Advice Please!!!

[joel143]

I really need some personal advise please.  I am having trouble deciding on which greenhouse I want to purchase. I am really looking hard at the one below but it has the 6mm double layer greenhouse film for the covering rather than having the 8mm twin-wall polycarbonate as the front and rear has. For those of you that have the plastic film, how is it working for you? I'm concerned about it ripping or cracking and becoming brittle especially with the hot summer sun here down south.  Plus with flying branches during storms puncturing it.  This one is 12' wide x 16' long.



I am also looking at the one below which is more solid and naturally would last longer. I like this second one alot but its only 8' wide x 16' long.  I'm alittle concerned about the width. 



Any advice is greatly appreciated.

[peterhewitt]

The top one is the one I would go for, you can use solid Polycarbonate instead of plastic as a cover. It is very flexible.
Glass is not really a great covering for a Nepenthes house, as it has poor insulating properties.

[joel143]

The second one has the polycorbonate walls with UV protection. I too like the first one most but still there are concerns I have. Being plastic the sides are made to roll up partially so naturally am concerned about drafts during winter time. I am thinking like what your saying and putting the polycorbonate siding for the roof and sides but again am thinking of cost in the long run. This is a hard decision for me...both have their advantages and disadvantages.

What about your greenhouse Peter how's your set up?

[peterhewitt]

Hey Joel, I have a fairly large greenhouse for commercial purposes, But have experimented with a few to get here. The problem you would have with the lower greenhouse, is all the seams where the polycarb is joined. This is where you will lose heat in winter. A solid peace is preferable. With regards to the upper greenhouse, you can always use velcro with fastening clamps to keep a tight seal in winter. If cost is an issue, the greenhouse in the top picture will end up being more cost effective in my opinion. Replacing plastic is cheap, and it can be repaired of small tears. You will find that a good quality plastic will have a high tensile strength, so should not tear easily. The greenhouse in the lower picture sure looks great, and this is about the only thing it has going for it, for a Nepenthes house. You will soon run out of space as well, and in the case of the upper greenhouse, you could just purchase or reverse engineer a second one.
here is a picture of mine. It has a galvanized frame and clear polycarb roof.



link s358.photobucket.com/albums/oo21/peterhewitt/

[joel143]

Thanks Peter for your advice. Hearing you I have made up my mind for the first one. I would like the covering like what you have. Either way I agree it will be more cost effective. And as you said, space would run out in the second unlike the first can just purchase an second one or an addition. I like your set up and even though I k ow it will take time for me to even out the kinks I know I will get there. Can I ask do use a swamp cooler? I was looking at using a humidifier with misting fans for the time being and if and when I enlarge move up to a swamp cooler. I'm alittle concerned during the hottest part of summer even though I have mostly lowlanders not letting the heat get too high. Recommendations?

[peterhewitt]

Hi Joel. I do use a Swamp cooler, with a large extraction fan and misting system, but i grow mostly highlanders/ultra-highlanders. Keeping the heat down and humidity up can be a challenge, but one that is easily overcome. you can use what you suggested in the beginning. A simple misting system built from accessories bought from garden centers would be sufficient, as long as you have strong ventilation to encourage evaporative cooling. With Lowlanders you can also mist the plants directly on hot summer days, if you have adequate shading. You cannot do this in a very high light highland set up, where water droplets in the sunshine will burn the plants.
If you live in an area which has high summertime humidity, a swamp cooler will not be very effective, here you would use heavy misting and fans.

[joel143]

My thoughts too. I figure one day when I enlarge then I would possibly install a swamp cooler but for the size and plants I have I will go for misting fans and humidifier along with fans and shade cloth. The more I think about it I really would like to place the polycarb roofing over the whole thing.