Tropicals & Tender Perennials: New Green House, 0 by Electric_Bob

Electric_Bob wrote:
Thanks all for the welcomes.

DonnaB, Hi.

I suppose that if the setup you profess is working well for you, don't change it. Here in MD we HAVE to use clear, starting in about January, to get our plants going in time for market. Seeing as how you are in a relatively "warm" place, I can see how you might want to use the white plastic year round to keep your temps more even. BUT, the plants DO need that light spectrum that they cannot get through the white plastic. As for ME, I'd prefer to NOT move them in and out, in and out, and in and out. Too much unnecessary work. But, like I said, to each his own. ;o)

I saved all three pictures in my GardeningPlans file, BTW, so tell your hubby he's "on record." Hahahahahaaa!

Kell, Thanks.

I know NOTHING about Brugs but Carol may wind up doing them. You know the drill...... Whatever sells! :)

My main objective is a quick turnover on landscape plants, i.e.: shrubs and trees. Lotsa money there and less trouble and less losses. Carol is into the flowers and I will help if she needs it. I USED to say I wouldn't fool with planting anything inedible but I wish I'd known 40 years ago what I do now. Life would be so much different.

Plants are nourished by certain spectrums of light and some are different than others, that is why some will just NOT grow in the shade and some will die in the sun. If you are using white or milky plastic, you are defeating this purpose. Like pansies: they need dark for their seed to germinate but after they do, they need boucoups light to keep them healthy and from "hunting" for their sustenance (light spectrum), thereby becoming spindly (legging out). If you're going to have a greenhouse, it's my thought that that's what it should be, otherwise you will have a coldframe or a hotbox, depending on the temps, not much more than that. The GH film will stay almost perfectly clear for at least 4 years (if that is the rating) and should be changed every 4 years, as such. In the Winter, you need white plastic. It keeps the GH from acting as a "heater" in the Winter. If your plants abnormally break dormancy, then go dormant again, nine chances out of ten they will not have the stored energy to break dormancy when you want them to. (BTW, don't forget to get yourself some good "mouse-food" in the form of good, weather-resistant rat-poison cakes)

Did I miss anything? :o)

Y'all take care.

Bob