Post by grunt on Apr 1, 2011 1:18:15 GMT -5
I finally built (overbuilt) myself a greenhouse.
The back wall uses a pre-existing fence as a basic framework = I do not have to worry about the wind shifting this thing.
I decided to remove the necessity for using my starting chambers freestanding. This cover over the shelves gives me one more layer of insulating air to protect plant starts, and to hold the heated air on the plants and seed trays.
The top shelf starts getting used once the seeds have sprouted. The heated air can go up the stud spaces at the back of the shelf, and up the front of the shelves behind the plastic.
The canopies from my original starting chambers have been altered to fit the middle shelves, and hold more heat on the seed trays.
The middle shelves are slats, to allow the heated air to flow up easily, and supply bottom heat to the trays.
This is what supplies heat for the plants. I am running 60 watt bulbs now, because I am having a hard time finding 100 watt bulbs. It just means I have to add a few bulbs to attain the same heat. With 3 bulbs under each section, I will be using 720 watts to keep my plants alive at night = less than the low setting on my heater, and it will cover more effectively. Not all of the bulbs shown are in use. I can still put plant trays down here if necessary.
The first 16 trays on the bench have potting soil in them.
I'll probably remove about half of these shelves, but they seemed like a good idea at the time.
My pit crew.
The back wall uses a pre-existing fence as a basic framework = I do not have to worry about the wind shifting this thing.
I decided to remove the necessity for using my starting chambers freestanding. This cover over the shelves gives me one more layer of insulating air to protect plant starts, and to hold the heated air on the plants and seed trays.
The top shelf starts getting used once the seeds have sprouted. The heated air can go up the stud spaces at the back of the shelf, and up the front of the shelves behind the plastic.
The canopies from my original starting chambers have been altered to fit the middle shelves, and hold more heat on the seed trays.
The middle shelves are slats, to allow the heated air to flow up easily, and supply bottom heat to the trays.
This is what supplies heat for the plants. I am running 60 watt bulbs now, because I am having a hard time finding 100 watt bulbs. It just means I have to add a few bulbs to attain the same heat. With 3 bulbs under each section, I will be using 720 watts to keep my plants alive at night = less than the low setting on my heater, and it will cover more effectively. Not all of the bulbs shown are in use. I can still put plant trays down here if necessary.
The first 16 trays on the bench have potting soil in them.
I'll probably remove about half of these shelves, but they seemed like a good idea at the time.
My pit crew.
