Maybe you can have both...maybe make a few beds for "in the ground" and then have some planters? Also don't forget to utilize the walls, supports and to hang stuff.

One thing I hope to do this week is to get about 10 big concrete blocks, stack them up 5 high, and put my big 25 gallon container with my Anthurium pendula on top of it (that thing has leaves about 5 ft long), and then in the holes made by the blocks put soil/sphagnum moss and root some stuff in the holes to trail out, and also cover the solid sides with cork bark and mount bromeliads and orchids to it to make a "living planter".

You could get creative with nice plant stands instead of the conventional benches, making groupings with multiple potted plants of varying sizes around in the ground plantings.

Just remember this, the only real piece of advice I will give you:
NOTHING IS SET IN STONE. You will change things 1000 times before you get it the way you like it! Then, you will likely change it AGAIN!

Ah--you are always so inspiring, Bihai! Thank you from me too!

Actually sounds like how I laid out my greenhouse. Every place I could has plants. I actually have some beginning to grow accross the top supports in a hoop house. Half is in the ground and half are benches. Don't forget about air circulation and water considerations. I have one area almost without water for sans and cacti.

thanks everyone!

I plan to have plants in every nook and cranny available, plus hanging baskets across the entire area. a "planter" made from various materials is a good idea! I'll try to be very creative.

I have good vents and fans, and will get some circ. fans.

:)

Make certain we get some PHOTOS!!!!!

I will. I have been bugging my husband to bring home work camera, but he keeps forgetting. I imagine that once the greenhouse starts going up he'll have a reason to remember!

:)
pb

Hi
I would highly recommend keep everything in pots. You can arrange them in groups.I plant a tall plant then underplant with something shorter You can move them around as they grow. I made a serious mistake of planting Heliconia directly in the ground. It turned into a monster lol and they is no way to remove it.
I recently added an irrigation misting system using flexible PVC pipe.Twisted two sections to gether and with a bit of expanding foam and paint I think it looks a lot like a jungle liana rather than an irrigation pipe. Will be a great place to grow epiphytes completely out of the way.
Was going to build a PVC tree as on the AOS wesite but figured this would take up a lot less room and I need the irrigation system anyway. I want so much to get rid of all the hanging pots. gary

Heliconia aren't impossible to remove, but I agree it takes a LOT of pretty back breaking work.
I like my stuff in the ground, because it just grows better in the ground. Gets fuller, gets better drainiage, no salt buildup in pots, nothing heavy to lug. But everyone is different in how they garden. There's no right or wrong way, its what's most appealing to your eye and best for your activity level. I am getting on towards 50, and even though I am very athletic (I run 24-32 miles a week and do intense cycling 3-5 hours a week) my poor old back just can't take moving plants in pots anymore!

one of my plans is to grow some plants in hanging aeroponic setups - with a fish pond to feed them. I'd also like to try a small "living wall" for some epis.

whatever I do, I want to have fun.

Hi
I just started a "living wall" last March Using styrofoam and expanding foam to make a "rock" wall.
It's actually a "seep wall" as water runs down it
into a marsh garden then into a 150 aquarium. Covers an area around 2x8 feet so far . have so far not planted above where the water is released at 7 feet above the ground.
I was going to build a giant terrarium but thought the shadehouse a much better location. Imagine trying to light
10 foot of depth ??lol. So the entire thing is exposed to both sunlight and rain.
So far have been thrilled with the results ,everything including the aquarium are doing fantastic!!
It has been a lot of work but I love to set up habitats
and this one is the largest most complex I've ever done.
This winter i intend to start the "dry canopy" which will go up to the 10 foot roof then outward about 7 feet.
A six climate rainforest within an 8x10 area!! Maybe lol
Anyway it's the most fun project I've had with gardening.
Bihai the main problem with removing the Heliconia is the underplantings which i want to save so can't dig up the whole area.No matter how caeful within about six months they start popping up again lol And of course looks terrible so i let it grow up again. Had I started in a pot or trough could have lessened the effect. keep in mind that my whole protected area is only12x25 with 10 foot ceiling!!
And I keep around 300 different kinds of plants.lol
I hate moving the pots around also but at least it's possible and sure prevents a lot of root entangle ment.
gary

I know what you mean. When I took out all of the large stands of different heliconias I had to remove and pot up some of the understory stuff, then chop off all the stalks and remove them, then take pruning saws and shovels to the heliconia root masses. SOme of the rhizome masses were so big I had to just prune of a single rhizome section at a time. After I was done I filled in with bagged topsoil and mulch, and replanted other stuff. You are right, if you miss one piece the heliconia starts to grow back! I have pulled out several new shoots since then LOL.

Bihai
And yet you say it's hard to move pots?? lol
I've always had to move or remove everything at one time or the other anyway so to me, pots seem like a lot less work
long term. Another advantage is say plant A grows too fast and shades plant b or plant c grows well but needs more light to flower. A pot makes these small adjustments easier.
i still find pots the best all around containment for orchids. I've tried many other methods most of which worked but not for long or they created another problem.
you have so much more room so maybe it's entirely different?? gary

I think I will have to stick with pots, hanging baskets and vertical PVC planters.

I am hoping to tack up vining plants and veggies, you know - going across the top of the gh. Maybe a miniature cuke, a good zucchini, pothos, philo, etc. Spinach and lettuces in the PVC pipes, Hoyas in the hanging baskets.

:)

Even in you just do potted, planting some ferns and groundcover-like stuff on the greenhouse floor would add a total 'nother cool layer to your look and give it tons of depth and a way more lush appearance.