- Joined
- Nov 7, 2012
- Messages
- 5,172
- Location (City and/or State)
- South of Southern California, but not Mexico
Hey all,
I'd like to get some of the more tropical tortoises outside year round. I have some constraints.
1)Climate, we get many days in the winter, about six to 8 weeks, where overnight lows get in the low 40'sF and every dozens or so years, I hear mild frosts.
2)Aesthetics, a giant greenhouse would be less 'sellable' a backyard installation for my wife.
I can use a night house for the cold overnight periods, most days will get into the 50'sF even if no sun (foggy or overcast). But I am thinking a greenhouse with the double wall plastic would warm up and hold some heat maybe getting high 70's to low 80's.
It seems to me it would work even better if the greenhouse was only four fete tall, (heat rising etc.) than say a ten foot greenhouse. I am also thinking a smaller air volume might be easier (less expensive to heat as well if I applied some sort of heating device.
Foot print will be no less than 10 x 20 feet.
So, how to access and maintain a low ceiling greenhouse? In the summer I could just 'fold' or hinge, the ceiling up, or have removable panels?
The whole structure will need to be walled with 1/2 by 1/2 wire cloth. There are local rats in abundance.
I had been thinking about just building a tall, 7 foot height, 'aviary' and covering it with plastic each winter, but I know the local aesthetics police will not allow such.
I have failed to find any images or plans already on the internet, even that would be a help.
Any ideas?
I'd like to get some of the more tropical tortoises outside year round. I have some constraints.
1)Climate, we get many days in the winter, about six to 8 weeks, where overnight lows get in the low 40'sF and every dozens or so years, I hear mild frosts.
2)Aesthetics, a giant greenhouse would be less 'sellable' a backyard installation for my wife.
I can use a night house for the cold overnight periods, most days will get into the 50'sF even if no sun (foggy or overcast). But I am thinking a greenhouse with the double wall plastic would warm up and hold some heat maybe getting high 70's to low 80's.
It seems to me it would work even better if the greenhouse was only four fete tall, (heat rising etc.) than say a ten foot greenhouse. I am also thinking a smaller air volume might be easier (less expensive to heat as well if I applied some sort of heating device.
Foot print will be no less than 10 x 20 feet.
So, how to access and maintain a low ceiling greenhouse? In the summer I could just 'fold' or hinge, the ceiling up, or have removable panels?
The whole structure will need to be walled with 1/2 by 1/2 wire cloth. There are local rats in abundance.
I had been thinking about just building a tall, 7 foot height, 'aviary' and covering it with plastic each winter, but I know the local aesthetics police will not allow such.
I have failed to find any images or plans already on the internet, even that would be a help.
Any ideas?