How To Use A Greenhouse

For those who have a passion for gardening and are tied down to a region with long lasting cold winters and very short summers, resorting to greenhouse is an inevitable option. Essentially composed of glass or plastic, a greenhouse is a massive awning of sorts erected with the sole purpose of stimulating steady growth of vegetables and plants. Not all climatic conditions are suitable for pollination, which is necessary for flowers to bloom and so on. Thus, adjustments are made through the use of a greenhouse, which is typically heated with the solar radiation emanated from the sun. This is largely beneficial in case of warming up the plants and soils. Thanks to the magnificence of a greenhouse, one doesn't have to restrict choices of plants and flowers to suit the climate of the particular location, as climatic conditions can be reasonably altered by the reserved heat. Now the major challenge lies in using a greenhouse. You will be delighted to learn that it isn't a very difficult task. Keep reading this article to get into the details of using and maintaining a greenhouse.

 

 

As we are aware of the several benefits of harbouring a greenhouse, it is imperative that we select a location which is entirely clean and devoid of any pollution. Ensure that your greenhouse receives as much winter sunlight as possible. Do not forget to take into consideration important factors, such as how the angle of the sun changes with the seasons and whether the growing trees will shade the greenhouse in the future. It is recommended that you align your greenhouse in such a way that the long side faces southwards. This angle of roof guarantees that maximum winter sunlight is captured and that there is minimal loss by reflection.

 

It is your responsibility to ensure that ample space is allotted to the greenhouse. Apart from housing a large array of potting plants, sufficient space for you or your gardener to move around is essential. Do not be hasty while allocating the space, as you may skip out on the need to accommodate a sink or gardening tools. The height of the benches and so on must all be taken into account before you create your greenhouse.

 

As long as the rays of the sun keep striking, the greenhouse is equipped to produce plentiful heat for the plants! However, once the greenhouse starts producing more than the required heat, ventilation is required to avoid overheating. Hence, you should insert a thermometer somewhere around the centre of the greenhouse so that you can monitor the temperature every now and then.

 

The plants essentially sustain at a temperature of about 60 to 70 degrees F. If the temperature escalates to 80 or 90 degree F, ascertain that you compensate for the rise in temperature by ventilating the greenhouse. This can be achieved by allowing air to circulate freely among the plants. Open up a door or so of your greenhouse and leave it that way for adequate air to course in. You can also cool the greenhouse by opening your ceiling vents.

 

Always include sand, peat moss, perlite and vermiculite into your soil mixture. Fir bark is crucial for drainage. Since watering too much in a climate controlled greenhouse causes death amongst many plants and seedlings, it is mandatory that you water the plants only when the soil is dry. Study the watering requirements of your particular greenhouse and incorporate this into your daily gardening regimen.  

 

The greenhouse should be disinfected on regular basis with a scrub brush and a mixture of diluted bleach. However, be careful not to drop any of this on your plants. Let the fumes out as you open the vents and scrub the walls with clean water.