|
Post by eql on Jul 8, 2007 11:18:11 GMT -5
hey all... so i've recently been thinking about ventilation in my 2 shelf greenhouse.... here's current situation: 2 shelves, all plants on top shelf. most of the shelf is covered by containers or placemats, so it reduces the ventilation a fair bit. I also have a light sheet that covers the top, because when the sun shines directly on the GH it can get 40+c in there. i also keep the 'door' zipped only to the top shelf, and rolled up to the top shelf so that air can flow into the lower shelf. over my nep and sundews i have a mini 'umbrella greenhouse' in order to keep humidity very high around them. here's what i was thinking... making some 'c' shaped vents in the roof, then extending the flaps a bit (with tape maybe?) so that hot air can escape but rain wouldn't enter (or maybe rain coming in would be a good thing??) anyway... then id remove the sheet from the whole greenhouse, cut it smaller and put it over the nep 'umbrella greenhouse' so that the nep still wont have direct sunlight. hopefully by doing this, the VFTs will get direct sun, %RH will increase because direct sun will evaporate more water, and hot air can leave through the top vents. i might even be able to utilize the bottom shelf again (for my nep maybe?), because i won't have to keep the door flap open.... any thoughts would be very much appreciated everyone!! thanks, *EQL*
|
|
|
Post by vraev on Jul 8, 2007 17:49:24 GMT -5
do u mind showing a pic? I am very visual in the way I do my analysis. If you have a pic of your enclousure...u can try using windows paint to show what you are planning on doing. Thats how I do mine as well.
|
|
|
Post by eql on Jul 8, 2007 20:21:20 GMT -5
basically i want to be able to take off the sheet, and put a few vent holes in to release the hot air... would this work?
|
|
|
Post by mabudon on Jul 10, 2007 17:44:10 GMT -5
One thing- rain coming in is NO problem unless you have a lot of hailstorms or whatnot No reason to keep it out, as for the rest, sounds like what you propose should work just fine, tho like Varun I am having a problem actually picturing what it is you're suggesting exactly... You should easily be able to keep a Nep on the lower shelf too, but with the weather the way it's been lately, keeping humidity "in" is really not too important. Hope that helps- we have no A/C so my mind is a bit pickled from the relentless heat
|
|
|
Post by eql on Jul 11, 2007 15:58:46 GMT -5
lol.. thx... i made the changes yesterday... and i have to say... my babies look much happier already with the shade cloth gone! The nep hasnt gotten worse, so i guess thats a good thing?? ill go take a pic and post it... the only thing i want to work on now is getting the greenhouse to supply its own humidity (but they old way wasnt doing that either...) i still have to spray it twice a day or it will fall really really low.. maybe u guys can look at the pics and tell me what you think might help??? brb with a pic *EQL* ^Side View of Greenhouse ^Front View of Greenhouse ^Side View of Greenhouse ^Inside ^Inside ^Conditions... usually at 70... lower in pic cause i had the door open to take the pics... ^Nep Shelf ^Nep Conditions (the %RH isnt calibrated right... the painted line is what it actually is...) ^Nep Leaves.... nothing is growing.. but at least its not dying anymore!!! id like to get a big tub/bucket to put everything on the top shelf in, and then it would block most of the sun, and i could take the shade cloth off the nep... any ideas other than the big tub with water to get humidity up? ?
|
|
|
Post by vraev on Jul 11, 2007 16:28:49 GMT -5
don't worry about the nep too much. It will bounce back if it hasn't died yet. These neps which we grow are pretty hardy unlike the villosa and the other crankier neps.
|
|
|
Post by eql on Jul 11, 2007 16:36:36 GMT -5
hopefully!! thanks.. i put in pictures above!!
|
|
|
Post by Flytrap on Jul 11, 2007 19:18:44 GMT -5
Looks like a nice set up eql I think one of the best things each of us should have in our greenhouse or terrariums, is a small fan ...just to circulate the air around. The mixing of air is important to deter possible fungal and mould, as well as moving CO2 and exchanging with the outside air. A small muffin fan can be picked up at a used computer supplies store for under $5 or if you get really lucky, you can find a solar powered fan off the net somewhere. The volume of air mixing need not be too great... as long as there is air movement, your plants will do better ... more CO2 and moisture exchange = better growth.
|
|
|
Post by Flytrap on Jul 11, 2007 19:20:55 GMT -5
Oh yes, to get the humidity up, use a small aquarium pump and an airstone to bubble a big bucket of water. You can put this pump on a timer so that it switches on only during the day.
|
|
|
Post by Rug on Jul 11, 2007 19:32:57 GMT -5
Its funny u say that Flytrap I was just fishing my pump out of storage to try that out!! That also keeps the water from going stagnant also, in case it stays in there too long.
|
|
|
Post by eql on Jul 12, 2007 18:22:49 GMT -5
im not sure what you mean Flytrap... do u have a pic of the setup?? btw.. thanks.. ive been working hard to take care of my babies!! as for air circ... i have actually been tinkering with some fans and whatnot, but since i put the vent holes in i though the wind would mix the air, right?? or should i keep tinkering on my fan? thanks!! *EQL*
|
|
|
Post by eql on Jul 12, 2007 18:28:49 GMT -5
oh.. i just had an idea... anyone heard of the "autovent" from As Seen On TV?? i saw some on sale for 10$, and i was thinking if i still need a fan to put that inside my GH, and then when the sun is shining it will blow... any thoughts??? *EQL*
|
|
|
Post by vraev on Jul 12, 2007 21:26:57 GMT -5
oh....the one for the car window.....u get 2 fans, one to blow air in, the other out, I think yeah! thats a real nice idea.
|
|
|
Post by eql on Jul 14, 2007 13:11:18 GMT -5
hmm... we'll see.. but flytrap, can u explain the pump thing a little more?? maybe with a pic?? thanks *EQL*
|
|
|
Post by mabudon on Jul 14, 2007 14:25:13 GMT -5
Just a plain old aquarium pump, EQL, with a "bubbler" thing like an air stone thingy to spread the bubbles out better- set it in a bucket and let it go- the aeration helps to get the water into the air a bit better and keeps it from going stagnant
|
|