The exterior still looks identical, but I guess I hadn't posted any pictures from inside yet! In truth I haven't done much since the last update aside from add some bits of insulation that aren't really visible, and I've mostly levelled out the dirt inside. I also painted the inside foundation walls white.
dirt inside is now level, even though grade slopes around it
I still don't have proper heat or electric. My HVAC contractor cancelled right before I left for a trip to India for a month. I ended up putting all my trees in my basement the entire time, in darkness at around 50F temp. However, they did just fine and I put them right back in the greenhouse when I came home. I've been running propane space heaters when it gets below freezing, with circulating fans on an extension cord
It's just warming up enough now to get back on the utilities so I can finally be complete. I have some ceiling-mounted circulator fans to install, also. Then, the next thing to worry about is cooling. I'm keeping all my trees in containers until I've made it through the peak of summer, just in case temperatures get out of hand.
Last week I sprayed a surfactant on the inside walls of the polycarbonate glazing. The product is supposed to eliminate condensation, but it did not work at all for me when I applied at the recommended rate. The condensation came right back. I am going to try doing it again with double the concentation before I give up and go with another product.
Some of my trees had been struggling from the frequent near-freezing temperatures, and a handful that I severely under-watered had almost completely defoliated. However, everything seems to be bouncing back. Bare areas are all flushing like this:
Once the final heat and electric hookups are done I will looking into an automatic watering system, and likely some kind of active cooling such as a fogging system or swamp cooler. I have public water and it doesn't seem to be hard like the well water at my old house. I believe I can use foggers here without scale buildup.
I have two sets of temperature sensors. One is internet-connected and I can pull up the temperature from a phone app, and it can send text message alerts if temps get out of range. The other is a simple radio sensor that runs entirely on batteries and has an audible alarm. This way if I lose power, or if batteries die, I still have a backup alarm in case it gets too cold or my portable heater runs out of fuel.
(the temp is really high on the sensors in direct sunlight, but the others show accurate air temps)
Because I'm running unvented propane heaters right now, and because I don't have enough heat to allow me to do much ventilation outside the warmest hours, I have a lot more humidity than I'd like. I expect once I have the final utilities in place it will be more controllable.
I haven't yet insulated the north wall. I will probably save that for next winter. I happend to find some cheap Ikea hanging containers (meant for some kitchen use) that work perfectly for hanging seedlings along the greenhouse structural rails. I put all my trifoliate seedlings there, and beacuse they don't take up any floor space I am planning to grow many more for future grafting.
Finally, I am thinking about putting white landscaping fabric down on the greenhouse floor to make it even brighter inside. Right now my floor is just clay dirt which turns into mud when wet and so would the fabric brown. However, I am thinking if I put a layer of much down first and put the white fabric on top the mulch won't stain the fabric and it should work pretty well if I sweep up fallen leaves occasionally.
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