Daintree - That's very good to know about citrus coolness in winter. I think I can subdivide my greenhouse. The main heat source will be at one end so I should have a gradient (accidental or intentional) as you go across the building. I'm also happy that you can keep them all alive at 50. That will be easier to maintain
So if I understand you correctly, you don't use supplemental light? And the citrus still produce? Neat!!
Maybe my greenhouse plans are too big... How many tropicals and citrus do you fit into your two houses?
greenhouse that I can add them later, I guess...
I do use supplemental light to extend day length, but only in the form of nice, cheap shop lights with cool white bulbs. I have them on cords so I can keep them about 8 inches above the tops of the trees. Great article from the U of Alaska about using shop lights. I would LOVE to get LED lights but can't afford the initial cash outlay. The very second I hit the lottery, I am buying Black Dog LED grow lights!!
In my 200 sq ft citrus house I have 9 different types of citrus, baobab, loquat, fig, guava, and a few other things. Citrus always bloom every winter - are blooming now. But, we DO get lots of sun most of the winter (we get over 200 days of sun per year). I think intensity makes up for hours???
YES, make different zones in your greenhouse. the mangosteen doesn't like anything lower than 60F, and the cacao REALLY don't like to be lower than 55F. I move things around a lot depending on the season. I also have tennis elbow and golfers elbow from moving all the pots. Hire a neighbor kid to help with the pot moving!
I would not think your plans are too big, as long as you have an unlimited budget for heat. My greenhouse costs more to heat than the house. But, it is still cheaper than showing horses! I tried many passive heating options, but with tropicals, you just have to have powerful heat.
In the tropical house (300 sq ft) I have over 140 specimens of about 65 species. I try to avoid dioecious plants, but I do have multiples of some, and am waiting to see if they are "boys" or "girls" so I can eliminate the surplus. I also have Bourkes Grasskeets living and flying around loose out there.
Everything is in pots - up to 25 gallon size. The greenhouse is only 15 ft wide, so the soil, even in the center, gets very cold in winter and would kill most tropicals. Plus, we flood irrigate, and in pots, I can control the water way better.
Remember, you can always add on if you want more space. That is what I did - 300 sq ft in year 1, then added 100 sq ft in year two, and the last 100 sq ft in year 5.
It is my little tropical oasis. Lots of really fun work. Couldn't get by without it.
Carolyn