The Summer Plant Stand
It's true, I have no greenhouse. However, I have a yard, and several parts of that yard receive ample amounts of sunlight. During the frost free part of the year I have access to as much sunlight as any greenhouse would provide. Unfortunately, there is no roof on my yard and plants placed directly in the yard are subject to all the rain that falls. While this is natural for most plants, it can be excessive, sometimes deadly, for some types of potted succulents. The answer to this problem was a plant stand with a transparent roof.
I am no carpenter and the stand is no woodworking piece of art, but it works. I reserve the stand for those succulents where the amount of water they receive must be under control. The stand is relatively small because all the plants on the stand must find other quarters for the winter and those quarters are limited.
I have used the stand for more than 15 years and it has worked well. I usually water the plants on the stand once every 5 to 8 days depending on the plant. The one group of plants that are not on the stand is the lithops. They have their own stand which you can see just to the right of the plant stand. I'll discuss the lithops stand in the next blog entry.
Hey, it works, it lasts, and I think it looks pretty good!
ReplyDeleteThanks Marla. I watered the plants on the stand yesterday and they have grown nicely over the summer. If you want well grown cacti and other succulents, you have to give them the light they need, and the plant stand has allowed me to do just that. :)
DeleteThanks for the information. I need to build something like that. I wonder whether you need to use a particular type of plastic for the roof? I suppose you would want one that doesn't break down in the sun, and that also lets enough light through in the right part of the spectrum. Do you find that the light intensity that they get is much different from being directly exposed?
ReplyDeleteHi Craig, I used the type of plastic used for covering car ports. It is sold in 4 x 16 ft. sheets at the large box hardwood stores such as Home Depot and Lowes. It's not expensive and they will cut it to the size you want at the store. Of course if you need a relatively large piece you will have to have a way to get it home. Fortunately, I have a pickup truck.
DeleteLight transmission is good, about 90 percent, although it may lose some transmission with time, but it has never affected the flowering of my cacti. Everything seems to grow satisfactorily under the plastic so I believe the spectral quality of the transmitted light is similar to direct sunlight.
Thank you, I'll probably build one for next year. As my first mesembs are leaving the seedling phase, I don't think they'll like being in the rain too often.
DeleteThe air circulation must be very good. I still find it difficult to cope with the idea of moving all the plants twice a year but it is a good chance to look closely at the plants.
ReplyDeleteYou are right Alain, it's not fun moving the plants, especially when it is a rush job. Over the past five years we have had three near misses from East Coast hurricanes and I moved all the plants that were outside, including the ones under this covered frame, into the barn. Used a wheelbarrow and it took about two hours. You are also correct in that handling the plants individually is not a bad thing. Since the plants are outside they often get a variety of weeds coming up in the pots. Whenever I move the plants I take the time to make sure all of them are weeded. Moving the plants also points up those plants that need to be repotted. I usually have clipboard nearby and make notes as the plants are being moved.
DeleteWould I trade my set up for a greenhouse? Yes. But as a retired teacher, the cost of a good greenhouse, and I would want a good one, not one I build myself, is just too expensive. Plus, this arrangement does limit the number of plants I have and right now that's a good thing for me. You do make me jealous seeing all the great plants you are growing, but at least I can enjoy them through your blog. Thanks!