My Greenhouse...

I started off with basic 10' x 16' metal carport and then beefed it up just a little to make it more rigid.

Then I added UV rated plastic on top and then installed 50% shade cloth over that so the plants wouldn't sunburn. On the sides I installed ribbed metal lathe that is used for stucco work. This also adds up to about 50% shade.

I then added some framing to the front and then back of the greenhouse. I also installed a sink and the benches to the house. I have water that I ran from existing irrigation pipe and set it to an automatic timer to water the plants.

Here it is with the front door and plastic added to the front and back. I also have plastic on the sides so they can be rolled down to totally enclose the greenhouse for winter and heated.

Here is a pic from the end of winter. Everything seems very happy. The tarp in the left rear is where I keep my phals. and bulbs. It stays a little darker back there and also more moist.

Dtps. King Shiang's Beauty x Dtps. Minho Valentine

        I so happened to be walking through Home Depot a week ago getting supplies for a job I had going on and happened to see this plant. Normally I wouldn't buy a plant from one of the box stores, but this had a name and it reminds me of a couple other plants that I own. I love the 'splash' flowers. I also have a Dtps. Champion 'Lightning' and a Den. Enobi Purple 'Splash'. Once I got home with this plant, I repotted it in a 4" clay pot and shpagnum moss. Some people will not repot while the plant is still flowering, but I do. The blooms can last for months and by the time you get to repotting it after the blooms die back it could be too late for the roots. My philosophy is that as long as you do not break, or disturb a lot of the good roots, then the plant will continue to bloom and not go into shock.

Lc. Canhamiana var. coerulea 'Azure Sky' AM/AOS

        This is a plant I received last September from a past member's collection. It is just like the other Canhamiana that I have, but this one seems to be a little darker in color than the 'Cobalt'. The flowers are not as big,compared to the 'Cobalt', but I believe that it has something to do with the size of the plants. This plant is not as mature as the other. This bloom just opened on Saturday so it may lighten up in a week. This is grown in my coarse potting mix made up of charcoal, tree fern, sponge rock and hydroton. I grow it in the greenhouse, of course, under 50% aluminet shade cloth.