If you’ve already invested in a greenhouse, then odds are you did, like most hobbyists and commercial growers, to be able to control the environment inside for your plants’ sake.
Though temperature is one of the variables greenhouse gardeners try to manage, the more intense summer heat can certainly make it a challenge—especially depending on your local climate.
Despite the rising temps outside, it is possible for you to cool down your greenhouse inside to preserve your plants’ health, as well as your gardening efforts.
For starters, you’ll want to install a min/max thermometer, which will let you know how hot it is really getting inside your greenhouse. Then you can use some of these options below to help cool it off before it reaches damaging temperatures inside.
Shading: Install shade cloth or shade paints to help filter the sunlight’s strength. Opt for the least amount of shading necessary, as your plants still need light to reach their full growth potential. How much shading you will need will be determined by your local climate, your greenhouse design and the light requirements of your plants.
Ventilation: Roof or side vents, exhaust fans and even simply opening the greenhouse door can provide much-needed air circulation in the warmer summer months to help reduce heat build-up. There are multiple options, ranging from passive (opening roof vents to allow hotter air to escape) to mechanical (automated vent openers) that can help control the level of ventilation needed.
Misters: Shading and ventilation will help control the heat in your greenhouse, but the evaporation of moisture inside is what will help keep it cool. Adding a misting system is one way to do this. Using high-pressure water delivery, misters emit very fine water particles, and as they evaporate, the temperature is reduced. Using fans with a mister system can also increase the evaporation.
Damping Down: Another option similar to misting is keeping plants cool in really high heat by using a technique called damping down, which raises the humidity so plants can deal with the higher temperatures. To do this, you would wet hard surfaces within the greenhouses, such as paths and staging. As the water evaporates, moisture levels are increased, which also helps keep pests at bay.
Evaporative Coolers: For dry climates where humidity is below 50 percent, using an evaporative cooler is an option. Most common are fan-and-pad cooling systems, which draw warm air through the pads from the outside by exhaust fans. The pads are constantly kept wet, and the process of water moving from a liquid to a gaseous state helps it absorb a relatively high amount of heat.
Have questions about which option is best for your climate or your greenhouse? Call us today toll-free at 1-800-531-4769 to talk with one of our representatives or visit our website at www.GothicArchGreenhouses.com help your greenhouse beat the heat this summer!