ROBERT JOHNSON Posted August 16, 2017 Report Share Posted August 16, 2017 Hi I'm about to set up a greenhouse and thought it would be sensible to ask for advice as I'm new to greenhouses. I thought I would ask what in hindsight you would change with your greenhouse or perhaps what you decided to do which has worked really well. I suppose the obvious one is buy a bigger greenhouse but that goes without saying! Any tips would be appreciated. I intend to grow mainly Sarracenia but that may change as the `hobby' takes hold Robert Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz Posted August 16, 2017 Report Share Posted August 16, 2017 To start the ball rolling I would say... make sure you have a good level base down while you're putting the base in make some provision to get power in the GH. decide where your water butts will be going. Does the base need to be big enough to accommodate them as well as the GH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ROBERT JOHNSON Posted August 16, 2017 Author Report Share Posted August 16, 2017 Thanks Gaz Power - not thought about that yet. Perhaps I'll stick a pipe through the foundation to take a cable later. Thanks Robert Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted August 16, 2017 Report Share Posted August 16, 2017 Make sure the greenhouses are bolted down securely. They may look heavy, but they will move in the wind. Maybe not enough to blow over, but they will 'creep' ever so slowly, twisting the frame and putting pressure on the glass. Choose your spot carefully. Maximise the amount of sun it will gather for Sarracenia.Make your base larger to accommodate water butts and maybe done outside trays for growing purps. Make sure you are buying the biggest you can afford. You will fill it up quickly, and an extra greenhouse/base if far more costly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted August 16, 2017 Report Share Posted August 16, 2017 Make sure the greenhouses are bolted down securely. They may look heavy, but they will move in the wind. Maybe not enough to blow over, but they will 'creep' ever so slowly, twisting the frame and putting pressure on the glass. Choose your spot carefully. Maximise the amount of sun it will gather for Sarracenia.Make your base larger to accommodate water butts and maybe done outside trays for growing purps. Make sure you are buying the biggest you can afford. You will fill it up quickly, and an extra greenhouse/base if far more costly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Werzal Miller Posted August 16, 2017 Report Share Posted August 16, 2017 This popped up in my feed at the right time. I'm getting my greenhouse on Sunday. (Got to dismantle and move it first) the base was in my garden already so that's one less job for me. Just got to clear all the rubbish away first. I'm gonna be bolting it down and cement it too. Then I'm planning to build a horse shoe shaped area next to it for purpurea Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexis Posted August 17, 2017 Report Share Posted August 17, 2017 Get the biggest eave height you can find Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ROBERT JOHNSON Posted August 17, 2017 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2017 Hi All and thanks for your responses. The web site seems to have just come back to life having been inaccessible all day. My plan so far is to dig a foundation trench to fit the base. I will then lay 2 - 3 courses of bricks to lift the greenhouse slightly. The eaves are already 5ft Insert a tube next to where the door will fit for an electric supply later. The inside of the foundation will be dug out slightly and the floor, probably paving slabs, laid on gravel and sand for drainage. The water butt will be sited at the other end from the door and extra solid area provided to stand it on. Hopefully I'll get this done before the greenhouse arrives. Regards Robert Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Werzal Miller Posted August 17, 2017 Report Share Posted August 17, 2017 I was thinking maybe raise the water butt as much as you can. That way you've got a bit of pressure behind the water so you could use a hose pipe.Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ROBERT JOHNSON Posted August 17, 2017 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2017 Yes - although the height would be limited by the gutter level obviously. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Werzal Miller Posted August 17, 2017 Report Share Posted August 17, 2017 That is the only issue I can think of. And keeping it stable. Might be high enough to work when it's full though. Would need to check against your measurements.Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ada Posted August 17, 2017 Report Share Posted August 17, 2017 get as many water butts as you can! you can soon run dry if you're not careful. One butt is no good,it won't last long in a dry spell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ROBERT JOHNSON Posted August 17, 2017 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2017 Hi Ada I already have a 100 litre butt attached to the house. Thought I would swap that for 200 and put the smaller butt on the greenhouse. I only have a few plants as yet so hopefully that would be enough. I believe I could always daisy chain another butt later Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ROBERT JOHNSON Posted August 17, 2017 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2017 Perhaps what I should have asked is what is a good amount to have stored? I'm not sure what amounts I will get through. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manders Posted August 17, 2017 Report Share Posted August 17, 2017 Might be worth checking you tap water quality as well. Where i live we get our water from wales and ive been using it for waterings cps for years, its worth knowing for emergencies what your water quality is like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ROBERT JOHNSON Posted August 17, 2017 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2017 How do I check my water quality? I think we have soft water in Sheffield. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manders Posted August 17, 2017 Report Share Posted August 17, 2017 You could ask the local water company, they should provide the info, often its online on their website somewhere. Its probably allways better to use rainwater, but soft tapwater does very well in dry periods. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ROBERT JOHNSON Posted August 17, 2017 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2017 (edited) Ok I'll see if I can find that info. Apparently 18 mg/l as calcium carbonate and described as soft. Edited August 17, 2017 by ROBERT JOHNSON Info located Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz Posted August 17, 2017 Report Share Posted August 17, 2017 Make sure the base is dead-level. I bought a 2nd greenhouse last year and moved our shed so we could reuse the existing base. I forgot that when the shed base was put in it had a slight fall for drainage, only about 2cm in 8 foot but it was enough for the greenhouse fitter to refuse to come until we'd had the base relayed. Expensive mistake but the greenhouse won't be square and the glass may not fit right if it's not dead-level! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunc Posted August 17, 2017 Report Share Posted August 17, 2017 Hi, I'd agree with all comments so far! * The base - make it better than you think is needed. It may be there a long time. I didn't and layed what I thought was sufficient good (25 years ago) with paving slabs on top. Even so there has been some shift. * Go BIG!! I got a 13 by 8 and it's been too small for years. * Plan the power fully at build as it's much easier. I did do this and have never regretted - armoured cable, lights and multiple sockets. * I'd now lay a water pipe whilst you're digging for the cable unless all your growing is CPs. I ran auto watering more recently - it saves so much time watering once balanced and timed right. *Auto vents are a must unless you're around a lot. As much ventilation as you can make as well. Sometimes you can never have enough and often short on cheaper greenhouses. *Rainwater - you never have enough. I have 600 l storage in total and still ran dry earlier this year. Most of the time that's just about OK but it only takes a tap failure or a need to do a deep clean to compromise your reserves. *Think about shading in summer and insulation in winter - what you need depends on location, position and what you grow. It can get very hot in there in summer and small greenhouses can be worst. With all this - buy what you can afford and just ENJOY it!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ROBERT JOHNSON Posted August 18, 2017 Author Report Share Posted August 18, 2017 Thanks to everyone who has posted its been very useful I think I've got a plan now. My next problem is what to put into the green house!! But that's a nicer problem to have!! Robert Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan Boon Posted August 19, 2017 Report Share Posted August 19, 2017 Has anyone else found any difference between wooden and aluminium greenhouses when growing CPs? I had better growth with wooden, the atmosphere seemed more conducive to growth - warmer and more humid, without ever getting too hot, even though they are both the same size and have the same number of vents etc. Might just be me though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manders Posted August 19, 2017 Report Share Posted August 19, 2017 Wooden greenhouses definately warmer and easier to heat up in winter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz Posted August 19, 2017 Report Share Posted August 19, 2017 I prefer wooden, both for CPs which need higher humidity and for cacti/succulents which don't. Don't know why exactly but I feel the wooden frame allows the greenhouse to breathe. Also they're easier to insulate as you can just stick push pins into the frame or screws if heavier fixings are required. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexis Posted August 20, 2017 Report Share Posted August 20, 2017 The frame sizes are thicker though. The plants can get a bit shaded Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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