LilBit
I don't have one but thought of getting something similar - temporarily too. I would be very careful with keeping plastic cover on - good idea while it rains a lot, but just make sure you don't forget to take if off! I think fan should help too...How humid does it get where you live? Hopefully you stay on top of it & make sure ventilation is good - fan would help for sure. I would not close it up totally (there is a zipper closure on front I think?).
Definitely better to cover them during big storm rather than carrying all of them inside :-)
I wouldn't cover them all the times, some rain is good for plants - I let my succulents to be 'watered' by rain, only water them myself if it does not rain for a while.
Shade cloth should be available in any garden center?
Rina

I know many of you have seen past year's pictures of my plant's summer residence. This is where we are this year. Because of our cold weather, not everything is outside, yet. In the past years, I've put cover over plants on rainy days and removed it and back and forth. Trust me, it's a pain (been there, done that) and then if you're not sure it will rain and you forget....

Mine stay covered all summer. Since the plastic doesn't extend all the way to the ground and is open at the ends, I get nice air flow. So for you LitBit, you may want to get some 4 ~ 6 mil plastic at a BBS or just tuck up the sides. I purchased a large roll, because it only has a 2 ~ 3 year life before it begins to fall apart. The black clips are 1 ½" PVC irrigation tubing, that I cut to 4" length and split open. I made 6" x 6" x 6" cement blocks using USPS Priority boxes as my form and plastic bag inserts so the boxes would fall apart while the cement cured.

hey howard, wonderful colour on all your plants and kool cover. and thank you for the id on the irish mint. couldn't find any pics of it in flower but from the description that flower stalk is atypical-nice. around here the rainfall is so scant, the humidity so low and the sun so intense that i just have to remember to water every other day come july and august.

Dave, try this link: Echeveria 'Irish Mint'

Looks nice when it comes to ventilation having the door open should work but the fan will help it's going to get very hot in there no matter what in the summer so be sure the plants are healthy and not getting burned. I grow cacti in humid climate so I have a greenhouse two doors provide ventilation one in the front one on the back even though the ventilation system is mide evil it works well you can even feel it!

Thanks everyone! Rina, i was going to leave the plastic off as much as possible. It can get pretty humid here in Michigan, though they say if you dont like the weather.......wait 5 minutes and itll change. Im thinking something like Howards set up will probably work best for the top. We do tend to get rain at the drop of a hat sometimes.......i went to home depot and picked up what said shade cloth but its burlap??? It says its to shade plants.......i hope it works until theyre acclimated.(and until i get back there to pick up what Howard reccomended) I thought the holes were kind of big myself but then again ive NEVER used shade cloth b4 lol

thanks again everyone! Now I just have to figure out when its not going to drop to low anymore to get them outside. Lol

Return it. That is more for protecting plant in our Michigan winters as a wind break. This is shade cloth. The one pictured is a 60% cloth

Howard just posted about shade cloth, but I was thinking that the burlap will work if you can't get anything else; - it has larger holes which are good for air circulation, and I would think it will provide plenty of shade.

Since your GH has plastic cover, maybe you can just roll up the sides and clip them together - after all, you need cover on top to protect plants from rain (unless it's a vicious storm...)

Btw, our temps and weather over all are very similar to yours; if I had same GH, I think I would leave plants outdoors already with covers down for nights - I would think that it would provide enough protection for overnights? - daytime is warm enough. What do you think Howard?
Rina.

The problem with the burlap is it will be too much shade and when it gets wet it will stay wet for days.

Rina, if my recollection is correct, you're in the Toronto area so yes our weather may be similar. This is why I do what I do with my summer greenhouse. I've had enough trying to out guess Mother Nature! With the lower portion of the GH open, there's lots of air circulation. The plastic provides about a 20% shade.

I just bought a small green house from Amazon. Thanks for starting this thread.

Celeste

Thanks again Howard and Rina!! I honestly dont know what I'd do if I didnt have you guys to pick your brains once in awhile lol. Howard, where did you get that shade cloth? Do you think I'll need the shade cloth then if I get the type of cover you were talking about? Rina, you think it would be warm enough at night? How many degrees warmer do you think itll be in there at night? What do you think the minimum temp you would put your plants out be? Howard, are yours out yet? For good? Thanks again for ALL THE HELP !! ;)

I have a 70% cloth that came with my permanent greenhouse and I purchased a 60% cloth online from a discount house. Do a search for shade cloth. Yes, everything is out for the summer except he cold sensitive plants such as Dorstenia and Euphorbia. With our unseasonably cold weather, I've left the heater in the greenhouse longer than usual. It depends on what you're putting outside and if it is dry. As a general thought, members of the Crassulaceae family can handle mid 40's, if dry. Most cactus should also be OK. Hopefully, if Mother Nature cooperates, I will move the rest out in a week or so. Then I'll have room in the greenhouse to start rooting all the cuttings. I will also put my 60% shade cloth on the permanent greenhouse this week. There again, I usually have it up sooner but our weather hasn't required it. It can get VERY hot in a greenhouse that is uncovered. I've been in the upper 80's ~ low 90's the month of May with sunshine even with open windows and a ventilation fan. Shade cloth will make a BIG difference.

Thanks for the great Ideas all! I especially Like the plastic canopy of Bikerdoc's set up. I purchased a hexagonal inexpensive green house for this season to keep my Hahnii's dry.

Lilbit

I use a similar greenhouse for most of my plants in summer, just to keep the rain off. I keep the door pen at all times. For the first few weeks outside I tuck shade cloth over it ( on the inside, to keep it dry and prevent it blowing away). I also used large bags of manure that I have on hand to weight the frame down and avoid tipping during heavy winds ( we get a lot of that here in NS).

I used to just use it as a rack system, but tried leaving the cover on last summer, with careful attention to temp and humidity in it. My plants loved the extra heat, though a few tuberous- rooted Haws lost their roots, which I hadn't noticed before...

Enjoy!

Thanks again everyone!! We're going to put our on our deck this season, we're not quite sure how sturdy its going to be in the wind. The bottom base bars are going to be tied down to the deck. And now to get the RIGHT shade cloth, and the RIGHT topper! Thanks again! Oh, and happy Memmorial Weekend EVERYONE!!!

LilBit - I was wondering how you're liking the mini greenhouse? Anything good or bad about it? If you'd mind showing some photos too I would really appreciate it. I am trying to decide between moveable racks or something like this.
Thanks much!
Nancy

I like it so far. The plastic is on right now because we got alot of rain, but we also live on a lake and get a constant breeze and its moved so the breeze gets in. I think otherwuse i would have to have fans going constantly if the cover was on. Ill post pics when its daylight.

Mine has worked well at keeping the rain off my Sansevieria! I like the hexagonal shape for its sturdiness. You have to open the zipper to let out the heavy, moisture build up and let the plants breath some.

Fred

Thanks LilBit for the feedback and I look forward to photos!
Thanks Fred, I like the hexagon shape, it fits nicely in your setup. Would you mind showing photo with it opened, so I can see a shelf?
I have some heavy pots, even the little sizes add up. The gritty mix sure isn't light. I need to be sure each shelf is strong.
It's hard to tell if the above greenhouses are made to be sturdy (haven't seen in person). Right now I am leaning towards metal storage racks as they can hold a good amount of weight.

I'll try to remember to take a picture

When i have the cover on i ALWAYS leave the front flap open. I have NEVER had the condensation built up, but I'm also paranoid about airflow and worried they would rot if left closed. Maybe im a little TOO PARANOID LOL. The shelves COULD be sturdier but so far so good. Not all mine our in gritty but most. I try to distribute the heavier ones around plus i have my huge b onez on stands that i place on the floor inside. I was thinking that zip tying the shelves to the frame would help with the strength of the shelves. Also i plan on zip tying the fram to our deck because the breeze here can get rather strong. For a temporary fix, we put a bag of pea gravel on the two long sides of the base to weigh it down. Hope this helps :)

Do those pics look like they were at the fun house looking at the crazy mirrors?!! On my end they look distorted until you click on them. They didnt when i posted them lol

They look strange until I click them as well. I just got myself some metal shelves and think I should fasten them to my deck as well.

Pea gavel bag I have, maybe that is a good temporary solution.

Trying to think of a removable but secure method that won't ruin my deck.

Thats why I was thinking zipties, cuz I could cut them off after im using the greenhouse for the season. Im hoping itll work.

I plan on picking up some 2x2 foot patio stones to lay over the bottom shelf to anchor it in the wind. They are 80 lbs each, and will allow me to keep using the bottom shelf. Right now I have 2 40lb bags of manure on each side, which has worked for a few years but is ugly

here is the photo I promised

more of my set up, though nothing compared to the other photos on this thread!

Looks Great!

Lilbit, was that at Big Lots? I've seen one they have advertised online now reduced to $90.99. Yours was a great deal!

Lilbit------I absolutely love how you've utilized it. I wish I had more space. Your ferns really give it that lush jungle look. you're so lucky. Ferns don't seem to like me : )

Thanks Neil.......but I think youre referring to Sans lol. :) and i dont have much luck with ferns either. ;)

Which by the way Sans, i love the table thing with the screen to allow the flow of water. Great idea. And Breton thats an AWESOME idea about the patio stones!! I actually have extras!! I never wouldve thought of that!!

Almost forgot, Camellia, yes this is from BigLots. When mine was purchased they didnt have the big one. I went back to see if there was any more of this size and there was a bigger one that i think was originally $150.00 or $175.00 but it was on sale fir $99.00 and was huge and dome shaped........i wanted to get it also because i didnt think this one would be big enough to hold all my plants. But i was pleasantly surprised because i have room for more! But the dome one woyld be TOO BIG :(

Oh well im happy with this one :) but i think i got a good deal too

Lilbit & Sans- Please forgive my state of confusion. No wonder the ferns hate me!

Ok- whomever has the hanging basket with the crassulas, that looks awesome. are they facata?

Actually the ferns are really just weeds, LOL! Totally natural I have to cut them down out of my way. I am trying to establish more (naturally occurring exotic) types of fern inside my deer fenced "Houseplant Resort". Where I live there are ferns all over the place, several different types too, though none suitable to domestication ( as houseplants that is).

Lol its ok Neil! The crassula is mine. Im HORRIBLE with names so Ill have to look facata up. Be back in a jiff!

Nope. I know its a crassula, i have the name SOME WHERE LOL. When i find it or can look it up later ill let you Neil, take care

Breton - I picked up a stylish 1'x2' patio stone today to anchor my outdoor shelf for $7. It's 40lbs and looks much more fashionable than manure. =P

LilBit - Is it a Crassula cotyledonis or a cotyledonis perfoliata hybrid?

Edit: Changed C. dubia (synonym) to C. cotyledonis.

LilBit, thank you for taking photos. Definitely looks like your enjoying it, so many happy plants. Must be nice to be able to walk in and be surrounded by your favorite plants. LOVE the hanging basket and it's hummingbird holder, looks like it wants to dive in, lol.

Fred, thanks for taking more photos, it looks very calming and relaxing. I never was a fan of sansevieria, but seeing them outdoors instead of in an office looks more natural. Really like the bench with built in screens... very nice, looks efficient.

Good to know that both can work with a bit of reinforcement.

Lilbit- Thanks, I meant to ask if it was a Crassula falcate but I misspelled it. I think Ewwmayo answered our question though : )

Sans2014- I am so happy for you that your weeds look like beautiful ferns. My weeds look like weeds and ugly. No one said life would be fair! : )

I finally got rid of the manure bags and replaced them with patio stones. Here is a photo of my setup now. Photo is a bit shaded, but best I can do right now! Also included a few shots of the residents...

Wow! That size woyld be perfect!!! I dont gave racks going across the back :( gives me something to get for next season though! ;)

I added the racks myself, they are just a piece of plastic- coated metal shelving

INGENIOUS!!! Awesome idea!!! Ever have those moments like in the V8 commercials where you wanna "donk" yourself in the head?!! Thanks for elaborating lol. Sometimes i need things spelled out for me lol

Haha! The shelves add a lot of space.

Regarding the size, I thought my greenhouse was the same size as yours.. no?

Maybe its the photo but yours does look wider. The measurements to mine are on the top....how big is yours?