Just spent a glorious day in the greenhouse!

I spent the whole day in my greenhouse & it was wonderful! I am an avid seed starter
and have been using the greenhouse for this since I added it 6yrs ago. This year I
set up lights in the basement to get them germinated since the temperature in the
greenhouse fluctuates so much. And it all seems to be working well. I had a bunch of
seedlings to prick out and plant. I sowed about more 30 varieties today - some went outside,
some in the refridgerator, some went in the greenhouse (the ones the need cool temperatures)
and some under the new lights in the basement.

It was so nice in there, I decided to clean the greenhouse. I used chlorox & dish washing
detergent. Broomed out all the asian lady bugs, leaves & other debris and then washed
down the sills, walls, windows, roof & floor. Its such a wonderful place I prefer cleaning to
have something to do than to come into the house.

I thought I'd start a thread to ask: what are your favorite things to do in the greenhouse?
Or what do you enjoy the most about having a greenhouse?

Tam

One thing I like is potting up and repotting. I like to experiment with different potting mixes and container media. Today I was repotting some sick citrus into a new, revised CHC based potting mix... I'm not optimistic, but we'll see.

Another thing I like is out-of-season veggies and fruits.

But my favorite thing is to bring kids into the GH. I have had Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts tour my GH. I feed flies or ants to the Venus Flytrap. I try to make them guess what the green stuff in the ground is (carrots) and what the green balls on the tree are (oranges) and what kind of fruit you get from this plant with the big leaves (cheers for the bananas).

That guy who wrote Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus said that every man has a "cave;" my GH is my cave.

Oh, yeah, and I love to be in the GH when it's raining. SB

What's "CHC based" potting mix? And don't you just love the scent of citrus bloom when you
enter your greenhouse?

Hi Tammy,

CHC = coconut husk chips. Dmail me if you are interested in the recipe.

Nothing beats the smell of citrus blooms. Jasmine and gardenia come close, though.

SB

No fair !!!!!
:'(

I wrote this last year .. sums up my feelings

Greenhouse Thoughts

I grew up in South Florida. Any temperature below 65 degree with less than 60% humidity makes my brain quit working it seems. I have super dry skin and invariably I itch and flake from November to April no matter how many oatmeal baths I take. I hate winter and suffer severely from Seasonal Affective Disorder.

Enter the Greenhouse …

How wonderful it is to go into my greenhouse on a cold sunny day. When the temperature is 50 degree's outside with no humidity I can walk into my own personal jungle where the temperature is 90 by 1pm with a 70% humidity. Anoles which should be hibernating are basking on my canna's and elephant ears or peeking out at me from the snail plant and oxalis, bright green, alert for any insect intruder or running pell-mell through the ipomea or creeping aloe and taking a drink from the water droplets which form on the emerging oatgrass I grow for my kitty every week. After a few minutes, delightful sweat starts to pop out and I begin removing the layers of fabric that choke me. I personally greet everyone in the greenhouse, getting close, breathing carbon dioxide at them in return for the oxygen which must be higher than the outside air because after being in the greenhouse I seem to perk up considerably. I lie down on my chaise lounge, close my eyes, savor the humidity and turn my head toward the sun, therapy for a light starved soul.

I love my greenhouse and wonder why I took so long to get it. I know that this years winter, unlike all the rest, will be easy for me because I can leave the cold world for a few hours and enter my own personal jungle.

Xeramtheum

it was so warm in my cave today.........I live in a very isolated area......I removed my blouse and soaked up the vitamin D....good for the plants, gotta be good for me!..

I guess my favorite thing to do in the gh is to plant seeds, after spending many hours perusing seed catalogs. I just planted my first seeds for the year yesterday, early tomatoes and peppers. Tomorrow I plant to plant snapdragons, aquilegia, and maybe a few pansies, and some violas.

I also enjoy the transplanting, both seedlings and potting up larger plants. My Meyer, lemon has not been happy for a year. Finally lost all its leaves, but branches still green, so thought it might be too cold in the gh for it and brought it into the house. Put it on the top plant shelf under the skylight. Hasn't grown any new leaves but did have several wonderful smelling blooms. They are gone now and still no leaves, so may lose it anyway.

DonnaS

Whoa, jackie, this is a family forum! ;-)

The only thing I was exposed to can't tell, judge, or appreciate.....just a bunch of living plants....no family involved. :>)

Off topic: DonnaS, a Meyer is one of the two ailing citrus I repotted today...don't you think we need a citrus forum?

Them are tricky ones, them citrus...

Tammy & SB,your just the people I'm looking for,my seeds are germinating now for a couple weeks,the morning glories already
climbed up the bamboo stakes and need repotting,and Jackie your always welcome to my greenhouse!!!!!LOL!
Ah! Greenhouse living,I sure miss the winter gardner on Televison!!!

also I miss Spring and Secret Gardens too. Why do they have to mess everything up when it is going good ?

Jackie - I had a red face last night and realized it was SUN BURN! I thought the glass would have filtered
the UV. I should have stripped a bit to soak of Vitamin D too - what a grand idea. (I live in a very isolated
rural area - no one would notice.)

And I have one citrus that has almost no leaves but did bloom. I wonder if it was my meyer lemon - I'll check.
Tam

It sounds like you all had great days! I spent several hours cleaning up outside and I am so drooling to get some seeds started! Hubby is supposed to run electric out to the greenhouse soon. As for removing clothing....I think the cows and deer would die from hysterical laughter!

Hi all! I'm just reading this thread and am so jealous! I have a greenhouse, but didn't get the heating situation under control this winter. Had to bring all my plants inside (you should see my house - my poor DH! LOL) Anyway, I have been out to the greenhouse, and even though it's empty, it is great to move around in and to plan for this spring. I CAN'T WAIT for spring to be here to have my glorious day(s) in the greenhouse!!! Thanks for the inspiration! Karen

I typed in all the seeds I've started so far this season - 54 varieties! It just keeps me sane.
And 'chele - I can tell ya there'd be plenty of histerical squirels & chickens here too if I actually
decided to "soak up some vitamin D".

We got socked with snow! There's probably 12-15" out there and its still coming down. We'll
be digging out for a while. I bagged up the leaves on the steps to our greenhouse yesterday so
I wouldn't be throwing them around when I dug snow. (My greenhouse is build into the ground at
basement level so it wouldn't block the view from the deck. It works very well).

If there were room (which there isn't) in my gh I too would be tempted to sunbath. My yard is entirely enclosed with redwood fence, and anyway no neighbors close enough to see anything, as if they would want to.

Tammy, stressbaby sent me a link where I might find some help with the leaflosing Meyer lemon, but don't have time today to follow through.

Three years ago had nice leaves, good bloom and 3 or 4 nice sized lemons, been downhill eversince. So expect the soil is not right.

DonnaS

We were writing at the same time.

That is a really super looking set-up, your gh and house, look beautiful. Enjoy, DonnaS

Tammy, that is beautiful! What a nice way to fit it in to the landscaping and house situation!

Tammy that is truly breautiful....
I also love having my GH so I have room to pot up plants and over winter others and I did start a few seeds and since I have not been very good at seed starting I only did a few tomatoes, lettuce, MG, hibiscus, and a few others that has not come up yet. I also ordered a lot of herb seeds yesterday and can't wait to get them so I can get them started. It is nice to get a jump start while waiting for spring.
Vickie

Beautiful greenhouse and landscape, Tammy! I wish I could sunbath in mine...lol. A bit cold! Mine is just one of those plastic canvas type greenhouses.
:) Donna

Tammy, that is simply lovely!
I just got my greenhouse last Nov and I love having the scent and sight of flowers when I walk into it. My hyacinths are blooming and so are the silly alyssum in a small planter I rescued from the cold. Somebody forgot to tell them that they're annuals. :-) Same goes for a pot of petunias that just keep blooming. And I love starting things from seeds. The tomato plants are about 10" tall now and the new alyssum I planted three days ago have already sprouted. What fun!

So far I've only used it for germinating seeds and storing backs of soil mixes and soil amendments in a dry spot. It's not heated but it does have these large flat things that have heated coils in them that I set the seedling trays on. I've only had it a year, it came with the house we bought.

I do all my potting on an outdoor potting table that is close by the greenhouse and is really long, so is handy for potting.

I haven't gotten around to growing anything all year indoors but we have a sunroom, which we use as a family room, and altho it's not heated, I think it's warm enough from getting heat from the rest of the house that I can use it to grow some things year round. My issue will be space. But I'm going to try tomatoes in an earthbox, some sort of citrus plant in a pot, and also something ornamental that smells good, maybe jasmine.

We live in the PNW so we don't get a lot of sun in the winter (none is more like it) so even tho we have the greenhouse which is completely glass and the sunroom, it's not like I'm in there getting warm and cozy on a winter day, unfortunately.

Gwendalou

Gwendalou, Even tho you don't have a lot of sun I'm sure you will be warmer than here this coming weekend. Predicted to get at least into the teens and maybe single digits. I am at 1450 feet and pretty cold some mornings. North wind this afternoon. I didn't even go out to the gh, some meetings, garden club and Senior Citizens. So did that instead. Received two more small seed orders today. Some to be planted in the gh and poppys to be planted outside as soon as the ground thaws.

Woofie, We are somewhat the same temperature wise. I'm guessing you got measurable snow today. We had a snowy sleet for awhile but temp. was 37 so just made the ground white for a little , then all melted. My few early tomato seeds are just sprouting. Bet your sweet alyssum looks nice.

DonnaS

Not much sun coming into my greenhouse these days - with that 15" of snow piled on top!
I have a shade cloth & should have removed it before the snow. It kinda holds onto the snow. ;-(

Best Day of My Life....Happy Valentine's Day Greenhousers

Today, when I awoke, I suddenly realized that this is the best day of my life, ever.

There were times when I wondered if I would make it to today’ but I did!

And because I did, I’m going to celebrate!

Today, I’m going to celebrate what an unbelievable life I have had so far: the accomplishments, the many blessings, and yes, even the hardships because they have served to make me stronger.

I will go through this day with my head held high and a happy heart.

I will marvel at God’s seemingly simple gifts:
The morning dew, the sun, the clouds, the trees, the flowers, the birds.

Today, none of these miraculous creations will escape my notice.

Today, I will share my excitement for life with other people.

I’ll make someone smile.

I’ll go out of my way to perform an unexpected act of kindness for someone I don’t even know.

Today, I’ll give a sincere compliment to someone who seems down.

I’ll tell a child how special he is.

I’ll tell someone I love just how deeply I care for them and how much they mean to me.

Today is the day I quit worrying about what I don’t have and start being grateful for
all the wonderful things God has already given me.

I’ll remember that to worry is just a waste of time because my faith in God and
His divine plan ensures everything will be fine.

And tonight, before I go to bed, I’ll go outside and raise my eyes to the heavens.

I will stand in awe at the beauty of the stars and the moon,
and I will praise God for these magnificent treasures.

As the day ends and I lay my head down on my pillow,
I will thank the Almighty God for the best day of my life.

And I will sleep the sleep of a contented child, excited with expectoration because
I know tomorrow is going to be the best day of my life, ever!

Hi rutholive. Yep we, got a bunch of that white stuff yesterday and it was only 13 deg outside this morning. It's been a challenge keeping my new little GH from freezing. Warmed up to a bit over 40 today, so I was able to collect a nice bunch of snow-water from the barn roof runoff. The poor silly alyssum is looking a bit leggy and shopworn, but it sure smells nice.
I had some ancient tomato seeds (at least 12 years old!) that I planted back in December and be darned if they didn't all sprout. They're about 8-10" tall now. Which of course means that I absolutely HAVE to keep the GH warm. Hmmm, going to be the world's most expensive tomato plants! :-)

I about let the GH get way to cold last night, we had to run to Nashville to see our newest grand son born and that was such a site only 4 lbs 14 oz but doing very well, so by the time we made it home late last night the temp in there was 32 but after getting the heat going today reached up to 90 and had to open the door but all my plants and even the little seedling did not seem to be harmed.
Happy Valentines day to you all and I hope you all had a wonderful day as well...my hubby bought me a wonderful heart shaped flowering heart of Anemone's which I have never seen before so I can't wait to get the heart planted and see them bloom and a wonderful Gardenia plant that has one bloom already on it..And a lot of planting supplies and seeds so I can't wait to get back out in the GH tomorrow and get them all planted..

You can tell by the posts that spring is getting closer everyone's writing is more light hearted! I have only 20 flats of perenials started but am going out soon to seeds some more.
Tammy love the greenhouse I have to make a trek across the frozen tundra to get to mine but the sun coming in makes it worth the walk(it is only about 50 feet from the house but when it is 16 degrees in the evenings jeesh...seems longer)LOL
I use kerosene to heat mine so I can keep it at 55-65 day and night easliy

Congratulations to you vswilliams, on your new grandson!

And I agree chicory31 - spring does seem to be coming across our land. I'm
just waiting for it to reach me LOL.
Tam

Yes, congratulations to you vswilliams on the new grandson.

It doesn't feel like spring here, it is 14 degrees outside. supposed to get even colder next couple of nights then warm!!!!!!!! up to normal for this time of year. I am ready for spring.

DonnaS

It was a positively tropical 16 deg when I poked my nose outside this morning! And only about 45 in the greenhouse. It's supposed to drop down to MINUS 5 tomorrow night and I'm getting nervous. Anyone got any suggestions on ways to warm my GH up a bit more? I can't add any electric heat or the breaker will go.

Do you have a kerosene heater? My dad used to have one in his old house. Doesn't need
ventilation.
Tam

We just enclosed the front porch last Fall.
It has workrd out FAR better than we expected.
None of the Tropicals in there went dormant.
We have 7' Papyrus, Bananas, and Thalia.
Geraniums blooming, EE's stretching bigger leaves after the Fall dwindle, Pups pupping, Spanish Moss now 2' long, Air Roots everywhere.

The most amazing thing is coming home after work.
Unlock the door.......step in.......instant fogged glasses! lol!

Ric

Wonderful! Next thing you know, you're going to be needing a bigger front porch! LOL
tam

Too Late!
Need a machete!

Ric

I've seen a few suggestions for using a kerosene heater to keep the GH warm, but all I have is a propane one. I know I can't sit in there with it going, but would it hurt the plants to just use it overnight on sub-zero nights?

It's one of those open ones that just sit on top of the tank.

This message was edited Feb 15, 2006 1:43 PM

I use a propane heater. I started off with kerosene but it was not warm enough. Tonight it is 28 and I have the heat on medium and it is 40 in the GH. Just hope the propane lasts for about 3 more nights.

I have had the same problem here this winter, I have been running and elect. heater and I was able to keep it the temp. above 40 on most nights in the 20's and I was wondering about propane or kerosene but did not know how safe it would be. I also had to watch what I had running since I did blow a few breakers a couple mornings. But after last night I heard it was going to get in the single digits I went out and dragged them all inside until the temp. comes back up a bit and what a job but all my brugs, ee's and seeds were growing like crazy and I was so afraid I would lose them all.
And finally our GH my hubby built is finally finished and he added a window in the back but I can see already he is going to have to add on.

This message was edited Feb 19, 2006 9:10 AM