The Profitable Greenhouse

Initially, the first year of greenhouse operation, I had it set up as a two bench style of greenhouse.

The benches measured 3 feet wide. I placed them along the sides of the greenhouse on both sides of the middle aisle.

When our greenhouse grown plant business started to thrive, and more and more orders were coming in, I needed to add additional space to the greenhouse. To keep up with the orders, I decided to switch the layout to a double deck bench system. Not only did this increase the useable space, it helped solve the problem with shading.

To achieve a double deck bench system, isn’t very difficult. I got two benches which measure 2 feet wide, and have legs which make them stand 2 feet high. I then put one of these benches on top of each of the original benches I already mentioned previously.

In order to help control any dripping which may occur, I put 3 inch deep galvanized steel metal trays into each one of the top benches. Not only did adding these benches give me more work space, they provided some needed shade to the lower level benches.

The increased shaded sections made an ideal place to grow African violets. For the plants that preferred to have lots of sun, there was plenty of room for them too. All the space on the upper level benches and the benches closest to the south side glass, were being provided with direct sunlight.

An additional and unplanned aspect to having the greenhouse laid out this way was it helped to prevent the plants from becoming overcrowded. In order to get the best results from your plants, in terms of symmetry and health you need to ensure you give your plants ample room to grow. Also, the increased space allows better air circulation. This will help to fight against fungus and other plant diseases.

In your greenhouse, you may work out the use of space a little or a lot differently. It always depends on what you want to grow and also on the limitations your particular site may have as to light. It’s usually a good idea to solve some of the space problems gradually as experience indicates.

On the south-side, top-deck bench, I place potted seedlings of gloxinias (hybrids from crosses involving gloxinias and rechsteinerias). Here, too, I place starting tubers as well as plants which have finished flowering and are ripening seeds. On the north-side top deck, I set flats of episcias and rooted glox-inera cuttings. Trailers such as aeschynanthus, columnea, cissus, ceropegia (rosary vine), and plectranthus take up little space and do a good job of covering the sides of the galvanized tray.

On the lowest bench, close to the windows on the south side, I have slipper gloxinias and their South American relatives, the red- and orange-flowered rechsteinerias, as well as more gloxinias, a few species amaryllis and pink polka-dot plants. The rest of the first-level bench area, shaded by the top deck, is devoted to African violets. Additional space is gained by hanging baskets from the ceiling. I plant kohleria, columnea, and some orchids in these. I think hanging baskets always make a greenhouse more attractive.