Green House vs. Sun Porch Addition

[Conscious Midwife]

So we are not "allowed" to have detached portable sheds or property additions in our subdivision.

So I was wondering, functionally, how different would an attached all glass sun room with CHA be from a greenhouse.

I'd want to grow stuff in the sun room and and maybe even have a jacuzzi tub and breakfast nook.

[Conscious Midwife]

hmmmmmm

[Sharon in Colorado]

Sounds good to me. The sun hits through our bedroom this time of year, so we can take a catnap around 1:00 on the bed in the full sun while it's 0 degrees outside and still get a tan!

[Conscious Midwife]

Ok little Picture #1 is what I had in mind and seems affordable plus portable(sell it) if I'm not as in to it as I think I will be. Plus I coulds compost on the side. But no go for the HOA.

Pic #2 is what the neighborhoosd association is ok with. Which I'm fine with their rules, cause without them folks in Tennessee would put their fridges on the front porch with a couch and a widescreen in some neighborhoods.

Pic#3 is what I'd want to put into pic #2 if I had to make such an investment just to grow a bit of food and a few fleurs. I guess what I really need is a Solarium but then the jacuzzi area wouldn't be private enough unless I could hang Roman shades or something for night time relaxing.

By the way what's the verdict are jacuzzi's safe for us to just linger in on a regular basis?!?!?!

[Conscious Midwife]

bumpty bump ;)

[Sharon in Colorado]

Those are all awesome.

I think the jacuzzis are fine as long as you aren't boiling yourself or chlorinating yourself! There are some good alternatives to keeping it clean because it's a relatively small space, unlike a pool.

I am not crazy about the home associations myself. I think they are good for cars on blocks and such but they tend to really go overboard. I'm thinking of Ambers huge dilemna with not allowing her to use a clothesline or have fruit trees. I had another friend who was forced to put up a new fence because the one she had was a few inches too short.

[SwishTN]

Okay,

Your question is whether or not an added sunroom to your porch vs a full on greenhouse would render the same amazing results as an actual greenhouse. And, you are wondering if having a jacuzzi or what not would upset the balance you desire for a green house?

I am just trying to be sure that I and others understand your question....

Although I don't have an answer, I want the desired answer to your question to be clear...

Lauri

[carolg]

Wow, everything is my vote.

I would love to have a greenhouse myself strictly for edibles.

I do have a sunroom that gets super hot except in this freezing weather, when we traded sunshine for snow. NO kidding haven't seen much sunshine here and snow looks like it loves it here too. Shucks. Usually it's very nice in sunroom and great for drying clothes too. You can use Earthboxes and grow plants in the sunroom.

Hot tub: We have one of those too, but I have never used it in 8 or so years so can't speak on its behalf. It's in the sunroom however.

I would want a greenhouse that can be moved if I move too. You may check on the heating expenses, etc. which I can't speak on behalf of via net search. I bet there is a greenhouse egroup on the web. Just the thought of having fresh produce a few feet away in the winter makes it sound fabulous.

Good luck. The pictures look fabulous. Where do you live?
carolg

[paprika]

I don't know if this will help or not; just my sunporch experience. My house is about 100 years old and has a sunporch along the front. It faces south, the best direction to point for sunlight. I'm in Canada, just to give you perspective on the climate and sun exposure. Even in winter, my sunporch can get to 20 degrees celcius during a sunny day. The problem with my sunporch is that it doesn't STAY hot and it doesn't get hot when there's no sun. If it was built by modern standards to keep the heat in I'm sure it would make a perfect greenhouse.

[Conscious Midwife]

Okay,

Your question is whether or not an added sunroom to your porch vs a full on greenhouse would render the same amazing results as an actual greenhouse. And, you are wondering if having a jacuzzi or what not would upset the balance you desire for a green house?

I am just trying to be sure that I and others understand your question....

Although I don't have an answer, I want the desired answer to your question to be clear...

Lauri

You got most of it right.

The concern about the jacuzzi only had to do with personal safety. But I guess it would also provide a great humidity balance.

Sun porch additions don't do much for property values in Tennessee unless they are heated and cooled, plus ample square footage and decor thus making them a Florida or Bonus room.

The rear of our home where I would want the solarium/greenhouse/sun room addition faces southwest. Lots of full on sun, no trees or homes blocking. With a view of an ajoining subdivisions culdesac.

My current deck is the length of 2/3 my home with a gazebo extension.

[Conscious Midwife]

bump bump thump

[puffysmom]

I have a greenhouse and even though it is expensive I love it. Just have a lot of changes to make before next winter to keep the heat bill lower.
If u r going to go with a sun room u will have to have heat but Tenn is not as cold as Wis. I think it would be a lovely addition and prob would add a lot to your home in case u wanted to sell. If u can get more than one use out of it than great. A jacuzzi is nice. I dont think the fumes would harm anything if u used the right stuff in it. If it is safe for your body than i would think plants would be safe also.
I learned that the higher the temp in a greenhouse the lower the humidity so that is a factor to keep in mind. I have a humidifier going constantly. I have orchids along with greens in my greenhouse and now lots of seedlings for the garden.

If u can afford it why not? Just add in the extra $$$ to keep it at a constant temp or at least above freezing. If it is cool on some days the plants will not die but will not grow either. U can grow so many dif things but it takes a lot of planters to keep enough so u dont run out. One can go through spinach in a short time unless u have a lot growing. Also spinach, Kale and some other greens only grow and taste good when in cooler temps. I just learned this spring u can plant spinach seeds outdoors before the snow flies for them to germinate in spring. In summer they bolt and taste nasty.
I don't have all the answers can only give u my opinion. I am a plant loving person and if someone told me they would add on a sun room to my home I would be so happy just so i could grow more stuff even though i have the greenhouse.

[Conscious Midwife]

Thank you puffysmom for your insight and thoughts.

Right now I'm trying to get something going with patio pots on my deck.

The weather has been a bit fickle. a lot of my neighbors just lost a bunch of fleurs because they planted before the last big freeze. It was 80 degrees for days then boom 20 degrees for like 3 night in a row.

Hubby's company just started a 2nd round of lay offs, and he recently interviewed for a promotion that he hoped was a sure thing, he was up against 37 other folks and he didn't get it. So we are trying to rethink our economic strategy.

BOTTEM LINE IS: Major remodeling and/or addition plans are on hold or a minute.


DID get a composter though




Looks like this :)

So far so good.

Between recycling and composting we are down to 1 bag of trash/week and that's or a household of 6 that use o have 5-7 bags of trash weekly.

[Conscious Midwife]

Love my composter and we still have plans for some sort of sun porch, solarium sort of greenhouse. Will be sure to have CHA so that we can count the addition in our square footage.

Tornados and storms have ripped through TN a few weeks ago leaving our awnings and gutters damaged. The insurance company will make it out Wed. so we'll see if we get enough books to begin revamping.

hmmmmm

S MORE SPACES I'M DROOLING OVER

[baltochef]

Greenhouses generally have greater needs as far as both cooling off in summer & heating in winter are concerned..They usually need some form of adjustable ventilation, preferably automatic, in order not to cook your plants to death at the height of summer..

If I had one I would prefer it to have removable panels on both of the short ends that could be fitted with both glass & screened panels in order to regulate the internal temperatures..

If funds are available, then you might consider combining a greenhouse for food & ornamental plants, along with a sunroom for relaxation, dining, & entertaining..

Orient the combination greenhouse / sunroom with a short end up against the wall of the house..Make the structure 10-15 ft. longer than a normal greenhouse..Have the builder add a removable panel wall between the sunroom space & the greenhouse space, so that it could be closed off if you so desired..For instance, if you wanted to keep people out during a party?..

If the greenhouse was 30 ft long, then you could theoretically have two dividing walls set at 10 ft. intervals..Two greenhouse spaces, & one sunroom space..You could set the heating system up so that in the winter there would be three different zones of temperatures for plants with differing tolerances to cold..This would save on heating costs for the greenhouse..

Bruce