How to Make a Greenhouse Work

The purpose of an enclosed greenhouse is to give plants a controlled environment in which to grow and thrive. A working greenhouse controls the interior temperature, light and moisture levels. When an enclosed greenhouse is working properly, these three elements are at an optimum level for growing your plants. If you have an enclosed greenhouse but your plants are not performing as well as expected, you need to look at how well the three major elements are functioning.

Instructions

How to Make a Greenhouse Work

1. Check your venting system. A well-ventilated greenhouse allows for a continuous air exchange between interior and exterior air. Your greenhouse should have roof vents and side vents. These should be free from debris, such as twigs, leaves and bird's nests.

2. Use your vents in concert with each other and with wind flow. Open side vents pull air in, while roof vents pull air out. Open your side vents "into the wind" and allow your roof vents to pull the air through.

3. Check your glass or acrylic cover. The walls and ceiling of your greenhouse are made of either glass or acrylic. Glass allows for nearly 100 percent available light, while acrylic allows slightly less. But if the covering is covered in dust and grime, the light that reaches the plants is filtered, reducing its effectiveness. Thoroughly wash and rinse the inside and outside of your covering.

4. Track the temperature in your greenhouse. When light enters your greenhouse, it is solar energy. It enters as short wave infrared waves and when it is trapped, it converts to long waves. This trapped solar energy is the sunlight your plants need. But if your temperature is too low or too high, it might be that insufficient light or the lack of ventilation is driving the temperature up.

5. Reduce the shade outside your greenhouse if the temperatures are too low. If you have vines growing along all the walls, you might need to either move them or consider growing shade-loving plants in your greenhouse.

6. Provide shade if the temperature is too high. If your summer temperatures are extreme, for example, use sunshades on the exterior to reduce the solar exposure.

7. Look at your plants' leaves. Do they seem wilted or are the surfaces damp? Is the soil clumping or does it absorb too slowly when watered? The humidity could be too high in your greenhouse. Although you expect a higher level of humidity in a greenhouse, the level should not create a stifling effect.

8. Install a small fan or other form of mechanized air circulator to reduce humidity. By forcing air movement, you increase your ventilation. When you increase your ventilation, you reduce your humidity.

9. Install a mist system if the humidity is too low. If your plants are curling up and turning yellow, you need to increase the humidity levels. A mist system installed along the ceiling will work in concert with the vents to provide circulated air that contains sufficient levels of moisture to keep your plants healthy.