At Bloom's Nursery, in the 1950s, various efforts to find an economical way to house and keep various different types of orchids cool lead to some ingenious experiments. Pressure treated lumber was expensive and saran did not allow the air to move sufficiently. One successful idea included a slat house, then many slat houses, constructed from discarded railroad ties, as corner posts, and redwood snow fence as roofing. This cut the suns rays down by about 50% and allowed a free flow of air through and across the growing area. Eventually, Jim Bloom decided using common building materials, water pipe and high- rib lathe, was a better idea. These materials were locally available, with no burdensome shipping cost, or the need to go along the railroad right of way, when the road bed was being rebuilt, and negotiate for discarded ties at $2 each. The following paragraphs became an article presented in 1957 that revolutionized the orchid industry and simplfied one of the most troublesome problems for backyard orchid hobbyists. (After a few letters, Jim Bloom convinced the manufacturer of builders lathe used in the housing industry to advertise and promote it as the basic material for shade houses.)
An important caution: It should be noted that, today, there are two grades of lathe--one is plated with more zinc than the other. Be careful what you buy or your shade house may rust out much more quickly than might be expected! (Thanks go to my father's very good friends at "Mickey's Orchids" for contributing this extra bit of information.)
A more serious caution: Both types of lathe can cause painful injury. Lathe has a sharp edge and is not designed to be user friendly--wear heavy gloves and remember that edges left sticking out can cause damage to clothing and injury to human tissue.
Additional information: High-rib lathe can also be used
like shelving. Bending up the corners adds structural strength, and may
prevent plants from being damaged or ending up on the ground. With our
without this method of reinforcement, attaching sheets of lathe to a frame
made of piping or conduit with 12 to 16 gauge wire or heavy duty tywraps
provides a sound and utilitarian structure. Protect unsuspecting visitors,
children and pets! Do not leave sharp edges sticking out in, or adjoining,
the walkway or in areas where handling of plants and materials might be
done!