Guest Insects Beware Posted April 29, 2004 Report Share Posted April 29, 2004 Hi All! Very quick question - I have been looking for a decent sized cold frame for my small garden to house my VFT's, 1 Ping & in dormency my small S.Alata. I think I have found the perfect candidate at B&Q: http://www.diy.co.uk/diy/jsp/bq/product/pr...463&paintCatId= Has anyone bought ones of these? At less than £50 I don't think that I can go far wrong but if anyone has any suggestions of anything else that I should be looking at they would be very helpfull. Cheers Graham Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob H Posted April 29, 2004 Report Share Posted April 29, 2004 Is it to permanently house those plants? If it is only a temporary measure ASDA do a plastic clad frame, takes about six seed trays on two levels, for £11.44. I have one up in my greenhouse for a little extra protection and climate control for my highland Neps, for over the summer. Is B&Q have something similar http://www.diy.co.uk/diy/jsp/bq/product/pr...771&paintCatId= Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Insects Beware Posted April 29, 2004 Report Share Posted April 29, 2004 Cheers for getting back to me quickly Bob! It is going to be a permanent fixture until I get a bigger garden. I had a look at the ones that you have linked to but they seem a little flimsy for a permanent solution thats why I went for the all glass frame. It seems plently large enough though (4'2"L*2'10"W*2'H). Anything else I have missed? Graham Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob H Posted April 29, 2004 Report Share Posted April 29, 2004 If it's permanent it seems ok. Good luck :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob-Rah Posted April 29, 2004 Report Share Posted April 29, 2004 I have one of those B&Q ones. They're very good. Mine is the top half of a winter heated nep chamber. I don't think it will be tall enough for Sarracenia though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob H Posted April 29, 2004 Report Share Posted April 29, 2004 Rob-Rah said Mine is the top half of a winter heated nep chamber. Could you describe how it is constructed and how you heat it ect.? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob-Rah Posted April 29, 2004 Report Share Posted April 29, 2004 There is a base made of 8x2" pressure-treated timber, bolted together. This is lined with pond-liner. A mirror lies on the bottom to help reflect heat. The base is filled with water (7" deep or so). There is a 200W aquarium heater on the mirror - it might melt the liner if it was in contact. A very small pump ciculates the water. There are four bricks supporting a solid metal mesh rack above the water (I think it's part of an old bed - I found it at the local dump), on which the plants stand. The heater is set to keep the water at whatever temperature is neccessary to achiveve a minimum air temperature of about 12C. The coldframe sits on the timber. The ambient greenhouse temperature drops to just above freezing, but this tank stays warm. It is also self-watering to an extent, as the large amounts of condensation drip back onto the plants. The macro-utrics particularly like it, although live sphagnum runs riot a bit in there and has to be trimmed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob H Posted April 29, 2004 Report Share Posted April 29, 2004 Thanx Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Insects Beware Posted April 29, 2004 Report Share Posted April 29, 2004 Cheers Guys I think I'll buy one this weekend - I can always use it for Neps when I buy a greenhouse (cheers for the idea Rob!). As for the Sarracenia I'll have to construct a base that will have a low area that I can put the pot in to allow for the extra height. Thanks Again Graham Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travman Posted April 29, 2004 Report Share Posted April 29, 2004 I have two coldframes almost the same as those in B&Q. It as seen plants such as VFT,Darlingtonia and low sarra's through dormancy OK. I think they are a good idea if your space is limited. The price...... well mine were around £40 and well worth it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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