So, what’s go? Do you buy or build your Shade House?
Well, I guess it all depends on how many plants you have, how many plants you want and how serious you are as to whether you need a Shade House. It depends on your goals!
Most start out growing their Cym’s under a tree, or pergola. Whilst this is not regarded as super ideal, so long as your plants receive good, filtered light (50% to 70% shading) and very regular watering, many will achieve good results.
But make no mistake, you won’t end up buying just 5 or 10 Cyms. Your collection will grow and grow. And it will get out of control faster than you can say ‘I really need a shade house’!
Let’s face it, the backyard Cymbidium orchid enthusiast usually spends all their hard earned on new plants. And a space to grow them is usually left until there is just nowhere left to fit them all in! This leads to Cymbidiums that can flower infrequently or have other issues. Not ideal!
So what do you do then?
Do it Yourself Orchid Shade House
I’m a DIY kind of guy. I’m handy, I’m an engineer, I’m a perfectionist, and I like to build things! And I like to get my monies worth. I like value!
And I especially don’t usually like conforming to someone else’s measurements that don’t end up using my space effectively and efficiently.
So, when I built our house, I built my own seedling shade house at the same time. Built with a timber frame, I designed my shade house to fit within a certain space and make good use of that space. It totals about 25 square metres. It’s small but it isn’t the only space I have to grow my Cymbidium Orchids. I even matched the roofline slope with the house, as pictured here, so it fit in and looked a little bit fancy!
It is clad in 50% black shade cloth to give it just enough sun protection in Summer and not too much in Winter. The two long sides face east and west, and the front short side to the north, where most of our sunshine comes from. We get no sun from the south, so it butts up against the house in this direction. Remember when designing your space, Aspect is everything!
Remember that your Cym’s really do need as much sunlight as you can give them without burning them. And placement of a shade house is important. Make sure there are no shading trees around it and it receives full sun during the day, otherwise your Cymbidium orchids will end up with too much shade, and might not flower.
HOWEVER…….very quickly did I come to the conclusion that my new shade house was WAY TOO SMALL!
I really don’t know what I was thinking, other than it fits the space really nicely and is awesome to raise seedlings in. To be honest, I really needed something 5 times the size I originally built, at least!
Building your own shade house will give you a great sense of achievement. You can build it to your own measurement specifications and you can spend how much you want to doing it. There are plenty of shade house plans on the internet, but I say be a bit brave and make it all yourself!
Personally I use a 50% shade cloth. I believe any more will shade your plants too much during the winter months. You need as much bright filtered light as you can get to encourage a Cymbidium to flower. And to that end, I go to the extent of removing two sides of my shade house (the eastern and northern) during winter to bring in more light. It’s a bit painful, but it’s worth it in my mind.
But, for those who don’t have the skills, or the ability, or mobility to build, then it’s time to look at some of the alternatives on the retail market.
Buying a Retail Orchid Shade House
Below is just a very small selection of the variety that can be found on the retail market. There are plenty more so jump onto the internet and and have some fun looking at what is possible! And how to break the budget
Australia/New Zealand
Winter Gardenz
Based in New Zealand, Winter Gardens have a similar style of shade house as other manufacturers and certainly look impressive. Made in Australia and New Zealand, they use 4mm toughened safety glass with a 25-year warranty, or a 6mm twin wall polycarbonate, a rust-free, powder-coated matte black aluminium frame and it’s engineered for our climate.
Their shade house range is widely available in Australia. With numerous size options, there would be one to suit almost everyone. They provide glass or polycarbonate or shade/mesh options and also manufacture shelving/staging kits, and other related products. There are even multi-zone options if you need more flexibility.
You can also easily raise the greenhouse onto a dwarf wall (timber or brick). And add internal doors to create a dual zone house.
This product looks pretty impressive but it is at the top end of the budget.
However, it is impressive enough that I will be ordering an Elite Stonewall Glasshouse very soon for more growing space in the yard. So far their pre-sales service has been great, with timely responses and good explanations, assistance with planning and on how things go together. I also met with the guys at the Melbourne Flower Festival and chatted to them about the plans.
This product seemed to me to be the best on the market, at least for my needs and wants.
I’m an annoying perfectionist, and I want the things I want, and I felt Winter Gardenz was the one that fit my requirements better than the others.
Keep an eye on the Orchid Wise Facebook page and also the website for another article on the Winter Gardenz glasshouse and blow by blow details on the construction of this eagerly awaited addition to the yard!
I can’t wait to install one of these and show you guys how it looks!
Sproutwell
Based in Australia, Sproutwell manufacture glasshouses, greenhouses and shade houses. I believe the product is manufactured in China and shipped to Australia. They have quite the range of products and seem to be well manufactured. They also provide a multi-zone options if you need more flexibility.
Sproutwell will also supply internal staging and shelving to match your house as well as other useful accessories to fit.
You can also raise the Greenhouse onto a dwarf wall (timber or brick) and add internal doors to create multiple zones. Check out their web site to view all the options and accessories you can get to set up a really cool structure.
Also available is a shade mesh panel shade house more suited for Cym growing. It is unclear what the shade rating of the mesh is, so best to ask that question of them.
All the reviews and feedback about this manufacturer are really good, and their product looks pretty good for the price. Certainly a good option for the hobbyist!
Aussie Green House Shade & Hot Houses
These guys have a slightly different approach to the backyard shade house.
The shade houses and greenhouses have commercial grade shade cloth in varying colours and coverages as well as built-in shelving systems and are easily adapted for all seasons.
They can be rain and frost protected in winter and shaded in summer, and the conversion only takes a few minutes. This makes them very versatile and also very durable by the look of them.
Their kits are DIY when it comes to assembly and installation, with only a rubber mallet, drill and screwdriver needed.
A neat solution for a moderate to large sized shade house.
Should be super simple to construct, not to mention quick.
Garden Master
Again, Garden Master have a different take on the backyard shade house.
Made from steel and 50% shade cloth that comes in different colours. This product comes as a flat pack for you to assemble and tiered plant stands to suit are available.
Suited to a small backyard or even a courtyard, this would suit the beginner with a limited amount of space and a small number of plants, without the desire to amass a huge collection!
Made in South Australia, they are available from numerous stockists listed on their site.
Envirotec
Protectagrow Enthusiast Shade houses & Tunnel houses.
Envirotec have a range of standard sizes available they are constructed with heavily galvanised weldmesh or pipe. To finish off they are covered with premium commercial grade shade cloth or horticultural grade plastic films.
With integrated shelving and a reinforced roof to carry the weight of hanging pots, this is another really great option for the backyard enthusiast.
They are a neat, and cheaper option to satisfy your Cymbidium orchid obsession.
EnviroTec also provide some impressive commercial shade houses too!
United States
GrowSpan Estate Deluxe Backyard Greenhouse
The GrowSpan Estate Deluxe Backyard Greenhouse is an attractive, budget-friendly structure that can complement any property, transforming your outdoor space and allowing you to grow orchids all year round.
It comes outfitted with 6mm polycarbonate panels, supporting improved plant growth with greater insulation and light transmission. Employs attractive, heavy-duty black aluminum frame and galvanised steel base for reliable protection in harsher weather conditions and adjustable roof vents.
Growspan have other shade house styles available also.
Little Cottage Co. Colonial Gable Greenhouse
If you are looking for something a bit more colonial and housey, and a personal refuge, try one of these from the Little Cottage Company!
It comes in many different sizes and features a corrugated polycarbonate roof and panelized wall sections for easy installation. Designed to give you the space you deserve and space for your plants to enjoy.
This is obviously much better to look at than some of the options available, and adds another layer of class to your simple plant house!
Shade Structure
For something a bit simpler, more basic and more cost conscious, try something like this.
Available from places like Gothic Arch Greenhouses or FarmTek, or you could and DIY one of these yourself! It really isn’t too hard to do and you’ll be well pleased with yourself afterward!
And one last mention – Hartley Botanic
And finally, to the grand daddy of them all, and my all time favourite, the Hartley Greenhouse! My ultimate dream and goal!
A Hartley is probably well out of the price range of most, including me, but they look awesome! I don’t think I need to talk about these too much as a picture is worth a thousand words, so I’ll just leave this here….!
