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- From: "Bell-Games, Tom" <tbellgames@burnip.com>
- To: <pleurothallid-l@lists.ibiblio.org>
- Subject: [pleurothallid-l] Automation
- Date: Fri, 30 Dec 2005 12:13:56 -0500
A couple of additional components to this fellow's set-up
was aluminet shade cloth that was installed inside the greenhouse. This
was laid on cables that would pull the cloth out to help cool the
greenhouse. This was set to activate when the temperature rose to a
certain set point. It would then retract when the temperature dropped
below a second point. This was extremely effective. You could feel
the difference quite quickly. In the winter, here in the Midwest we often
have many cloudy days followed by one day of pure sunshine - nice and cheery,
but potentially deadly for our plants. My friend also found that if it was
very cold, he could use this to help hold in some of the heat in the
evening. He also installed some automatic roof vents. I believe
these had wax cylinders that functioned hydraulically. I think the way
these worked was that when the wax heated, it expanded causing the vents to
open.
By far the most important piece of automation, to my mind,
was a telephone dialer. This was set to trigger on high and low
temperatures. He had programmed maybe four different phone numbers into
this so that it would contact someone even if he was out of town. There
are so many horror stories of folks that have lost power, then the pipes freeze,
heating system shorts out, then you're left with a total loss... These
systems are not cheap, but when you think how much you have invested in your
plant collection, it seems like good insurance.
This was a wonderful greenhouse and he was a great
grower. Unfortunately, even with all of the automation, it was a good deal
of responsibility. He finally decided to retire from orchids and
now the greenhouse is no more.
Tom From: pleurothallid-l-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:pleurothallid-l-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Lynn O'Shaughnessy Sent: Friday, December 30, 2005 11:15 AM To: pleurothallid-l@lists.ibiblio.org Subject: Re: [pleurothallid-l] humidification systems What you describe in your second paragraph
is exactly what my setup is. In addition, I have two box fans on the floor
to circulate the misting that comes out under the benches. It does a
pretty good job. Lynn O From:
pleurothallid-l-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org
[mailto:pleurothallid-l-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Thanks A friend who had a very
nicely automated greenhouse used one of the larger Jaybird Aquafog units
along with under-bench misting and large evaporative coolers at one end of the
greenhouse. Each system was triggered by a separate environmental
control. The Aquafog worked quite well I thought. But for my growing
conditions, that would certainly be over-kill. Tom
Bell-Games From:
pleurothallid-l-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org
[mailto:pleurothallid-l-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Lynn O'Shaughnessy I have the Aquafog in my greenhouse.
Yes, it is loud, but it does one heck of a job. You might not like all the
humidity it puts out if your room is open to the house. As an alternative,
why not try one of the hydrofoggers? Those are not nearly as noisy and are
a little less expensive. I actually have two I am no longer
using. Lynn O From:
pleurothallid-l-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org
[mailto:pleurothallid-l-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Hello out there. This list has
been incredibly quiet lately. I am trying to improve my
growing techniques by adding some form of humidification to one of my growing
areas. I don't have a greenhouse. I am growing most of my things in
what had once been a porch, but is now glassed in on three sides. This is
connected to the house and is roughly 250 square feet. I had considered
buying something that I think was called a hermidifan, manufactured by
Jaybird. Unfortunately, they seem to have discontinued this. The
smallest unit they now have is the Aquafog 400. (I think they must apply
model numbers by the price!) My one concern about this is the potential
for noise. I have been in greenhouses that use some of the larger units
and they are very loud. Is anyone on this list using one of these?
If so, how do you like it? Any suggestions for other humidifying devices
that might work well? As an alternative, I was also considering installing
one of those smaller outdoor stand alone evaporative coolers - they look
something like an air conditioning unit (I saw these on almost all the roofs of
homes in the Salt Lake City area a year or so ago.)
Tom
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- [pleurothallid-l] Automation, Bell-Games, Tom, 12/30/2005
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