New Nep greenhouse

[ludwig777]

I finally decided to build another greenhouse for my Nepenthes and not make the same mistakes I made with my last greenhouse.  For example, I made the last one too small!  Secondly, I didn't make the best use of space; there was 'dead' space in places.  Next, I am designing this one to have 2 chambers, one for lowland and one highland.  Lastly, I am installing a high-tech security system this time!!!  Can never be too careful.  

This will be the lowland chamber (notice I made it extra tall to accomodate climbing plants, like my new N.x dyeriana!!!):

This will be the main, highland section (I obviously want to focus mostly on highlanders); I sunk it 2 feet below the ground level hoping to conserve cool air in the summer:

And here is an ariel veiw of the project...look at the lone post in the upper left corner  without any roof attachments yet; this will be the last corner :

 

[brisco225]

Hey, that's a great looking project! Makes me "green" with envy, since I would love to have a greenhouse for my neps. Nice job, and please keep us posted with more pics as the process continues.

-Jeremy

 

[ludwig777]

Frame is finished, and starting to paint the frame.

 

[LLeopardGGecko]

Dang Ludwig, that is so cool! I long for the day when I have my own place and the money to build a greenhouse. Someday...

 

[ludwig777]

Quote[/b] (LLeopardGGecko @ Feb. 07 2006,2:18)]Dang Ludwig, that is so cool! I long for the day when I have my own place and the money to build a greenhouse. Someday...

Yes, my current greenhouse is only 6 x 10 and just for the structure it cost me $700, then I bought a LP heater for about $500, all the irrigation supplies and pumps, and an R/O unit, brought it up to about $1800. This is definitely not a cheap hobby. My new GH will be about twice the square footage of my old one and this time I am making it extra TALL and plan to build teired shelving in it to accomodate more plants.

 

[ludwig777]

Making some progress:

Full shot; left-hand tall part is my lowland chamber, sectioned off from the rest of the greenhouse; main doorway directly to the right of that:

Lowland chamber:

I like to make my own benches out of redwood lath; this way you can size and fit them any way you can imagine:

And another (notice here under the bench, the actual ground is dug pretty deep):

The tedious job of constructing the roof-frame to accomodate the corrugated polycarbonate panels; all measurements have to be precise and many small cuts are required to make air-tight:

The greenhouse is split-level, and I dug out the floor of the highland chamber so it is 2 feet below the ground.  This will hopefully keep it cooler in the summer.  I am also going to add another section in the highland side to extend out another 4 feet (right where the date-stamp is); more grow space.
Ludwig

 

[fc3srx713b]

looking nice, cant wait to see it in person when its done!

 

[glider14]

question will the highland include ultras as well?

 

[ludwig777]

Quote[/b] (glider14 @ Feb. 10 2006,3:52)]question will the highland include ultras as well?

I've been thinking about that and wondering the best way to do that; I will probably end up adding a 'small' sectioned off chamber for ultras.

 

[emilias_garden]

<span style='color:teal'>Hey Ludwig, do you have more updates of your new grenhouse? Any new pics?

Cheers...</span>

 

[fc3srx713b]

hes a busy man...

 

[ludwig777]

Thanks for the interest; my new GH is becoming a reality pretty quickly. I am almost finished and will get some pics up in the next 24 hours or so.

I do have a great question: WHERE do you get a good swamp cooler!!! Home depot's are totally LAME, and Lowes' does not have a single unit in stock or available on their website. I am hesitant to buy online because I got stuck when I bought my LP heater a few years back, ended up costing me a lot of money in repairs for a unit not covered by any warrenty. Any advice would really be appreciated!
Ludwig

 

[srduggins]

Check out www.freecycle.com. There was one available there recently in our area. I'm not sure how "good" it was, but the price is right.

 

[ludwig777]

OK, here are the latest pics:

Next post should be of the finished project.  Hope you like.

 

[fc3srx713b]

looks nice!!!

 

[LLeopardGGecko]

That is so cool! Dang it! I want a greenhouse just like that! Ahhhhhhhh!

Nice job Ludwig. Can't wait to see it full of plants

 

[ludwig777]

Quote[/b] (LLeopardGGecko @ Feb. 21 2006,1:05)]That is so cool! Dang it! I want a greenhouse just like that! Ahhhhhhhh!

Nice job Ludwig. Can't wait to see it full of plants

Thank you! You think YOU can't wait

I can think of nothing else...

 

[yoss]

A real artwork!
btw, I don't know how hot it gets where you live but you might wanna consider a shadenet or painting the roof with a white color (or both).
keep it up!

 

[ludwig777]

Yes it gets very hot here in the summer and I already have rigged a shadecloth aparatus where I can add and remove it easily. A swamp cooler is a must here!

 

[emilias_garden]

<span style='color:teal'>CONGRATULATIONS LUDWIG!!!!!  

  I love your greenhouse! Great Job...!

Thank you for the updates in your site also... I really enjoy seeing it

Cheers,
Jorge Joel...
Emilia's Garden</span>