Happy Friday GPODers!
We’re nearing the end of our series with Cherry Ong on her small garden transformation and dream greenhouse build. Last week Cherry shared the first greenhouse accessories and additions that were installed to ensure the greenhouse provided the perfect growing conditions for her precious collection of plants. This week she has even more accessories and add ons to share, most of which were added after the greenhouse was already in use and minor areas of improvement were discovered.
As you’ll see from Cherry’s detailed explanations and descriptions, the greenhouse is much like the garden as a whole. No matter the size, the more you work in the space the more you will find opportunities for changes, redesign, and upgrades.
If you’ve missed any previous installments of this series, check them out here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4.
And before we dive back into Cherry’s greenhouse, I’m sounding the alarm that we’re in need of spring gardens on Garden Photo of the Day! Though I know many of us are still waiting for spring to get into swing, but I also know that other areas have already experienced their first dose of seasonal color. If you’re seeing the first signs of spring around you, please consider sharing with GPOD!
Greenhouse Accessories and Add Ons (Continued)
Louvres: We leave the louvres open most of the year unless the temperatures are close to or below freezing. They have been challenging to open and close.
Cherry’s greenhouse with louvres open and surrounded by her many potted wonders. Though Cherry had to sacrifice an in-ground bed to make room for this greenhouse, she is actually now able to fit even more plants into this small area.
Flooring: Our initial plan was all crushed flooring for the entire greenhouse, but I was attracted to idea of stone pavers for the area where one would stand.
We shopped around for flooring at Northwest Landscape Supply and picked up 4 porcelain tiles (Belgard® – Mirage Porcelain Paver Ardesie, Vulcan). Each paver measures 60 cm x 60 cm x 2 cm. We selected this colour as it would be more reflective of light, just like the painted colour of the new fence.
Black Buckets: As an additional means of passively heating the greenhouse, we have two black buckets of water inside. It was somewhat challenging to find black ones, but after shopping around, we found some at Daiso.
Add Ons in 2024
Automated Exhaust Fan: In June 2024, Hubby installed an upgrade for the greenhouse: an exhaust fan. He had a 2 ft x 1/8 in plexiglass square fabricated by Richmond Industrial Plastics, a dealer of plexiglass. He asked them to cut the opening where the holes and screws of the new exhaust fan would go in. A template was provided by the vendor of the fan on Amazon. The exhaust fan is an iPower 12 inch shutter exhaust fan. The installation took a couple of hours.
He initially installed the fan where the louvres where, but after observing its operations for a week, I asked him to move it to the pane above since it was blowing into our faces in the sitting area.
Footings for the Plant Stands: As per previous posts, the aluminum plant stands are made by Halls. We noticed that the plant stands were not sitting level over time because the feet were sinking into the crushed rock. To correct this, 60 mm square and rectangular charcoal pavers were placed under each plant stand foot (from Home Depot).
Thank you so much for continuing to provide invaluable information on this project, Cherry! Across the Internet we often see the glamorous side of gardening (fully mature beds, well-decorated greenhouses, techniques that have been tested and perfected), but it’s refreshing to see someone layout the whole process and share the lessons they learned along the way.
Spring is in the air, and I know that means many people are starting spring projects just like this greenhouse build Cherry so graciously shared with us. While you’re redoing an old bed that needs an update, constructing a new patio, removing lawn for more planting space, or anything in between, be sure to take lots of pictures and then consider sharing them with the blog! Follow the directions below to submit your garden photos via email, or send me a DM on Instagram: @agirlherdogandtheroad.
We want to see YOUR garden!
Have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit!
To submit, send 5-10 photos to [email protected] along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photos. We’d love to hear where you are located, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you are proud of, failures you learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden.
Have a mobile phone? Tag your photos on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with #FineGardening!
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