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First Year with 6 x 8 HFGH

18 years ago

Went through last winter with no weather proofing at all. No bubble wrap, no caulk. I have no idea how much the electric heater added to my bill but I'm sure it was more than it would have been if basic weather proofing would have been done. A few panels blew off in windstorms. Nothing major.

Had no problems with heat or sun in the summer. Bought a shade cloth and had to peel it back off as everything was stretching. Did not need a fan. Greenhouse gets some shade and we had a dreary summer, weather-wise.

I have kept tropical plants in it all summer. Bought decorative plant racks 50% off from Linens 'N Things for display. Didn't want standard benches. My gardenias, jasmine, mandevillea and others have been blooming. Have a pond in one end for tropical waterlilies and did get some blooms.

DH had given me HF brand auto vent openers for Christmas. One died after a few months. The other still works. DH didn't know that there are much better ones available.

Have had trouble with aphids and spider mites.

Wish I would have put sharp edged gravel that would pack on the floor not pea gravel. It rolls and I feel like I'm going to break an ankle.

Comments (5)

  • 18 years ago

    Here in hot, sunny, humid TN my little HFGH reached 110F even with the shade cloth and fan. All my plants are spending the summer outdoors. Nothing could survive that kind of heat. We have an acre plus, so space is unlimited.

  • 18 years ago

    Buyorsell, it sounds like you have a lovely greenhouse.

    I put down crushed bluestone and, while I do like the way it packs, it was rough on my sometimes-bare feet, so last fall I pushed it to the perimeter, poured and leveled some sand and laid a walkway in the center, 3 blocks wide, of the gray rectangular patio blocks. Life is so much easier now, lol. Maybe something like this would work for you?

    Are you planning on adding any basic weather proofing this winter?

    I had great luck with a light dusting of ordinary flour on the aphids; come back about an hour or two later and they'll be all dried up; just spray plants with water to clean them off. Spider mites are a little more stubborn. There are several products on the market, from organic to the heavy-hitting synthetic chemicals, to keep them at bay. If your plants are all ornamentals, you may want to consider a systemic, which is applied to the soil and taken up by the plant and poisons the pests that feed upon it.

    It's about time to start preparing our greenhouse for the coming season. Hope everyone will have a good one this winter!

    Diane

  • 18 years ago

    I buy insecticides and then never spray them. I put them in the shed and forget about them.

    I would like to weather proof but DH isn't cooperating.

  • 18 years ago

    I'm wondering how many of you with the 6x8 wish you had purchased the 10x12?

    I'm in this debate with myself now....I do end up with a lot of plants that I need to stash in the few days of freezing weather we get here each winter...so I'm leaning towards the bigger one.

  • 18 years ago

    Buyorsell - Do you really need DH's cooperation to weatherproof? I did most of it myself. OK, I did ask my adult son to remove and replace the roof panels for me ... but only 'cause, at 6'3" he's a good bit taller than I am and has longer arms ... I applied all the tape and caulk myself.

    Rjinga - I bought my 6x8 before they came out with the 10x12, so no decision to make. Am I sorry? Hmmmm. It would be nice to have a larger greenhouse ... also nice to have enough space in the back yard to accommodate that larger greenhouse! Aesthetically, I like the proportions of the smaller one better; the larger one just looks too tall to me. It's also much easier to maintain the little one, and to slip the clear solar pool cover over in the fall.

    Now if they only made an 8x10....

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