How to Equip a Greenhouse
A greenhouse allows plants to grow in a controlled environment no matter what the temperature is outside. Greenhouses allow sunlight in, the key component for growth, but all other environmental systems must be controlled. A greenhouse needs equipment to assess temperature and to control heating, cooling, ventilation, air circulation, water, and humidity. All systems should be tailored to the growth requirements of the plants within the greenhouse, so it is best to select plants with similar needs.
- Difficulty:
- Moderate
Instructions
Things You'll Need
- 220-volt circuit electric space heater
- Ceiling fan
- Misters
- Drip line
- Thermostat
- Humidistat
- Hydro-thermometer
- Soil thermometer
- Exhaust fan
- Timers
-
Greenhouse Equipment
-
1
Install a heating system. Twenty-five percent of a greenhouse's heating requirement will be met by sunlight, but temperatures must be held consistent night and day. To keep your greenhouse warm during freezing winter nights, you can use a 220-volt circuit electric space heater. Other good possibilities include small gas or oil heaters that can be installed directly into the greenhouse masonry (like a home gas fireplace) and may contribute necessary carbon dioxide to enhance growth. Solar panels are not economical and require too much space to install for a small home greenhouse. A crafty heating solution is to paint containers black and fill them with water. The black color absorbs heat, which is retained by the water. The containers will not be sufficient alone but can help defray heating costs.
-
2
Install a circulating fan, ventilation system, and cooling system (if necessary). A fan is necessary to keep temperatures uniform throughout the greenhouse. Ventilation systems, such as louvered roof slates or exhaust fans, remove excessive moisture, control temperature, and add atmospheric carbon dioxide (to enhance plant growth). A cooling system counters excessive heat buildup from sunlight and will be necessary if you operate the greenhouse all year long. A cooling system can be as simple as shade cloth to cover up greenhouse panels or building the structure near trees.
-
3
Install a watering system. Hand watering is the best system, but some plants may require watering at inconvenient times, such as 5 a.m. on Sundays. Automatic watering systems are convenient but require timers and maintenance to ensure proper functioning. Watering systems include misters and drip lines.
-
4
Install monitoring systems. All environmental systems have to be monitored to keep a greenhouse at the right temperature, humidity, and air quality for plant growth. Monitoring systems include a thermostat, which should be shaded from the sun, kept at plant height, and exposed to constant air flow to get accurate temperature readings. A humidistat measures and controls relative humidity in the air and keeps it at the right level for your plants. Other necessary monitoring equipment includes a hydro-thermometer, which measures water temperature, and a soil thermometer, which measures soil temperature; both may or may not be necessary, depending on the kinds of plants you are trying to grow.
-
1
