andrewmc Posted January 28, 2014 Report Share Posted January 28, 2014 (edited) Hi guys!! Finally, after many years of growing in terraria and on windowsill I am building a Highland Greenhouse. It is 2,67 m ( 8' 9'' ) by 4,30 m ( 14' 2'' ) and has a maximum height of 2,70 m ( 8' 10'' ), it is covered in triple wall policarbonate sheets. The GH is equipped whit a cooling system: the north facing side is made out of CELdek panels, and on the opposite side I'll install a big exhaust fan. Nevertheless I'll have a misting system for the hottest days in summer and for increasing humidity all year round. I'll try to heat it up to a minimum of 22 degrees celsius during the day, with a minimum of 8-10 degrees at night. Here are some pictures of the GH being built, still need to install the cooling pads, door, watering system and heater... Long way to go! any suggestion is welcome! Andrew PS: I wish to thank Andreas Wistuba, who has been really helpful giving me advices and suggestions. Thank you again!! Edited February 7, 2014 by andrewmc 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
North West Neps Posted January 28, 2014 Report Share Posted January 28, 2014 I'm planning on starting my Nephouse build this Spring, so will be following this thread with interest, especially concerning your heating, cooling, and misting. Are you planning an automated system ? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest paul y Posted January 28, 2014 Report Share Posted January 28, 2014 im really interested in the materials you have used to build the frame, is this supplied all in one from a specific company? the build quality looks exceptional, would you be willing to advise on the company used or info on how you built? thanks in advance paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrewmc Posted February 7, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2014 Hi Paul, the frame has been built by a friend of mine, who is a blacksmith... it is made out of Iron, later it has been galvanized and then painted... it should be hurricane-proof! he he here are some newer pics: Cheers, Andrew 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrewmc Posted February 7, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2014 (edited) and yes Welshy, I am planning a full automated watering/misting system... I will upload pics as soon as I get started! BTW, good luck with your project! Andrew Edited February 7, 2014 by andrewmc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest paul y Posted February 10, 2014 Report Share Posted February 10, 2014 frame made of iron, fair play and I thought I built to last with 4by4 treated wood, looking forward to more photos Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odysseus Posted February 10, 2014 Report Share Posted February 10, 2014 (edited) Andrew, add me to the jealous list! Interesting CELdek panels, I haven't seen that in any greenhouse I have seen online or in books. I wonder if it is just a coincidence or if it isn't often used. Also, isn't the Humidity in Italy already at a great natural level for Nepenthes? Not debating, I just always had it in my head that if I moved back to Italy it would be one place I could hang my Neps outside. Maybe I have always been wrong about that... I lived in Varese too, so it was northern and not coastal, so I assume the humidity is lower there, but perhaps I am way off on that as well. Keep us posted with pics! I am going to follow this thread for sure. Thanks! Edited February 10, 2014 by Odysseus 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrewmc Posted February 11, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2014 Hi!! yes, humidity is pretty high in Northern Italy ( I live about one hour south of Varese ) we usually have a 80%RH, in fact i grew Nepenthes and other Cps outdoor without any problem. The CELdek panel are not used to increase umidity, but to decrease temperature... We can get 37/38 degrees celcius duing the day, and 27/28 during the hottest nights... not the best temps for a N. Villlosa. I will post more pics soon! Andrew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odysseus Posted February 12, 2014 Report Share Posted February 12, 2014 Oh awesome! We share Northern Italian ties then. Milano is about an hour drive, is that where you are from? That makes MUCH more sense to me. I was blown away that Neps needed a greenhouse. But I should have paid more attention to Highland Greenhouse. Of course, unless you want to grow only lowlanders it makes you need a shelter. Unlike my situation here where a Greenhouse is a means to trap humidity, yours is a means to control the temperature. And yes, wow, good luck with that in August-September.... The CELdek is an awesome idea, I was misunderstanding the purpose of the water running down it. Please keep us posted with pics, this sounds like an awesome year for you and your plants! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrewmc Posted February 12, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2014 (edited) Hi! to be precise i live one hour and a half south-east of Varese, in a town called Piacenza! I used to live in the appenninos and i sure miss living up there.. I see that you live in Utah, how are temps over there for growing Nepenthes? I stayed a couple of week in Idaho ( fishing the silver creek by the way ) and i can remeber it being pretty cold, but they told me they also get very hot temp. I'd assume Utah to be very Hot and Dry in summertime, but also very cold in the winter... am i right? and yes, it's going to be a great year for me and for all the Nepenthes suppliers in europe! not a very good year for my wallet though. Edited February 13, 2014 by andrewmc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odysseus Posted February 13, 2014 Report Share Posted February 13, 2014 (edited) Haha Seriously the Nep suppliers will be reaping some major benefits of your new grow space. Yeah, where I live in Utah is pretty much JUST like most of Southern Idaho. Cold winters and hot hot summers. I just can't grow any CPs outside here, at least any that I have owned. The dry heat waves we get some days through the summer would kill a plant before I got home from work to get the plant back to the shade. Even the shade would be so dry I would be surprised if a plant did well away from good light and dry. So Tanks and greenhouses are our only option. Still have trouble keeping the tanks getting too hot in the summer. That is going to be my battle this summer with my tank that is at work. But maybe some day I will test with a Nep I don't mind killing. (That will be hard to find with my fondness of Neps...) Ahh Piacenza, sort of opposite sides of Milano from Varese. I haven't been there but sure I have been close by if not through there at some point on the way to Firenze. Sounds like a great city to be in the middle of it all, but if you are like my family in Malgolo or friends in Varese, you probably don't bother visiting all the typical Tourist cities. I took my "Italian Sister" Erica to Firenze for her first time when I visited again back in 2000. Has lived her whole life a few hours away and never went until we Americans wanted to go. Edited February 13, 2014 by Odysseus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrewmc Posted October 23, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2014 I am sorry that i haven't uploaded the topic as i promised. Anyway, here are a couple of pictures of the GH, one from 5/6 months ago and one from september. Nepenthes surely grow very fast. I managed to install a mister/irrigation system that is proving very effective ( I have been away one month so far and evreything is still alive) and i can proudly say that I spent less than 250 quid on it. So if everyone is interested please PM me for the links of the pump and fittings.  Cheers,  Andrew  <a href="http://s1193.photobucket.com/user/Andrea_Mzighe_Bianchi/media/IMG_6606.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1193.photobucket.com/albums/aa355/Andrea_Mzighe_Bianchi/IMG_6606.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_6606.jpg"/></a>   <a href="http://s1193.photobucket.com/user/Andrea_Mzighe_Bianchi/media/1422443_10202781026875645_2538482536090697862_n.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1193.photobucket.com/albums/aa355/Andrea_Mzighe_Bianchi/1422443_10202781026875645_2538482536090697862_n.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 1422443_10202781026875645_2538482536090697862_n.jpg"/></a> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrewmc Posted October 23, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2014 (edited) I am sorry that i haven't uploaded the topic as i promised. Anyway, here are a couple of pictures of the GH, one from 5/6 months ago and one from september. Nepenthes surely grow very fast. I managed to install a mister/irrigation system that is proving very effective ( I have been away one month so far and evreything is still alive) and i can proudly say that I spent less than 250 quid on it. So if everyone is interested please PM me for the links of the pump and fittings.  Cheers,  Andrew    Edited October 23, 2014 by andrewmc 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowwy Posted October 23, 2014 Report Share Posted October 23, 2014 Looks very nice and plants look happy too! Thank for sharing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
North West Neps Posted October 23, 2014 Report Share Posted October 23, 2014 Starting to look great with all the plants in Andrew I've just been looking back at your February pics, and something i didn't notice the first time, is that the Celdek side of the greenhouse in unglazed. Was that for the photo or has it been left that way ? I'm just thinking it's going to be a real battle, not to mention costly, to heat it up to 22c in the winter with all that icey air blowing in from outside ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrewmc Posted October 23, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2014 (edited) Hi Welshy, Â sorry for not having explained that!! Yes, in wintertime the outside of the CELdek pads is closed by wooden frame with bubblewrap, so far so good. When i'll get round and save more money i will buy a whole sheet of poly... Edited October 23, 2014 by andrewmc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrewmc Posted October 24, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 24, 2014 here are some pictures of the plants  N. Truncata (d)   N. Veitchii x Burbidgeae   N. Spectabilis x truncata ( this one grows like a weed )   and the wonderful Truncata x Ovata   Andrew 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
North West Neps Posted October 24, 2014 Report Share Posted October 24, 2014 Great close up pics Andrew, they look fantastic ! Keep 'em coming 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
North West Neps Posted June 8, 2015 Report Share Posted June 8, 2015 Any news and photos on the automation side of things yet Andrew ? I'm still interested to see what you've done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nepenthes Lowii Posted June 8, 2015 Report Share Posted June 8, 2015 VERY AMAZING!!! VERY AMAZING!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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