new greenhouse

Yipee!!!

For my warm and intermediate growers I always make sure I water with water that isn't cold to the touch. I think it's a great idea to have warm water installed.

 

I have a basin of de-chlorinated water that's always full under the benches. An industrial diaphragm pump draws from the basin & pressurizes the watering system. The water the plants see is always about the same temperature as the ambient air in the greenhouse.

How big is the new 'house?

 

I am glad you'll be documenting the process Kitty. Of course I'll help you. Phone me and I will guide you through it. You'll get the hang of it in no time

 

I'd go with T.Migratoris's setup. Using heated tap water has the potential to shock the plants if the temps are much different than ambient temps.

 

I have a 40 gal. water heater in my greenhouse and it works wonderfully well. All that has to be done to regulate the temp. of
the water is set the thermostat.

 

I wish I had the height for ceiling fans. I think I'm going to have to add more HAF fans to deal with dead spots. Ceiling fans - which move air vertically - would be a great addition but they just won't work in my situation.

 

Kitty, I have two 52" ceiling fans in my 12' x 28' greenhouse and
I couldn't grow without them I don't think. They're on 24/7 and they distribute both heat and cool air and keep all the plants bobbing just a bit. Hunter makes the fans I have and their waterproof (more or less) and weren't expensive. I bought them
at Lowes and have hit them and sprayed them for almost eleven
years and they're still going. They're all white and ugly, but efficient. My roof height is about the same as yours.

 

That wasn't my experience, at all. The water in the tanks was enough cooler that it resulted in damage to some phalaenopsis leaves.

By putting an aquarium heater in the tank and maintaining it at 75°, everything is much happier.

 

You may need to do some planning, but ceiling fans are the only way to go. For your size green house, I would look at 6 fans. I have a 12 x 20 house and have 2 52" fans, and adjust them as the weather dictates. For the winter, 1 of mine, closest to the heat source is on low and blowing down, the other is on medium and blowing down. Check the electrical us of 52" fan on high verse a 20" breeze box fan, would scare you. I have no other fans.

 

I have the two ceiling fans, two louvers on the front of the gh and
a 24" exhaust fan in the back of the gh. My gh is not over-crowded now and almost all my plants are on mounts and hanging
on racks.

On the old AOS forum, we had a big discussion on fan direction and opinions were split about half and half on whether changing
the fan direction made any difference. Both of my 220v King heaters are mounted quite high in the gh, so out of habit I usually
have them blowing down in the winter. To be honest, I've really never noticed much difference either way.

The biggest problem is hanging bars and fans. I have five bars for hanging plants in baskets, etc. and the fans do take up hanging space.

 

I'm in N. CA too. I think our temps really don't warrant the hot water. I don't know anyone here in my society, who has hot water running to their g.h. But, if it's inexpensive to do, why not?

I have no hot water and my plants live and bloom, so there you are. Yes on the oscillating fans.

It's really a good idea to run things past growers from your local society. What may be necessary or good for a grower in Wyoming will be over-kill for a grower from N. CA.

 

I'm so excited for you!

 

Yipee!