My Cold (Green) House

JudyB

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I got a request for more information about my winter storage house, so thought I'd make a thread if anyone else is interested.

My first greenhouse was made of twinwall and was like a normal greenhouse that you'd think of. BIG mistake. It only takes a warmer than normal winter day and a bit of sun, and you can have a big heat buildup problem. So we tore it out and started over.

This one has a regular roof, and walls low on the house. This helps to keep it warm with very little effort for the heater. The walls are made of solexx. This is a translucent material that comes in rolls, is very easy to work with. The fasteners that you put it together with are far easier than doing twinwall panels. Solexx spreads the light evenly in the space, but buffers the sun to a great degree. I have glass sliding door and windows on the south end, but also have shade cloth blinds that are down all winter. This combination of solexx a real roof, and shade cloth have basically solved the heat buildup problem.

The other thing I use to keep it cold is an automated fan system that attaches to a thermometer, and comes on when it reaches a set temp. On the other end of the house is an automated louver system that opens at the same time, to allow the fan to draw the cooler outside air from the louver side and push the air out on the fan side. I have a small heater attached to the same thermostat system that comes on when it reaches a set cold temp. I have a small rotating fan behind the heater that comes on at the same time to help spread the heat around.

The last part of the system is bottom heat. I have heat mats attached to thermostats with probes, I set them low enough just to keep the roots from freezing. But at this time of year, when the trees start to move, and especially after repotting, I'll keep the temps warmer, I have extended the growing season on both ends with this tactic. I also don't have to worry about moving the trees in and out as much.

I have some grow lights that I've put on tracks above the trees, that can slide from side to side depending on where they are needed.

Some photos of the construction.
 

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JudyB

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And some of the finished house.
I have a list of the heater/ cooler system if that would help anyone.
 

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Nybonsai12

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Wow. That is awesome! I'm jealous.
 

Beng

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I got a request for more information about my winter storage house, so thought I'd make a thread if anyone else is interested.

My first greenhouse was made of twinwall and was like a normal greenhouse that you'd think of. BIG mistake. It only takes a warmer than normal winter day and a bit of sun, and you can have a big heat buildup problem. So we tore it out and started over.

This one has a regular roof, and walls low on the house. This helps to keep it warm with very little effort for the heater. The walls are made of solexx. This is a translucent material that comes in rolls, is very easy to work with. The fasteners that you put it together with are far easier than doing twinwall panels. Solexx spreads the light evenly in the space, but buffers the sun to a great degree. I have glass sliding door and windows on the south end, but also have shade cloth blinds that are down all winter. This combination of solexx a real roof, and shade cloth have basically solved the heat buildup problem.

The other thing I use to keep it cold is an automated fan system that attaches to a thermometer, and comes on when it reaches a set temp. On the other end of the house is an automated louver system that opens at the same time, to allow the fan to draw the cooler outside air from the louver side and push the air out on the fan side. I have a small heater attached to the same thermostat system that comes on when it reaches a set cold temp. I have a small rotating fan behind the heater that comes on at the same time to help spread the heat around.

The last part of the system is bottom heat. I have heat mats attached to thermostats with probes, I set them low enough just to keep the roots from freezing. But at this time of year, when the trees start to move, and especially after repotting, I'll keep the temps warmer, I have extended the growing season on both ends with this tactic. I also don't have to worry about moving the trees in and out as much.

I have some grow lights that I've put on tracks above the trees, that can slide from side to side depending on where they are needed.

Some photos of the construction.

Ya till I added a shade cloth to mine it got WAY to hot from the suns rays.
 
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Beng

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Wow yours looks real nice Judy just looked at the pics. What metal halide bulbs are you using?

Also what temp do you set your fans at? I have mine at 60 now but was thinking it may be too high.
 
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Brian Van Fleet

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Nice setup Judy. Glad I don't need it, but if I did, I'd probably spend my winter in it!
 

october

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Beautiful set up... Shows how serious you are about bonsai. It definitely shows by the health and beauty of your trees.

Rob
 

Dav4

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Nice setup Judy. Glad I don't need it, but if I did, I'd probably spend my winter in it!

Brian, are you sure about this...it's supposed to fall into the upper 20's here next week:mad:. Right now, I'd kill for a greenhouse to park my re-pots and give my back a break.

Great set up, Judy...really sharp and well thought out.
 

JudyB

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Thanks everybody, this is a very nice place to work on the trees. Beng, I keep mine set at 40 during the winter, but now I let it get up to 75. I like to keep the temps in the winter between 25 and 40 (air temps) and the roots at 35. Here are some shots of the electrical stuff. Heater+fans/thermostat/heat mat thermostat and probe/heat mats. There are two different kinds of heat mats, the orange one is better at transferring the heat, but is way more expensive than the blue ones, so I only have a small one of those. I use it for trees that need a bit of extra.
 

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evmibo

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First off, very nice setup. Thanks for the great description! Solexx seems like it would extremely useful!

I have a question, do you think you would have been more successful (initially) if you had used automatic vent openers for the hot periods?

Regardless, cool setup!
 

JudyB

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Here is another thing that I've found really helpful to keep the space from being dry, esp. when the heater is on more often. And now when I need a lot of moisture in the air for the leaves. I have 3 cool mist humidifiers that are on timers to kick on for an hour at a time, in rotation. In the winter, you have to make sure you keep them on the heat mats, or the water will freeze. (learned that one the hard way) I don't think this setup would be as successful without humidifiers.
And a final shot of how we built it to mirror the lines of the house. My husband Bill (The Enabler) did a really great job.
 

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Beng

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First off, very nice setup. Thanks for the great description! Solexx seems like it would extremely useful!

I have a question, do you think you would have been more successful (initially) if you had used automatic vent openers for the hot periods?

Regardless, cool setup!

Even with auto vent openers a exhaust fan is a must. Without it it'll get way to hot. Outside air temp could be 40 and inside could be 80+. If your using a standard greenhouse like I do I'd also recommend a high % shade cloth on the roof for winter months.
 

JudyB

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I did have an auto vent opener on the first one, but the air doesn't move on it's own. You have to force it through. Even now that's still the hardest part, keeping it cold enough if we hit a warm sunny spell. Cause if the outside air gets too warm, even drawing it in, isn't enough. Still thinking a chiller would be the ultimate...

Oh, and those are not MH lights Beng, they are Hydrofarm gro-lights. Florescent fixtures. The work really well, I use them on tomato seedlings too.
 

Alex DeRuiter

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Those Crane humidifiers are amazing! I just got two for our house. lol

I'm still ever so jealous of your cold house, Judy. Still waiting on buying some property so I can start my own project. Pretty much building up some minor wood-working experience until then. ;-p
 

daygan

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Thanks so much for all the information, Judy. It's very informative. I really love your cold greenhouse. I may have to use some of your ideas for something similar one day.
 

fh05

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Awesome set up Judy. What are the dimensions of the greenhouse?
 
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I don't know if it would provide enough thermal buffering but around here people put large water drums in greenhouses to help even out the temperature. If I do a cold frame that's what I'm going to do. at least I'll try it.
 

JudyB

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@jacob letoile I have used passive heating in a previous greenhouse using acrylic tubes with water. It works to some extent, but not enough to trust thru the long cold winters here. I have a 65 gallon water barrel in there in this one, it does help a bit. @fh05 Dimensions are 12x18, I think...
 
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