Ok, I need your help and expertise please. What is the best temp. for the Greenhouse when overwintering brugs ?
Anyone?
What is the best temperature for the GH
I am in zone 4b, and keep my g'house thermostat set at 58 for winter. My brugs did great in there last winter, bloomed like crazy. This fall I hacked them all back and am keeping the leaves off of them for the winter to cut down on the bug problem. So far, so good. But, I can't believe how fast those freekin' leaves grow back. I almost have to de-leaf twice a week! I hope they don't get depressed and die! :>)
LOL Anna! Thats great new's cos' Im in zone 8b and it frosted for the first time last night and I went to check the GH this morning and it was in the upper 40's close to 50. You've comforted me now lol. I know how cold it gets up there in Wis. I love Wis. Ive been to visit with a friend there in Fond du Lac, and it is beautiful up there. I was there in 2001 and it snowed, I was in awe. We dont get that much snow here lol
Thanks Anna
Anna, What kind of heat do you use? I'm keeping the new greenhouse (hoop type with double layer poly & a blower) at 50 min. We have a propane heater & it seems to be using a lot. It has been cold, though, with most mornings below freezing - even down below 20 three mornings. I'm thinking this is going to cost a fortune to keep all my babies happy. We are in zone 8 & it's not supposed to be this cold. 40 & rain is more normal.
Im using the thick type plastic #4 over my GH and blower type heater. It gets to a certain temp. then shuts off on its own so that will help with expense of running all the time or it would be too expensive for me too. It must have done well last night, went in at 6:30 a.m. and it was like I said close to 50 degrees in there.
They all looked happy. I have to say I was nervous doing this for the first time all night. It was frosty outside this morning.
We have 2 200,000 BTU LP heaters. Mostly use one, unless it is REAL cold, then the other one will kick on. We heated the 30x64 g'house last winter for under $1,000.00. The lady at the LP company said that last winter was a bad one, as far as it being cold and using alot of gas, so she said we did good. The 2nd heater is basically a spare, in case something happens to the one. Don't need a down heater the middle of January. I'm posting a photo of some of my plants from last winter.
Gosh, they look so nice. Are you caring for a lot of people's plants again this year? Wish I were closer and you would have a lot of mine in there.
Yes, Brugie, quite a few. Yesterday I had to go and pick up an 8 foot tall lemon tree to care for the winter. It even has lemons on it, but I'm sure none of them will ripen before spring. The lady said it takes forever. Lots of hibiscus this year. The funny part about the lemon tree was I had to pick it up in my minivan!!!!!! It just fit in there laying down. We had all the seats out, obviously. :>)
Anna, my GH is small compared to yours so it doesnt take much to heat lol...but all is well inside at this point. I agree with Brugie, everything is so neat in your GH and so rich with green healthy leaves. I love your brugs, what are the names...Oh I love lemons yum...
I got a grapefruit tree from a friend from DG's (scooterbuggs), she's from Wisconsin...so what's up, you keep peoples plants for them? How neat and nice of you.
Julie
Oh, I don't know the names, just basic peach colored brugs I bought at a garden center. Yes, I overwinter plants in my g'house for other people. This is only my 2nd year, hopefully business will increase each year. I had several new clients this year, but lost a couple from last year. One didn't get his plants in, they went on vacation and they froze. He had 5 last year. Brugie, I can pick up and deliver for a small fee. :>)
Anna,
What a neat idea...I never thought of that before...houseplant sitting, this could also come in handy when you have clients that have invested alot of time and money in their plants and they go out of town. Good idea, I dont think Ive ever heard of this before but its a great idea.
LOL Anna, you pick up and deliver from IA????? oh my goodness
I have a friend living in Fond du Lac, Wis...love that little town, it's so quaint. All the White windmills in the fields of green..*sigh* and the snow...bringing back good memories :-)
You have to be congratulated...you have a good thing going up there it seems.
Snow.........YUCK!!!!!!!! I hate the cold and snow more every year. It almost depresses me. That's why my g'house is so nice, I can go up there and see green things and flowers when it is 20 below zero out. Cheaper than visiting a shrink. LOL Not any calls from people wanting me to care for plants in their home. I think people these days are leery of having a stranger come into their homes when they are gone. Would rather have their things here. Oh, my website just got up and going on Monday. How do I post the URL? Is it allowed on this forum? Don't want to do anything bad.
I dont see why not...if it is I dont know it...alot of links are posted here. Like different Nurseries for plants and such. All you do is look up at the Address bar...http:// and highlight it, right click it and choose copy, then come back to this post and right click here...in this message box and choose paste. :-)
I love snow, but I dont like below 20 ACK! It really was a sight to see, the snow...from the window, hehehe I was in total awe of the beauty. We Georgians don't get it much here, and when we do, we shut down completely like a holiday LOL...
I know you dont go to the peeps houses to babysit silly lolol...
Ok, I'll post the site, but I think I'll do it as a new thread. When we were doing the g'house project (which, BTW, if you want to see the photos of what we did.....I posted on the greenhouse forum. Last time I looked it was on page 5 or 6. I titled it "Our greenhouse project") Spouse was adamant that we were NOT going to use plastic film, because of animals here on the farm. If something would have gotten out and chewed on it, or the other noxious creatures like the raccons, possums, etc. could shred it too. So, we used double wall polycarbonate paneling. I love my greenhouse!!!
yes Anna the polycarbonate paneling is the best but for a business such as your's you really need to assure the protection of not only your plants but others Paying you lol...So far the Heavy Plastic (bisqueen) is doing the trick. Nothings dead yet and Im like every morning racing out there to check everything, but it's warm due to the little heater/blower we have in there. :-)
Well let me go seaching for the thread to see your GH, love some of the ideas Ive seen for them and for the stands too here at Dave's.