Help your greenhouse do what it was designed to do-protect your plants and allow them to grow at an ideal rate. The reason greenhouses work so well is that the environment is entirely contained, and can be optimized to create ideal growing conditions for any type of plant.

One such significant climactic condition is temperature. You need to have the right temperature if you are to realize optimal plant growth. Light is another important consideration. Note that one climactic factor may have an impact on another. For instance, too much sunlight inside the greenhouse can raise the indoor temperature beyond the appropriate levels.

There are a number of things you can do to control the inside conditions of your greenhouse despite whatever outside weather conditions you have to deal with.

a. Control Ventilation – Your greenhouse has two main forms of ventilation; natural and artificial. The natural ventilation is the circulation of air from the outside, flowing in and out through vents and openings. Since the weather is not always predictable, artificial ventilation can be used as well, in the form of fans and louvers, allowing the greenhouses temperature to be set and maintained at a consistent level.

b. Cooling systems – In hot climates, or when hot weather arrives in moderate places, a cooling system will help protect your plants from blistering conditions. There are several different ways to keep your greenhouse cool; two of the most commonly used are pad and fan systems and fog systems. Pad and fan systems work with automatic ventilation or cooling systems. Evaporative pads can be placed at the spots where air enters the greenhouse; as the air passes over the pads, it is cooled and in turn lowers the interior temperature of the greenhouse. A fog system employs a series of nozzles spaced throughout the greenhouse and disperses a cooling mist of water in set intervals. Fog systems may be higher maintenance than their pad and fan counterparts, since the small nozzle openings are prone to blockage.

c. Monitor humidity – The humidity level of your greenhouse should be monitored regularly; your VPD (vapour pressure deficit) level should be between 0 and 1 psi for best results. Why does humidity matter? Because an environment with too much moisture may keep your plants from growing well; it can also provide a good environment for fungal plant diseases and some pests.

d. Shading – Shading is a means of temperature and light control that uses automatically operated shades or blinders. The shades close when there is too much sunlight during the day or if warm temperature needs to be retained in the greenhouse at night. A sensor detects internal temperature and triggers the shades’ opening or closing.

Controlling your greenhouse environment may seem like it can be an overwhelming process. If you take your time and practice I promise it will be a breeze in no time. The end result will be a thriving indoor garden which you will be sure to enjoy all year round.

To find out more about Controlling a Greenhouse Environment. Stop by Jonathan Miranda’s site where you will find tons of free resources for everything you need to know about Greenhouses.