A greenhouse is a great space for growing plants that need protection from the outdoor elements. While a greenhouse in colder climates extends the growing period into winter, a greenhouse for hot climates protects plants from high temperatures and dry air.
12 Easy Ways To Improve Your Greenhouse In Summer
Use these hot climate greenhouse tips and ideas to make your greenhouse more comfortable for you and your plants all summer.
1. Manage Your Greenhouse’s Humidity Levels
Managing humidity in a greenhouse can be tricky. Humidity levels often get very high in these enclosed spaces. Too much moisture can lead to infections. To reduce humidity in your greenhouse, you can use vents, fans, and dehumidifiers. Other measures that help include eliminating standing water and properly spacing plants.
2. Keep Greenhouse Plants Well Watered
While excess humidity can be harmful, so can too little water. Greenhouse irrigation requires careful balance. You can water plants by hand, but it might be worth investing in a drip system for efficient watering that doesn’t create too much humidity in the air. Other tips for watering greenhouse plants include keeping plants with similar water needs together and installing a rain collection system to save on watering costs.
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3. Grow Vines For Greenhouse Shade
If you’re using your greenhouse for summer but it gets very hot, consider shading it with vines. Of course, if you are still growing plants in it, don’t let the vines completely cover the greenhouse. Strategic growth of vines like clematis, hops, or even grapevines can lower the temperature inside without totally blocking out the sun.
4. Keep On Top Of Greenhouse Supplies & Essentials
Make sure you have everything you need for summer in the greenhouse before the busy season begins at garden centers. Some must-haves on a greenhouse supply list include potting soil and mix, seed starting containers and larger containers for transplants, stands for setting plants, plant food, and cleaning supplies.
5. Control Disease In A Greenhouse
Disease can be a serious issue when a lot of plants share one space inside a greenhouse. Prevention is the best medicine, so take steps to avoid common greenhouse diseases in the first place: choose disease-free transplants and disease-resistant seeds, space plants appropriately for air flow, manage humidity, and avoid overhead watering. Move quickly if you see signs of disease and treat or dispose of the infected plants.
6. Prevent Powdery Mildew In Greenhouses
Mildew is a fungal infection that can easily get out of control in a crowded, humid greenhouse. Powdery mildew grows on plants as a fuzzy white substance. Keep relative humidity below 93%, space out your plants, and keep the greenhouse clean to prevent infection and its spread. If you do see powdery mildew in your greenhouse, try fungicides or destroy the affected plants.
7. Keep Your Greenhouse Clean All Summer
Cleanliness in the greenhouse is essential for enjoying it in summer but also for plant health. Clean and sanitize the greenhouse before bringing in any plants. As you grow plants, keep surfaces and tools clean and avoid letting dead plant matter collect.
8. Extend Your Summer With A Greenhouse Lean-To
Many greenhouses are separate structures, but a lean-to greenhouse is an addition to a home. It is typically transparent on three sides and on the roof and shares one wall with the house. This is a great way to extend the growing season. Depending on your climate, you may be able to enjoy a lean-to greenhouse well into fall, early in spring, and even in winter.
9. Manage Pests in the Greenhouse In Summer
As with disease, greenhouse pests can quickly become a problem in the summer. Take all possible steps to avoid bringing pests in. Even with all precautions, you might see insects inside. Look for signs of common greenhouse pests and deal with them early: aphids, mealybugs, scale, thrips, and gnats.
10. Create A Greenhouse Summer Spa
A greenhouse isn’t just for plants. It can also be a great space for people to enjoy. Consider turning your greenhouse into a spa with running water and a hot tub. What better place to enjoy a soak than with all your favorite tropical plants growing around you?
11. How to Keep a Greenhouse Cool in Summer with a Shade Cloth
The optimal greenhouse temperature depends on the plants you grow, but even for heat-loving tropicals, the space can get much too hot in summer. Use a greenhouse shade cloth specially designed to reduce temperatures. Shade paint for a greenhouse is an alternative to a shade cloth. This is a special kind of paint that lowers heat but does not significantly reduce the amount of light plants need for photosynthesis.
12. Types Of Greenhouse Ventilation
Ventilation in a greenhouse is a must for being able to control the humidity, air flow, and temperature. Natural ventilation is a simple matter of having windows you can open and close. Fan systems give you more precise control.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Can I Maximize My Greenhouse?
Maximize the space in your greenhouse with shelving to stack plants vertically. You can also use hooks to hang plants from the ceiling.
How Can I Increase The Yield of Greenhouse Plants?
Increasing the yield depends on what you’re growing. In general, you can get more production by optimizing their growth parameters. Add grow lights, for instance, and use temperature and humidity controls for the ideal environment for particular plants.
