mrbungalow

I recently set up a small and cheap greenhouse for my youngest plants. It's about 5' X 5', and is constructed of some kind of transparent vinyl material.

I thought putting my banana-plants in here would be great, but the opposite is true: Bananas in the greenhouse grow poorly, some are even yellowing, and generally don't show much vigour. Plants outside grow much better and look much better too. I don't think it's too hot, I keep the door open all day. They also get watered often.

The only thing I can think of is lack of air-movement? Does anyone else have any experiences with makng an ideal environment for bananas in greenhouses?

Erlend

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JoeReal

Hint: Well, if you place actively fermenting brew inside the greenhouse, they will grow like crazy.

Greenhouses are sometimes supersaturated with oxygen, the small volume of air means few carbon dioxide and when the are absorbed and turn to oxygen, they lack one of the most important nutrient for growth. Aside from N,P,K, water and carobon dioxide should be recognized as super essential nutrients.

Lilith

The bananas I had in the greenhouse did so well I eventually had to remove them, LOL. I had an Ae Ae and some ornamental Milky Way bananas in there and they grew so large they were at the ceiling (Milky Ways were by the wall and got over 12 ft, Ae Ae got about 16 ft closer to the center). I took them out and now they are doing well in my yard. The only ones I have in there now are a few Musa uranoscopis.

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11/2008 Outer Banks Marathon 26.2, Kitty Hawk NC--3:50
2/2009 5 Points of Life Marathon, 26.2, Gainesville FL--4:00
4/2009 Boston Marathon, 26.2-- 4:38
10/2009 Marine Corps Marathon, DC, 26.2--457
1/2010 Houston Marathon, 26.2--3:55:09
2/2010 5 Points of Life Marathon, Gainesville--415
Halloween Day 2010 Marine Corps Marathon, DC--
2/2011--Austin TX Marathon--

mrbungalow

Thanks joe and Lilith.

I was wondering about that too. Lack of carbon dioxide. When I close the door on this thing there is virtually no ventilation.

Think it would help to put in a small fan to circulate the air? I do my brewing in the basement! he he

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Lilith

Air circulation is a vital and necessary part of greenhouse growing. Even in winter there needs to be a source for fresh air. Fans to circulate air are essential to the health of plants in the greenhouse, so yes I would definitely get a fan and run it 24/7.

You don't say the dimensions of your greenhouse, but as you know, heat rises and needs to be vented somehow. The heat trapped in the upper reaches of the greenhouse is called "attic heat" and can he utilized for the good in winter by installing fans that blow downward to push the heat back down to ground level and warm the plants. In summer you need to try to blow that heat out either thru ceiling vents or through your door.

The sidewalls of my greenhouse are at 12 feet and the ceiling peaks at 20ft. The attic heat above the 12 ft level can be over 120F if I don't run box fans to help dissipate it 24/7

__________________
11/2008 Outer Banks Marathon 26.2, Kitty Hawk NC--3:50
2/2009 5 Points of Life Marathon, 26.2, Gainesville FL--4:00
4/2009 Boston Marathon, 26.2-- 4:38
10/2009 Marine Corps Marathon, DC, 26.2--457
1/2010 Houston Marathon, 26.2--3:55:09
2/2010 5 Points of Life Marathon, Gainesville--415
Halloween Day 2010 Marine Corps Marathon, DC--
2/2011--Austin TX Marathon--

the flying dutchman

I made a small greenhouse against a wall , I nearly can stand in it, but I
have made a window in the roof that I can open and close, i think that is important. Everything grows
just fine.

Ron

kgbenson

Got pics?

Keith

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Bee Sting Honey . . . So Good It Hurts
http://www.geocities.com/k2benson/TC...ban/TCban.html

Lagniappe

I do this for my planted aquariums . It a simple matter , just throw some sugar in a bucket of water and add a pack of yeast . of course for aquariums one must bring the co2 to the waters surface for absorbtion or bubble it up the water column in a reactor . In a green house , there is always co2 being produced by soil organisms . But supplemental co2 is great for growth as long as there is ample light . I tried the trough/bucket method with my tillandsias and was amazed by the growth and vigor of these plants . I used two control groups one recieved less light and the plants became strappy or leggy .the other group grew in the exact conditions as the added co2 group but only showed (average) growth .

kgbenson

That will work, and work well if tended to, and the volume of air supplemented is small, but there are some really nice CO2 systems out there that give a more constant flow, and in the end are cheaper, particularly if you factor in your time.

http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/...cts/00-077.htm

Also check out most hydroponics sales sites, there have a host of systems, using bottled CO2, and burning propane.

As to the planted tank - get your mitts on a decent regulator/bottled CO2 system and you will not regret it. I bought: http://www.aquariumplants.com/AQUARI...ST_p/co2-1.htm

the thing is terrific and never needs adjusting.

Keith

__________________
Bee Sting Honey . . . So Good It Hurts
http://www.geocities.com/k2benson/TC...ban/TCban.html

Lagniappe

A regulated system is very imortant with aquariums to keep levels in check and to prevent the spiral of ph that can occur even in a well buffered system . I used the 2liter bottle bit with airline siliconed into the cap and a screw valve on the end . this was very inconsistant and I had to moniter it constantly . In my greenhouses , I just dumped the ingredients and forgot about it ..er...untill I smelled the fermenting sugar .

kgbenson

C'mon, you're making moon shine!!

Party at Lagniappe's!!



Keith

__________________
Bee Sting Honey . . . So Good It Hurts
http://www.geocities.com/k2benson/TC...ban/TCban.html

Lagniappe

LOLLLLLL , I learned how @ fORT jACKSON 89'-90' !

Lilith

Keith, if I still have a pic of the Milky Ways its on a disc we managed to retrieve when the hard drive on the old PC went south. I'll see if I have it

__________________
11/2008 Outer Banks Marathon 26.2, Kitty Hawk NC--3:50
2/2009 5 Points of Life Marathon, 26.2, Gainesville FL--4:00
4/2009 Boston Marathon, 26.2-- 4:38
10/2009 Marine Corps Marathon, DC, 26.2--457
1/2010 Houston Marathon, 26.2--3:55:09
2/2010 5 Points of Life Marathon, Gainesville--415
Halloween Day 2010 Marine Corps Marathon, DC--
2/2011--Austin TX Marathon--

kgbenson

Thank you ma'am.

Keith

__________________
Bee Sting Honey . . . So Good It Hurts
http://www.geocities.com/k2benson/TC...ban/TCban.html

xyzzy

Yes, I'm on my way!

But back to the real subject, don't have any problem in my greenhouse. I don't use it much because I find the space under the Cherry Trees (no wind, so no wind chill so no frost in coastal Devon), far better.

Mind you, I have never thought of it before, my greenhouse (also cheap flexible plastic 8 by 8 by 15ft) is surrounded by a hedge and between the greenhouse and the hedge is my long thin compost heap, so perhaps that might be helping!

My greenhouse (and garden) is also a writhing colony of sandhoppers (crutacians) which devour and shred dead vegetation at a phenomenal rate cutting it into tiny bits, including eating fungus off plants and all sorts and may play a significant part in keeping overwintering plants healthy and clear of potentially rotty bits. It seems they have given up the sea and moved 0.5 mile inland to eat my dead plant residues. All still water in my garden is full of them and every time I turn anything over, a million hop out. The birds sit is wait!

I have seen people selling worms for composting - how awfully slow. You wouldn't believe how quickly dead vegetation becomes compost with sandhoppers!

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There is no such thing as can't grow it - but the determination required may lose you your partner, family and friends - but does that matter?.