hey dave. How are you. hope all is well in NOVA.

No it wasnt a kit. I spent quite a few months looking at PVC houses online and kind of designed it myself. Its all 3/4 electrical PVC. im an electrician so i had it on hand. all the fittings are plumbing and I found them all at Lowes, no special pieces. The plastic is from ACF greenhouses. its UV treated and all that for greenhouses. I have bought from them several times. My parents greenhouse is going on its 3rd winter and the plastic looks as good as day one. They do sell a kit that will be similar to the one I made but they also have plans and a parts list on their site to make one similar to this. I just used it as a guide and made my own. The peak is right at 7'6". I'd be happy to post the dimensions of all the pieces if you want.

The door i made out of a storm window that was on clearance and some 2x4 treated lumber.

Oh I used snap clamps to hold the plastic on and they are awesome. Down at the bottom I just used 6' cedar fence pickets and sandwiched the plastic between the picket and the base 4x4.

http://www.littlegreenhouse.com/

mike

Mike..Remarkable in all aspects! Your greenhouse is perfect and I can't believe that you made it from scratch...Very nice buddy! Do you think something like that would hold up to the weight of snow? If so, I will be coming to you some time to build another....Very impressive..

As for that Jade, that is a beauty..So perfect in shape and now that I know you can grow one so sell, let me see if I can share a rare one with you..I will post a couple of pics for you and you tell me which one you like, ok? I think I have know you long enough to share something unique..) I can't believe you got that from Walmart of all places....Hope you have a great day..Talk soon.Keep an eye for pics here...

By the way............All my Citrus Trees except for my huge Ponderosa Lemon which is on my cool porch and my two Orange Trees in my sun room are all outside again...

Dave, I have a few questions for you, please...)

Do you have a problem with dropping leaves on any of your trees come when you have to bring them inside? Do your trees actively grow or go kind of semi-dormant? Do they basically grow slowly until they get to go back outside again? Do you lift them off the floor?

Your temps and the amount of light you provide seems to work well for you?

I think many could learn from you too about winter storage with a lack of sunlight...

Hey, checking in! Thanks, Mike, always so kind. We've had two days of rain, and nights in the 40F's, but I think the Jades will be alright. We're drying out a little today. I might bring the plants inside just to warm them a bit and dry faster....then I'll put them back out to hopefully keep the color improving.

Josh

New Zealand lemonade tree will be inside this for the winter

Yeah do me a favor and keep it inside. That little bastard was hard as hell to get my hands on.

Pip My lemonade tree will never be planted outside. They are to delicate towards low temperatures.

Thanks Mike

Wow, I can't believe that this thread fell off the first page already....Does anyone else here have to bring their plants inside? Anyone else care to share?

Here is that tree that a few thought may have been growing below the graft line...I took a few pics yesterday and it is right at or just above the graft line..It is the grafted portion growing...Believe me when I tell you that no root stock that wanted to grow would ever make it past me...) Thanks for the concern folks!

Yes, it's the latest I have been able to let them be free outdoors so late in the season and next week looks like another week...So convenient!

Bump...Just so you know that what you thought was the scion is actually the grafted tree)

Hello, thought I'd share a few pictures of my little greenhouse for the winter.

I've got 2 regular lemon trees, 1 lemon rosso, 1 small seedgrown calamondin and 1 regular, 1 poncirus triofoliata, 1 kumquat and my 2 new arrivals moro and tarocco. :)

The kumquat hasn't had any growth since i got it in like 3 months. I checked the roots recently and saw they are establishing and growing, so I think it's just a question of time. For poncirus it's normal to lose all leaves in winter? Other than that, they are all fine and enjoying their new house.

Sorry about the lighting in first two pictures, something with the flash.

You see, now that is a GREAT idea!! You can build something that attaches to a nice south facing wall, something I was trying to describe to another member the other day and keep you plants nice and warm and extend the growing season..I'll bet you can even use a space heater in there for cold temps when ever you want..Bravo! Now that is using your brain)

Just moved off garage roof to basement door to escape 23 F.

The last 2 years I've been transporting many of my citrus trees to my dads house which has a very bright sun room (two walls of the room are just glass windows). The sun warms the floor up good.

Last year I put them inside what I thought was way too early - when the temp was still kind of warm outside. It seemed to work out well though - there was not that much temperature change for the trees to go through and they suffered no winter leaf drop. We continued a fertilizer routine. This year I have waited till the last moment to put them in to see which the trees like the best - staying outside later or going in early.

At my house I put my mandarins in a room with 2 CFL 125-watt grow lights and they did ok. This year they are over in the sun room. I have calamondins in almost every window here. I'm not using the grow lights this year. I believe calamondins are more forgiving with not the best light condition than my other citrus trees. I have one sunquat that does squat - nothing for years. It's the only tree that remains fruitless.

Thanks to whoever started recommending the foliage pro here - it's been great for my trees.

- Dave

Meyer is in my basement about 12 hours before the killing freeze of 23 degrees F.

Thanks Mike and Pip

Howdy!

Well, most of my larger Citrus are still outside on the back deck, and I throw a blanket over them during the night. The coldest we've seen is 34F, but mostly right around 40F. My smaller, more tender plants (seedling kumquat, variegated lemon cutting, Meyer lemon, Pomelo, and avocado are indoors at night).

Speaking of the Pomelo, it had grown so much, even though I'd pruned it a month and a half ago....so I had to whack it down to save space in the living room. Here's a before and after:

Oh, and Mike, the variegated Jade cutting from your motherplant is blooming again.

Oh Josh...Wow...I can't believe that the Jade is blooming for you! It's funny how it never bloomed for me until I started sharing it.lol Mine is starting too..Hey, I appreciate you giving me updates buddy..I posted on the CC forums looking for updates on the dozens I sent out and not a one had any to show..I figured.

By the way, I would rather have my trees subjected to cool, even if cold at night than to bring then..It's so much more convenient that having to have them all indoors, even if it means they loose their lush green color and slow down in growth..It's a choice between having to water them often inside, deal with pest, or with spindly growth...I love the fact they barely drink, don't need to be fed, and do not have pest issues...I guess one year when I feel like seeing them flourish all year, I will put high intensity lights over them and keep them warmer)

By the way, I LOVE being able to peer inside your beautiful living room and see what else surprises you have in there..I love the Hoya's, CC, and your other succulents..Let's talk soon bud)

Mike

Thanks, Mike, I appreciate it! Yes....soon I will have all the plants jammed into the living room. I just brought the Hoyas in about a week ago. They sure grew a lot! I took some cuttings that I'm rooting, too.

Josh

Josh, hey I will be rooting many more special Jades, and you get first picks..If there is any you want, just let me know. We shall chat soon. Don't you just love making more of the best plants you have by cuttings?

Absolutely, Mike! I just wish I had more room. I'm also trying to propagate a Maruba Nishiki from a leaf that fell off.

Here are some of my other Citrus:

Josh Beautiful trees. My lemonade tree in flower

Steve

Last night we hit 31F....so all the trees are indoors. My nephew is visiting today, as well, so I've had to move the trees into my bedroom, otherwise the baby would yank them apart.

so i thought i would take a few pics of mine. Our temps have been much warmer than usual. Thank you El Nino. Our lowest low so far has only been 28

Mike

Mike very nice plants. Next year you and I will have to start on our permanent greenhouses much earlier.

I picked my first citrus fruit, a Meyer lemon, but by the time I got it to the kitchen it turned in to a Cuban Shaddock. It was the best tasting "Meyer lemon" I have ever eaten

Steve. I do want a bigger one but for now this is working really good. The temperatures are staying right were I want them which is perfect. The few Plumeria in there are just the ones that had started to flower so I wanted to enjoy them as long as possible. Once they are done they will go out in the barn to sleep with the others and free up a lot of space.

Meyers are my favorite but occasionally i do like a tart lemon

Mksmth, I could not be happier to find another okie with a greenhouse in this thread!! Your set up looks wonderful! How soon do you bring everything in the greenhouse? Temperature wise, I think we could leave them out a bit, but the wind started knocking my kumquats off and tipping my pots over this season. I'm in 5-1-1, but using gritty mix would help with the tipping issue. Seriously so excited that you live in OK!

Yeah people seriously over play the weight of gritty but when a tree falls over you sure will wish the plant was bottom heavy.

Honestly I laugh when people talk about making it lighter. You can switch granite for pumice or whatever. I wonder If people understand how much force a small wind like 10mph is on a tree with a canopy cross section of 15 feet. (3ft x 5ft on a 2 dimensional plane) an average potted canopy.

I think both mixes have pros, but I wasn't trying to divert conversation from the original content of this particular thread, I just threw that in as to explain why I put mine in the greenhouse before the temperature drops to where I actually have to. My apologies.

I understand, I'm not saying anything bad about 5-1-1, just saying weight is a plus not a negative for gritty.

Reice. Good to know of another Okie too. I have been around for quite a few years but I dont post much here anymore. What part of the state are you in? I have had citrus since about 2008 or 9.

Typically I get mine in by October 15th and then back out after or on April 15th. This has work great for the last 5 or 6 years. Of course this year it has been warmer later and you are right we could have left them out but I get tired of moving them around. Much easier to just put them in and regulate the greenhouse temps.

Dont get me started about the wind. LOL I get so tired of it. In the summer I put my citrus in between the rows of my little orchard to help block the wind. I have also used a T post to tie the pots to.

Something else I have done that works well is to sink the pot in the ground. It not only holds it in place but also helps regulate the container soil temps.

I gave up on the gritty years ago. I found that in our heat and wind it would dry out way to fast and I never could get it to work right. Plus i started to realize that by the time my trees got to 15-20 gallon pot size I would never be able to move them.

My mix now is simple, cheap and works for ME. it is 5 parts Hapi gro landscapers mix to 1-2 parts coarse perlite. I think they may have discontinued the Hapi gro so I may have to find an alternative. Around here you have to emphasize when mentioning anything other than the gritty that it is what works for YOU and dont try to say it will work for anyone else. A lot of people get offended when something other than the gritty is suggested.

Do you have pics of your trees?

Mike

Hey everyone! WOULD YOU BELIEVE THAT ALL MINE ARE BACK OUTSIDE AGAIN? Yes, at least for the next couple of weeks..They will get more light at the same temps I keep them at on the porch for sure..60's for days and 50's..No 30's by night..Strange weather..This will give ma an opportunity to clean up the porch and spray my trees down..Loving it!

Kuharske Citrange cutting in rooting chamber

Hey mike. The high today was 74! Tomorrow is the same. I dont have the time or energy to move them back and forth. Our nights have been dipping into the 30's. Looks like it will cool off again next week. I have a seedling grapefruit that has been outside all year and seen 27 degrees. so far is seems ok. I decided I didnt have room for it but also couldnt throw it away so i am seeing how tuff it is.

mike

Mike, I can't believe your plants are outside right now! We had a good little ice storm over thanksgiving, so mine would be pretty upset if I had them outdoors. :) That's awesome for you, though!

Other Mike, I am in the OKC metro near Tinker AFB. I'd be curious to know what your replacement will be without Hapi gro. Mikerno helped me with my 5-1-1, which my trees have thrived in, but it was really hard to find pine bark that wasn't trash. Once I did, I was happy with the mix. :)

I also see the pros in gritty mix that Pip pointed out, but never would have thought about the cons you presented that our climate might contribute when using gritty mix! Thanks for that input!

It is going to be pretty dark by the time I get home tonight and tomorrow night, but I will take pictures Saturday morning!

Hey Reice.

I was at lowes in Owasso this afternoon and they had lots of Hapi gro! I couldnt find it online earlier to give you a link so I assumed they dropped. It seemed i was the only one buying it. Basically it is pine bark fines which is great for us. Honestly I think it is what falls to the floor in a pine bark production facility. Anyways the batch they had today was way to fine as compared to years past but I do think it could be made good with enough perlite and bigger bark pieces. At $3 for 2 cubic feet you cant beat the price. I actually live in Bixby south of Tulsa and I need to check our lowes. I have some gardenia and desert roses that need bigger pots.

mike

Oh boy, do I have catching up to do..I see some of my good ole friends stopped by! I'll be back..Been sick every one..I just had a glass of wine and I am too buzeed to post..lol I can read what u all said but I can't type lolBut I'll be back!

Mike I hope you do better. It is a drag feally sick. The wine is good though.

Fellow citrus'ers I enjoy looking at all the nice tree pictures. I page through them to settle down before sleep.

I have one outdoor potted tangerine tree that will be 3 years old from seed in 4 weeks

One quick drop to 20 and a quick rise in 3 hours

Mike, I finally made a path in the greenhouse. Trees are on both sides and most orchids are above up in the ceiling. Maybe I can even bring a chair in there sometime to sit....if I ever get to sit.

Some Dekapons:

Camellias closeup:

Orchids:

The basement grow room:

Cory

Cory..How sweet of you to think of me and post such beautiful pics..Thank you. I love them all..I pray that you have been well these days....How in the world did you make that much room? That's more than last year! So awesome..I can't believe all the flowers you have this time of the year, just like me..The forum called" Fragrant Forum' has been so boring these days..I would love it if you joined us and post some pics..You have more fragrant stuff than most anyone! HUGS to you)

http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/3537472/blooming-in-december?n=21

Mike, that's too funny...It's crazy how resilient citrus can be when we expose them to so much cold..I swear they just stop growing and yet don't die until it warms up..They can even look horrible, but stay alive..All mine were outside basking in the sun today! I got to spray them all with Horticultural Oil to prevent pests....They will stay out another week. It was clear blue skies and 60 today! Love it. Mike, by the way, your trees above are looking fantastic no matter what you use for a mix..You are a true champ in taking care of your trees..I miss Brian, he does a good job too)

The grow area devoid of ALL my trees..lol I was able to clean it up today.

A few extras..I have yet to fully cover the pond..I keep waiting to see when temps will average in the 30's for highs..

Beautiful skies today!

A few orchids for Cory!

Reice, I can't wait to see your pics! Yes, they are all enjoying outside..It's crazy. It looks warmer than usual through Christmas..

Josh, once again, I LOVE your growing area..It looks so comfy there!

Nite every one..

Mike, I almost forgot!! Here is a pic for you my friend...I have had this one for 2 years and it is just starting to open buds!!

Nice orchids Mike. Different than what I have blooming. Also, nice gardenia. Mine is not blooming.

Well my trees are outside till sunset tonight. It is turning cold tomorrow.

Mike that gardenia is amazing. Mine aren't blooming right now. :(

Mike, thanks buddy..You and I have a thing for them, we always have). Hope your enjoying the warmth while you can..

Steve, my pineapple is developing a fruit.

Cory

Cory Thanks for sharing. Your pineapple looks great. How old is it. I was explaining to a gardening friend that pineapple can't be grown in Cincinnati. She took me to the dining room window and showed me the pineapple they would pick soon. I got my pineapple top from a discarded from a pineapple sampling station. It is about a half year old.

Steve

Not sure of anyone from this thread is still around but good ole Steve, but I wonder still where everyone is keeping their trees this winter?

Mike

Mine go into the detached garage/man cave, Citrus line the south wall, non-

Citrus get more shade. Mine stay outside till some time in November (still freakin' hot and humid here).