PalmsNorth.com – Cold Hardy Palm Forum
Growing palms and tropicals in cold climates
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Hey everyone,
Here's my latest project, I needed to find a spot for all of my potted plants from around the yard as well as others that I dug up. With the way the economy is, I needed it to be as cheap and effective as possible so here's what I came up with. Basement Greenhouse! 🙄 As it turns out my basement is perfect, it has a sand floor ever since I broke the concrete up a few years ago (we won't go there) which is great for watering, 8 foot ceiling in that section, and a forced hot air duct close by that I can tap into if the temperatures get to cool. It also has two windows, and 13 four foot florescent 40 watt lights on timers to go on for 12 hours a day, pretty easy. The temp stays around 62 degrees with about 80% humidity, a fan that spins on it's own since it hangs from a wire to keep the air moving. Plus since I made the walls out of 6 mil plastic the humidity stays in there very nicely from the soil in the pots. Total job only cost me 20 bucks since I had all the stuff to construct it, cheap enough I'd say. The plants are loving life down there too, along with my anole lizard that hung around all summer that I captured and put in there as well, keep him from freezing to death :D. The only problem I can see is the plants getting so big I can't get them out 😆
Here's some picture's of my Dexter (showtime show) style greenhouse!!! My poor back as usual, lots of trips up and down 🙄
Bill
Posted : 17/11/2009 7:43 pm
What's your lizards name??
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Posted : 17/11/2009 8:57 pm
Very cool Bill! Things should grow well all winter.
Love the lizard!!
Mark
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Posted : 17/11/2009 9:50 pm
Bill that is hardcore. Nice to see the fans for circulation got to keep that air moving to prevent pathogens.You might want to try and keep the pots on styrofoam pads so the roots don`t get to cold when if the real cold weather hits outside and cools off down there. Keep us informed as through the dark days of winter how they are doing.
John
Okanagan Palms and Tropicals
6b-7a
Posted : 18/11/2009 1:30 am
Hey Bill what a good idea.
I'm still trying to figure out why you dug up the concrete 😆 😆
With 2 windows you'll be able to get rid of excess humidity on mild days.
And sounds like lots of supplemental light is available; the fan will keep everything healthy.
Quite the AHA moment when you thought of it, I bet!
Barb
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If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.
Posted : 18/11/2009 1:46 am
Topic starter
Hey Scott, I was calling him "poor little guy" since every time I tried to catch him he ran away and I was running out of time to get him.
Thanks Mark, I hope everything works out so far so good. I need to keep my eyes open for mites, it's pretty humid though.
Yeah John, styrofoam would be good but sounds like to much work to move everything back out. The ground stays around 55 down there so it should be ok I think.
Hey Barb, I broke the concrete out to build a room down there that I never got around to after digging the floor down a foot and a half, the things we do 🙄
Thanks guys, I'll let everyone know how it's working out.
Bill
Posted : 18/11/2009 10:19 am
to build a room down there that I never got around to
An extra room just leads to more company
Much better use now 😆
Barb
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If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.
Posted : 18/11/2009 10:51 am
that looks great. it will be a very useful room. My only concern is that next year you may need abigger one. start diggin' now and get ready for fall 2010.
Kent in Kansas
where it's cold in winter (always)
and hot in summer (usually)
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Posted : 18/11/2009 3:12 pm
Yea Bill,the floors the limit!
Looks great and shouldn't take to long for all that stuff to start busting out!
Maybe your PLG will eat all those G*$- D&#$ fungus nats!
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Posted : 18/11/2009 3:54 pm
Topic starter
Funny about the fungus gnats someone on another board asked me what the anole will eat, I said hopefully it will start eating the fungus gnats. LOL!
No more digging I'll just throw some stuff out and move the wall over 12 more feet. 14*24 now where talking I'm going to get started now!
Bill
Posted : 18/11/2009 6:28 pm
