RE: Growing were no one has grown before. :>)

From: "Harry Witmore" harrywitmore at witmore.net> on 2002.05.23 at 02:14:56(8853) Although I don't have quite the extremes as Brian, I to grow in very similar conditions and use 73 % shade cloth in the summer and none in the winter. I also use 6 mil double layer of plastic with gas heat. This year wasn't too bad but last year was really expensive. But, this is my only hobby and I probably spend less in a year on plants than a golfer or a race car fan. Harry Witmore +More Cloud Jungle Art www.witmore.net -----Original Message----- williams Sent: Wednesday, May 22, 2002 12:59 AM To: Multiple recipients of list AROID-L Subject: Growing were no one has grown before. :>) I will try my best to describe the problems that I have to face. LOL The temperature here in KY usually reach 0F to -10F with a few time going as far as -20F Which would make a zone 6 in Celsius -23 to -18 Now having these types of temperatures few besides the fanatics like myself actually grow many aroids. Here is how I do it. The greenhouse use the double layer plastic with the air space in between for insulation. I have a boiler type heater that we are getting this year. This will run off of fire wood. We also have gas heaters that kick on if I am to lazy to run out and put wood on the stove. The harder I work the less my heating bill. the lazier I am the more I pay. During the winter its best to for me anyway to get as much light as possible so no shade cloth during the winter months. For cooling off in the summer. All the greenhouse doors are opened and the huge exhaust fan will kick on if the temperature goes over 85F. I also use mister systems which are getting hooked up to timers as well as capillary mats which I find very helpful in propagating many of my aroids and keeping the humidity up. Two wet walls that I made with plants growing up it work very well in keeping it cooler. Not to mention most of this greenhouse is being turned into my personal conservatory. Rock walls are being put in. We are using a sponge rock which is very porous and light that will cover the 10ft tall walls. These wall will help insulate as well as capture heat during the day and release it during the night. But many of my tropicals go in the ground manly Alocasia Colocasia Xanthosoma bananas cannas and others. As you can see growing all these aroids in KY is not easy or cheap. But I do love doing it and I am sure I will be very happy once most the work is finally completed. Hopefully this will help others. _________________________________________________________________ Send and receive Hotmail on your mobile device: http://mobile.msn.com

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