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If you're concerned that operating a greenhouse will
significantly add to your electric bill, you don't have to
worry. If you are building a smaller greenhouse, the cost of
electricity can be held down to an almost insignificant amount
of money.
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Obviously, if you don't use any kind of growing lights, or
soil cables, your costs will be kept even further down.
The only electricity you will have to use is when you are in
your greenhouse after dark, and you have a light or two on. If
you install fluorescent lights, you can figure this additional
operating cost -varying with the locality-at approximately 1/4
cent per hour for two 40-watt tubes. A 100-watt incandescent
bulb burns at about 1/3 cent per hour.
Propagating Cases
You can convert one end of your growing bench into a
propagating case by installing an electric soil cable. And in
this area you can raise any plants requiring bottom heat for
growth. To create the "case," place a piece of glass over the
planting; or you can have a glass frame made to fit over the
cuttings. A plastic propagating case would also be good.
About Water
Include hot as well as cold water in the plumbing plans for
your greenhouse. A mixing faucet will make it possible for you
to draw water of proper temperature at any time for your
plants.
There is no need to pipe softened water into your
greenhouse, unless you want it for hand-washing. Most types of
artificially softened water should not be used on plants. While
it may do them no immediate harm, it may gradually weaken cell
structure and lead to plant collapse.
Copper piping is satisfactory for use in the greenhouse. I
have some in mine, and it has never caused any "copper
poisoning." Experts at the University of Minnesota assure me
that water passing through copper pipes is perfectly safe to
use on all types of plants.
Where to Get Soil
Unless you have planned this greenhouse for a long time and
have a supply of good soil ready, the soil required for your
first year's planting may have to be included in your budget.
More than just plain garden soil is needed for potting most
greenhouse-grown plants.
Garden or field loam can make up as much as a third of the
mixture, but it should be enriched with another third of
organic material. Vermiculite or sand is the other third. With
an established compost pile or a heap of leaf-mold, you will
find it necessary to purchase only such organics as sphagnum
moss, peatmoss, or peat.
Sphagnum moss wholesales at a few dollars a bale plus
shipping charges; granulated peatmoss and horticultural peat.
Leafmold is priced at cheaply per bushel . Special potting
materials such as osmunda fiber (an old-time medium for orchids
) can cost a fair amount, shredded wood and bark, used
increasingly of late in orchid culture, is (or was) priced very
reasonably.
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