April the 30th, 2018 I added the final panel of TufTex to the south wall of the greenhouse. I can now begin the finish work, including conveying water and power to the Temple.
The south wall just before I sealed the opening.
Tuesday, May the 1st was a very overcast day here. In spite of this, the highly transparent quality of TufTex is quite visible.
My Dad and I built my first greenhouse over 40 years ago. At the time, we used a corrugated fiberglass material as Polycarbonate was not available at that time. I coated the first greenhouse with a whitewash material for shading. Over time, the fiberglass went through changes as it aged, eventually becoming less transparent.
As with any new greenhouse, I will have to learn how to grow all over again. Since I am using clear Polycarbonate for the first time, this is especially true. Keeping a greenhouse puts one more in touch with nature and weather patterns. We observe sunlight as it flows through the structure, moving plants around for optimal growth. We closely monitor temperature and humidity.
In addition to new materials for the exterior, there are new shading materials. We used to use green or black saran cloth. While this was effective for shade, the dark color retained heat; most undesirable during our hot summers. I will be trying new shade panels called Aluminet, a highly reflective material.
People have discovered new growing media for Orchids in the past 40 years. I came from an era where people grew orchids in bark, tree fern fiber and Osmunda, a tree fern root found in the Everglades. Methods of feeding Orchids have also evolved.
This weekend, my goal is to get the Temple "online," then begin moving plants inside.
