Why not? Sounds like a great idea! I saw on another forum (the soup one ) a bunch of photos of people's growing areas. People have some fancy basement set ups! Think of the climate control you would have! Nice!

Clara

providing you get enough light down there, it's a great idea. May not be ideal for the most light loving orchids like cattleyas and vandas but for paphs and phalies, it might be perfect.

It might work.
You will just need to make sure that the light levels you receive are appropriate for the plants you are planning to grow.

Some properly placed mirrors might also be helpful if you need to redirect the sunlight into specific areas of your basement.

I would recommend that you use a light meter to determine if you are getting appropriate light levels in the basement. Our eyes can be deceiving when it comes to measuring proper light levels. It may appear bright but it could be just our eyes have adjusted to the shade.

I don't think O.K. is going to use the basement to grow, just the area outside the basement window. It will get sun only near zenith and covered with plexiglass the temps will be fantastic unless you pretty much exhaust the entire volume of the case every hour or so. At that point you don't have a greenhouse anymore. I can't see it working. A closed case needs to be indoors protected from sunlight and lit with a cool source of light like CFL or even tubes.

H

In a way, it's the same principle as a cold frame. Most of those have a mechanism for opening the top when the temp inside reaches a certain level. Once it falls below a set temp the top closes. Not sure about the light thing in your case.

Kevin

"In a way, it's the same principle as a cold frame." Exactly and why are cold frames only used in the early spring? Because temps rise so rapidly in them that they can be used to extend the growing season by many weeks. When you open the case to vent out the heat you vent out the humidity, the 'bouyancy' of the atmosphere. The typical cold frame is vented a couple or few inches to reduce what might be summertime levels to ambient springtime levels. In summer a small volume case would need to be vented 100%, at that point you are simply growing outdoors with the attendant wild swings of environment that one strives to minimize with a greenhouse.

H

Home Owner's Association..

You know..the Yard Nazis

You don't want to know, trust me. I will really try to never have one again. I get weird little notes all the time about stuff, like I forgot to bring the trash bins one time over night and they left me a note. A lady a few houses down just last week told me she got a fine for her kids play house being the wrong colors for the neighborhood. That burst my greenhouse bubble. I was just thinking I could hide a contraption over my well and they might never see it.
I am going to make a light meter purchase anyway, just out of curiosity really.
My wells are unusually deep and wide and bright. I already bloom masdies on the ledge of one. I am actually looking to keep it a little cooler for cooler plants. My house is hot all year round due to many large windows and massive south and west exposure. I am an artificial light virgin, but I have a tube fixture and I could rig some additional light. This will keep me occupied for a little while and I'll let ya'll know how it ends up. I need to do something cause I have reached an expantion point.........Oooops.

Thanks so much for your input!
Shani

I get nasty flashbacks just hearing HOA :(

At my old house, I filed a report with the HOA because the neighbor's dog kept doing its business on my front lawn.
They sent an "investigator" to my house.

"Sir, we did not see the dog actually pooping on your lawn so we cant cite your neighbor. But I do see dog poop on your lawn so I am writing YOU a citation for unkempt front lawn."

These people seem to enjoy wasting everyone's time.

This just confirms my view that the world has gone crazy. Down the golf course they are building a Dam, except that it is not a dam. It is a pond. Then there is a little area where the creek overflows when it rains. It is about 80 x 20 metres and it is called a flood plain.

I'm glad i do not own a dog because you have to take a little plastic bag with you on walks to collect doggy poo.

But it seems worse in the land of free enterprise. I remember somewhere in the Pacific North West. Just beautiful, but there were unwelcoming signs everywhere. Keep out, private road, etc. etc. etc. etc.

Getting back to the topic, why is it called a widow well. I imagine something like in the UK where you look down from the footpath to a window several feet down. Doesn't sound promising unless you instal artificial lighting.

Yes I would normally agree, but these are monster window wells. And you all would not believe the light they get. I am getting a meter and I'll let you know what they read. I won a poker tourney last night so I get to go shopping a little bit....whehew!
Wetfeet, I am so sorry to hear that. Those little things in life can really push me to the edge. What a nightmare.

Hey Shani,

Check this link out!

Here is a link that might be useful: Sun Window Well

Ahhh. The light dawns, a window well. Not somewhere strange where you consign widows.

Clint, I love you. You have become my ask all. That is awesome, I am so going to check into that.

Thank you.