Photonbucket Blog

photonbucket

Photonbucket Blog

Post by photonbucket »

I have been busy of late, despite my quietness here. So with work progressing nicely, I thought I'd start a blog. I will certainly be looking for planting advice along the way.

I have been watching my Bougainvillea decline steadily over the last 6 months. I think that despite getting a reasonable amount of sunlight, it needs the summer and direct sunlight under glass (as opposed to polycarbonate). I have other plants laying around rotting and generally dying. So converting the greenhouse to a mini arid biome seemed like a good idea. I had the eureka moment the night before last and got up early in the morning and unscrewed all the wooden shelving, which is now strewn on the lawn.

The end result is here: just using existing plants that needed some love. PS - I did have a Medio-Picta, but I snapped it in two at the base when removing the pot. :ahhh!:

Image

This should fill out quite nicely, but I have a few more plants to go in.
cordyman

Re: Photonbucket Blog

Post by cordyman »

wow looks the business :D how long did that take you
photonbucket

Re: Photonbucket Blog

Post by photonbucket »

Just a single day Cordyman. This slotted in nicely because I had a load of hardcore to get rid of. I ended up loosing half of it under the arid bed.

Here is where I am up to with the bottomless conservatory. It's been hard work but I have really enjoyed doing it. I am pretty much a novice at DIY, but I have learned as I have gone on.

Image

I budgeted about £1000 for the whole project and I reckon it's going to fall around that figure. The most expensive part is the Palram Sunlite Polycarbonate roof.

My favourite part is the cut out washing machine back I used to make a register plate around the flue. Getting the huge flag stones up (some of which ended up in the greenhouse), has been hard work. I used a Milwaukee PH26X and an HD18PD for general drilling.
User avatar
Dave Brown
Site Admin
Posts: 19742
Joined: Sun Jul 09, 2006 10:17 am
Location: Chalk, (Thames Estuary) Kent, England 51.5N 0.3E
Contact:

Re: Photonbucket Blog

Post by Dave Brown »

That is some conservatory Tom :ahhh!: icon_thumright With it's own woodburner :ahhh!:

What dimentions is it ?
Best regards
Dave
icon_thumright
_________________________________________________
Roll on summer.....
http://www.hardytropicals.co.uk
cordyman

Re: Photonbucket Blog

Post by cordyman »

photonbucket wrote:Just a single day Cordyman. This slotted in nicely because I had a load of hardcore to get rid of. I ended up loosing half of it under the arid bed.

Here is where I am up to with the bottomless conservatory. It's been hard work but I have really enjoyed doing it. I am pretty much a novice at DIY, but I have learned as I have gone on.

Image

I budgeted about £1000 for the whole project and I reckon it's going to fall around that figure. The most expensive part is the Palram Sunlite Polycarbonate roof.

My favourite part is the cut out washing machine back I used to make a register plate around the flue. Getting the huge flag stones up (some of which ended up in the greenhouse), has been hard work. I used a Milwaukee PH26X and an HD18PD for general drilling.
Looks great for a days graft!


The outdoor/indoor conservatory is fantastic too :D
photonbucket

Re: Photonbucket Blog

Post by photonbucket »

The dimensions are 4.8 meters by 3.85 meters approx. It's not quite as large as I'd like, but I doubt I could have taken on much more myself. I love coming across problems with the build. Somehow the solution always came to me. It's a great confidence booster.

One benefit is that it is extended from (but not physically attached to), the existing conservatory. So on those hot evenings, we can sit with the double doors open.

Image

I used Bayliss Mk3 autovents (x2) as they are able to lift 6kg. They work really well. This is the smaller of the two vents along with the bodged register plate.

Image

Dave, that isn't a wood burner, it's my exterior Grant Oil Boiler. So heating the house, heats the "biome" with the waste gases in the flue. icon_thumleft
photonbucket

Re: Photonbucket Blog

Post by photonbucket »

Another hard day outside cutting and drilling. I have now tanked the back wall to prevent damp, started the sleeper borders and put up the living wall.

I will post another topic in the main forum because I am stuck for plant species and soil and that is my next job.

Image
photonbucket

Re: Photonbucket Blog

Post by photonbucket »

Randomly placed plants still in their pots, just to give an idea.

Image
cordyman

Re: Photonbucket Blog

Post by cordyman »

Wow some great handywork there photon!
photonbucket

Re: Photonbucket Blog

Post by photonbucket »

News flash: The misting system is in. After just a few minutes, the humidity was up to 95% in the biome, even without the door on. (Not fitted yet). There are four of these even spread using 25mm PVC pipe. They spread a nice cloud of vapour.....

Image

I am amazed how many plants pack into such a small area. Already packed out the back corner with Monstera Delicosa, Musa Basjoo, Rhapis Excelsa, hedychium greenii, various dieffenbachia, Anthurium, Zingiber 'Dancing Crane', Brugmansia, alocasia sanderiana, various Bromeliads and some "clingers on" in the form of Tradescantia.

Image
User avatar
Yorkshire Kris
Posts: 10163
Joined: Wed Dec 16, 2009 8:59 am
Location: Rural South Wakefield, Yorkshire Lat 53.64 Long-1.54

Re: Photonbucket Blog

Post by Yorkshire Kris »

Really interesting project. Did you line the inside of the sleepers?
photonbucket

Re: Photonbucket Blog

Post by photonbucket »

Ah! I lined the house, but not the sleepers. I guess that is ominous! :roll:

I plan to be in this house about 5 years, so I hope they outlast that. Hanging the door today, but with zero expertise. :(
kata

Re: Photonbucket Blog

Post by kata »

Brilliant, I love the work so far photon,

icon_cheers icon_cheers
User avatar
Dave Brown
Site Admin
Posts: 19742
Joined: Sun Jul 09, 2006 10:17 am
Location: Chalk, (Thames Estuary) Kent, England 51.5N 0.3E
Contact:

Re: Photonbucket Blog

Post by Dave Brown »

did you connect the misting system to the rain water?

I damp the floor down and shut the doors to raise the humidity in my Lunar Module. I'd like to be able to mist the plants, but my water comes from bore holes and is so chalky, deposits on the leaves build up in no time :roll: It is the mist always evaporates rather than dripping off.

Best of luck hanging a door, it's not the easiest task
Best regards
Dave
icon_thumright
_________________________________________________
Roll on summer.....
http://www.hardytropicals.co.uk
Kristen

Re: Photonbucket Blog

Post by Kristen »

photonbucket wrote:The misting system is in.
What Make / Brand are the misters? They look like fancy rotating jobbies, rather than just nozzles?
Post Reply