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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 Bell-Games, Tom
Sent: Friday, December 30, 2005 10:41 AM
To: pleurothallid-l@lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: Re: [pleurothallid-l] humidification systems

 

Thanks Lynn.  I checked their web site (hydrofogger.com) and these look just like what I need.  They aren't cheap, but it doesn't seem like any of these systems are.  Am glad to hear these are not as noisy as the Aquafog.  That would be a bit much in a room connected to the house.

 

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
Sent: Friday, December 30, 2005 8:01 AM
To: pleurothallid-l@lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: Re: [pleurothallid-l] humidification systems

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 Bell-Games, Tom
Sent: Thursday, December 29, 2005 12:50 PM
To: pleurothallid-l@lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: [pleurothallid-l] humidification systems

 

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 Bell-Games


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  • [pleurothallid-l] Automation, Bell-Games, Tom, 12/30/2005

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