Re: Orchid house and potting shed

gredonmanor

I had a lightbulb moment when i wanted to grow orchids and needed a designated area to grow them. I had a vision and my husband made it happen. Haven't started growing orchids yet but glass house is a wonderful place for growing herbs and it makes a great potting shed. I listen to my music and waste away the afternoon propergating more plants that I don't need, (of course I do, can never have enough plants)🤭

Materials

It is hard to list all the individual materials we used, however we made many a trip to bunnings to get all the things we needed or thought we had already. From paint stripper and paint for doors to rapid set concrete for setting framework into holes. Numerous size nails and screws to join it all together. Tinted laserlite for roof and white shadecloth to replace broken glass panels and to allow ventilation. Mesh on back wall for vertical garden system and variety of herbs.

Tools

It is hard to list all tools used to construct glasshouse as I'm sure we used nearly everything we had already. From shovels, drills, bench saw, level and hammers to name a few

Steps

Step 1

Started with old glass doors and a vision

Step 2

Finding a place in garden to build glasshouse. Removing plants and levelling ground.

Step 3

Holes dug and timber framework concreted in place and starting to fit doors. Each door having to be fitted separately, as being old used doors none having perfectly straight angles.

Step 4

Starting to build roof on an angle to allow for ventilation and covering with laserlite

Step 5

After finishing the roof it was time to attach some metal framing on back wall to hang a vertical garden for the herbs and to cover any broken glass panels with white shadecloth or thick plastic.

Step 6

Time to add heaps of bling, solar lights and any bits and pieces I've accumulated over time. I've now planted hippeastrums around outside and 2 climbing roses. Bring on spring

MitchellMc

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @gredonmanor. It's sensational to have you join us and many thanks for sharing your amazing project.

What a fantastic orchid house you've created there. I love that you've used recycled doors, and they've come up a treat. I can see why you enjoy spending time in there, as it really is a sensational space; I trust the plants love it, too! Was there much of a temperature change achieved?

Thanks again for sharing, and great work.

Mitchell

gredonmanor

Hi Mitchell thank you for your kind words. As glasshouse has only been finished since easter I haven't had the chance to experience any of the hot days or snakes we have in Victoria's north west. It has survived a massive rain storm and hail. When summer arrives I'm sure Bunnings will have solar or battery powered fans that will help with circulating the air inside. Cheers Donna

Dave-1

Afternoon @gredonmanor

Wow! There is always something new in here I actually found your project via a Bunnings community facebook post! I dont know how I missed it before lol But so worthwhile having a look now.

You have done a brilliant job, love the reuse factor and the utilisation of it! How did you accomodate the doors not matching up so well?

Since you have built it would you change or install anything extra?

I want a room like this but more for an outsed room with a raise dfloor You have put it back towards the top of the list of things to do! Very nice idea and work.

Dave

gredonmanor

Hi Dave, thank you for your kind words. Once we had doors sanded, painted, broken glass replaced with white shadecloth (to help with ventilation) and lots of tweaking to what door goes where it just seemed to all fit together. Also i made sure i had 2 extra doors of different sizes in case something went wrong. It also helped to have a planer to trim doors for better fit. There is nothing I would change with design however the orchid idea is no longer. Used for potting and all my gardening bits and bobs are all in one place . I have put solar lights outside and solar exhaust fan inside and lots of bling. It is now part of garden not just a stand alone structure. I hope you get to build you own glass house . Keep your imagination glasses on and it will happen. 😎 Cheers Donna

Dave-1

Afternoon Donna

Good to see its still being used, One last question, more of a general knowledge for anyone else that may reuse the doors idea. Did you find it hard to replace the broken glass segmants? (I like the idea of the spare doors btw)