It's still pretty warm in there. The only reason to have a greenhouse down here is to protect the plants during a few cold nights we get every winter. Last year was just a bit too much and I don't want this to happen again. Let me take a few pictures for you.
My trusty mule to carry the plants to the rear of the property

Some of the remaining plants under my lanai

these always had a fan on to keep them from rotting during the daily summer rains

some of my hanging plants


The destination. I still have a covered area to the right of the GH where I tried to keep my plants before I had the pool and lanai but it has no cold protection.

let's take a look inside
this is the area I used to use for summer storage where I had a tarp on the roof to protect against the constant rain


a first load set up on a table

my phals are set here temporarily. Don't know yet if they will get too much light here. The rack is mobile and I can add plenty more plants to it. During the summer I had all my seedlings on it.

showing the big door so I can get my palms inside

another view aacross the 12x24 room

these are some of the tropicals which will need winter protection. Even after I moved and protected them last year some damage still shows.

Basically this is a storage shed made out of galvanized steel with a poly carb skin. The floor is non-rot pervious with enough space between the boards to let water drain out. I will install an outside skirt around the perimiter to prevent too much cold coming in through the floor.

Wish me luck.
Fred

And here I sit while my orchids fend for thenselves out in the elements. It really looks nice, Fred. 12 X 24 seems huge to me but orchids have a way of multiplying for most of us. Is it sitting back by your steel barn type building?

Jim

Jim,
I took the advice of many people who told me their greenhouses were too small and they wished they had ordered larger.

I have the GH in the back on the right outside of the driveway which goes around the gazebo. I wanted it to be placed 10 feet from the fence but the delivery people couldn't lift the thing to get it there. We would have required a rather large crane. What I'm saying is the thing is very heavy with all the steel and floor. So, after they munged my lawn up and generally made a mess, I just told them to leave it were it plopped/rolled off the trailer.

Nothing ever goes as planned.
fred

PS I also needed the space for the big licuala palms. They have a tremendous wingspan.

I have a Licuala grandis growing in a pot on my lanai. It's still small so I can use a dolly to wheel it around to the garage along with the orchids. You have a much better plan.

Jim

Great set up Fred! Now watch...you'll have the warmest winter on record!

So wonderful Fred!! The greenhouse is a dream! Can you tell me more about those rolling shelves?

Fred,
yes, you got yourself a terrific and useful Greenpalace. Good for you, it should make things easier on/for you!!

I am happy you came by and posted everything in such detailed fashion. You will be happy you picked a good size for your Gh, you will absolutely fill it up!!

I agree. Everyone starts too small and regrets it.
Thanks for coming by and letting us know all about it. Wonderful explanation too!!

Yes, I suspect that we won't have even one freezing night this winter but at least I'm prepared.

As far as the source of those moving shelves are, they come from www.GrowersSupply.com

EZ-Grow Multi-Tiered Display Units
Let a versatile EZ-Grow Multi-Tiered Display Unit solve your "limited space" problem.
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Since this is a rather solid and heavy piece of steel, I had assumed it would ship from some US plant but wouldn't you know it, it came from China. I don't know how this country is staying alive when all we can buy are Chinese made products. It also amazes me that they can make this thing and ship it from across the world at a better price then we can make it here. It's just welded steel on wheels. I had to spray paint it already though.

Great set up fred. Were all jealous, love the pool/spa..very tropical.

Fred, this is so smart of you. Even if you have a mild winter for 3 years, there's always a frozen one that comes along and breaks your heart. I should know in New England!! I only buy z4 plants for the garden now despite being in z5 cause every 3 winters are z4 winters!! I've been much happier since I decided that.