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Greenhouse Supplies Buyers Guide

Ventilation

Ventilation is a necessity for any greenhouse. Ventilation serves two main functions a) provides fresh air, and b) greenhouse cooling. Without good ventilation, a greenhouse is just a solar furnace. Greenhouses are designed to store heat from the sun during the day creating a warmer temperature in the greenhouse versus outside of it. This makes cooling a greenhouse on a hot day a difficult task that cannot be accomplished without a good ventilation system. Cooling in the summer can be accomplished easily with a combination of shade, proper ventilation, and an evaporative cooling system like a misting system, fogger, or evaporative cooler. An exhaust fan ventilation system usually consists of a fan setup to blow hot air out of the greenhouse and bring in fresh cooler air inside the greenhouse via intake shutters mounted on the opposite end of the structure. It should be able to make a complete change of air in 1 to 3 minutes (about 1 minute or less for small greenhouses, 2 to 3 minutes is acceptable for large commercial size greenhouses) in summer to keep temperatures in the greenhouse at a reasonable level. Many people use roof and/or side vents to supply fresh air to plants and cool their greenhouse. This is ideal for venting during cold months because fresh air is supplied to plants more gradually than an exhaust fan system reducing any “temperature shock” to plants. Circulation fans are highly recommended for use with side and/or roof mounted vent systems. These fans move air throughout the greenhouse eliminating hot and cold spots, which is useful when venting or heating your greenhouse. The increased air movement helps to expel hot air out of the window vents and provide fresh air for plants. We recommend automating your ventilation system. Failing to vent your greenhouse one hot day could destroy all of your hard work. Thermostatic controls and solar powered auto vents can also maintain a more consistent temperature in your greenhouse, which promotes healthier plant growth.

Misting and Fogging

Misting and fog systems have a variety of uses in a greenhouse. It is important to determine what you want to accomplish with a misting system before purchasing one. Humidity: It is important to maintain a healthy humidity level (50% to 70%) in a greenhouse. This is healthy for the plants and higher humidity levels also help reduce the watering frequency of plants in the greenhouse. When the greenhouse is vented, essential moisture is lost, and plants are more likely to dry out and wilt. Fog and Misting systems with fine nozzles are very effective at this because smaller water particles evaporate more quickly. Evaporative Cooling: Misting systems help cool greenhouses with a fine mist that lowers air temperatures when it evaporates. Smaller nozzles work best for cooling also. Watering: Overhead misting systems are used for watering many types of tropical and foliage plants. Cuttings and seedlings are commonly watered with misting systems or mist nozzles for hoses because watering with a regular wand or watering can may disturb the surrounding soil causing plants to take longer to root. Larger misting nozzles are needed for cuttings and seedlings to make sure the soil is properly saturated. View misting systems

Shading

Shade covers are the way professional growers keep their greenhouses cool during those long hot summers. They block a percentage of the sun’s rays from entering the greenhouse, which can reduce temperatures over 20% alone. Shade covers are relatively inexpensive and also provide shade for plants that don’t grow well in full sun. The amount of shading necessary varies depending on greenhouse design, your local climate, and the light requirements of the plants in the greenhouse. Most greenhouse shade cloths fall in the 45% to 65% shade range. When buying a shade cover remember, more is not always better. Excessive shading can slow plant growth and cause plants to stretch. View shade covers

Heating

The heating requirements of a greenhouse depend on the desired temperature for the plants grown, the location and construction of the greenhouse, and the total outside exposed area of the structure. Much of the daily heat requirement may come from the sun, but if you want your greenhouse to be more than a few degrees above the outside temperature at night, you will need to provide it with a heat source. The heating system must be adequate to maintain the desired day or night temperature. Heating systems can be fueled by electricity, gas, oil, or wood. The choice of a heating system and fuel depends on what is locally available, the production requirements of the plants, cost, and individual choice. Heating requirements for your greenhouse can be determined with our Heater BTU Calculator. If you’re using your greenhouse to start seedlings and root cuttings in the spring, supplemental heating probably will not be necessary. In mild climates, 12′ x 12′ and smaller model hobby greenhouses can be adequately heated with electric heaters (make sure electric heaters are not exposed to water to avoid a dangerous shock). An electric heater is clean, efficient, and easy to install and maintain. Small gas or oil heaters will also work well in hobby greenhouses. With larger size greenhouses and cold climates where temperatures regularly fall below freezing, larger gas greenhouse heaters are most commonly used because it is cheaper to heat with gas than electric in most areas. For safety purposes, and to prevent harmful gases from contacting plants, all gas, oil, and wood burning systems must be properly vented to the outside. Use fresh-air vents to supply oxygen for burners for complete combustion. If you use a gas heater in your greenhouse, it is recommended that natural “indicator” plants like tomatoes, impatiens, and salvia be placed near the heater. These plants are very sensitive to gases produced from combustion in gas heaters and will have malformed leaves and stems and/or prematurely lose flowers before other plants if the gases are not being vented properly. Also, look for safety features like automatic overheat controls when purchasing a heater. Portable kerosene heaters used in homes are risky because some plants are sensitive to gases formed when the fuel is burned. View heaters

Flooring

The floor of your greenhouse is both functional and aesthetic. It forms the surface you walk on and helps complete the image of the greenhouse. The walkway and the area under the benches are usually two different materials. The walkway should form a firm nonskid surface for walking, be easy to clean, and be durable enough to withstand constant moisture and dirt. Common materials used for a walkway include concrete, brick, stone, gravel, wood slats, and ground bark. A porous material that can be dampened to help provide humidity and should allow easy drainage of water usually covers the area under the benches. For under bench areas, consider gravel, sawdust, ground bark, or any other porous material. You will want to lay a sheet of woven weed barrier (ground cover) under the floor covering to prevent weed growth, because weeds harbor many pests and diseases. For more information, take a look at our guide on building a foundation and floor.

Benches

You will want benches in your greenhouse. They make a world of difference in the ease of gardening and add a lot of extra working space to your greenhouse. Benches also provide the area under them with plenty of shade, which is an ideal environment for many plants. Greenhouse bench tops should have an open design, which allows water to drain, and fresh air to flow through them. View benches

Lighting

If your growing area or the season does not provide your plants with enough light, you may need to provide artificial lighting. For detailed information about artificial lights and options available, you can visit our Grow Light Guide. View lighting systems