building my greenhouse

[Coppersdad]

I should add, in my research I found the biggest regret anyone had about any greenhouse they ever had was that they wished they had a larger one.

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Really nice job. A couple thoughts on future planning of potential expansion that may or may not be useful.

1. Consider the future size and type of your bonsai collection. (At least the next three years) A really hard task, I know. However it’s high time to make a good effort at it. Then consider the overall volume of trees….which trees will really need protection, which will be transients, and which can be placed outside with just a varmit barrier.

2. Think if extra shelves will be needed in the future and where/how these can be installed. Also spend some time comsidering if the existing shelves might need widening.

3.Wondering if overhead lights are in the future? We installed some inexpensive led light bars that proved to be extremely effective in heat, cold, moisture. Etc. They daisy chain, so we used a couple sets in each greenhouse

Barrina LED Shop Light 2ft, 20W 3000LM 5000K, T8 LED Light Fixture, Clear Cover, Ceiling and Utility Shop Light, Linkable Tube Lights, Shop Lights for Room, Garage, Workbench, Warehouse, 2-Pack ​

Cheers
DSD sends

 

[pandacular]

On Sunday, I added the second bench. It’s a bit wider than the opposite one, and I left put an upper shelf to allow for taller plants. I could widen another 5 inches or so but I was just one 2x4 short!

Bruce, I thought about those Climapods, and think I would’ve gone for one were I paying a mortgage instead of a lease!

Consider the future size and type of your bonsai collection. (At least the next three years) A really hard task, I know. However it’s high time to make a good effort at it. Then consider the overall volume of trees….which trees will really need protection, which will be transients, and which can be placed outside with just a varmit barrier.

This is a good thought. Definitely one of my goals for the next few years is to be really considerate about what trees enter my collection. I have instituted a policy of not adding species that my teachers don’t work on. I’m certainly interested to see how my use of this greenhouse develops, but winter protection is probably not the main function for me, and I certainly don’t plan to add trees that I don’t feel I could winter over without a greenhouse.

Wondering if overhead lights are in the future? We installed some inexpensive led light bars that proved to be extremely effective in heat, cold, moisture. Etc. They daisy chain, so we used a couple sets in each greenhouse

Lights are definitely next on my list, after the automatic roof vent openers. I actually just installed a few of the same ones in my garage. Hoping to minimize the time I spend outside after dark, at least until this cold breaks!

 

[BrianBay9]

Don't know if you're doing this already, but if you put water in those black bins you're using to support your shelves, they'll act as heat sinks, absorbing heat in the day and gradually releasing it at night. I used to use plastic 55 gal barrels full of water as shelf supports.

 

[pandacular]

Yep, that’s exactly what they are for. Between Saturday and this afternoon, they were empty as I had to move them around (good thing I remember how to siphon water with a garden hose—and it was cold and tasty!)

Last night, temps got substantially lower in the greenhouse than I was anticipating, down to about 34° with outside temps hovering around 29°. Until recently, I had been able to sustain about an 8-10° difference between inside and out! Hoping having that water in the greenhouse helps tonight.

 

[pandacular]

Also, the bins are no longer supporting the shelves, as they’ve been built into the frame.