Exterior
- Aluminum is often the preferred framing material because it is durable, long lasting, and cost effective.
- Glass is usually the preferred covering material, as it is strong, inexpensive and allows for great light transmission.
Interior
- Should facilitate easy movement of workers.
- It is important to maximize space availability for plants to maximize production and profit. This can be done by using:
- Narrow aisles
- Hanging plants
- The flooring in the greenhouse should include:
- Weed mats to prevent the growth and spread of weeds.
- Proper drainage to minimize bacteria growth and flooding of plants.
- Many plants are typically stored on benches. These benches need to provide:
- Air movement
- Water drainage
- Enough space between plants to prevent disease
Environmental
- When the weather becomes cooler, its important to properly heat the inside of the greenhouse. This can be done using:
- Solar energy (this is usually not enough)
- Heating equipment: unit heaters, central heaters, heated metal piping
- Heating benches with piping increases germination rate
- In warm and sunny weather, it is important to provide proper cooling. This can be done through:
- Vents
- Fans
- Fabric shades
- Humidity can be controlled by:
- Reducing temperature and light
- Not watering late in the day
- Fans
- It is important to consider all aspects of the lighting in the greenhouse.
- Intensity: Brightness and Quantity
- Duration: Photoperiod
- Quality: Wavelength
- Increased with fluorescent lights
- Decreased with shading material
The tropical room in the OSU greenhouse uses both fluorescent lighting and fabric shades to regulate the light and temperature.
Irrigation
- It is important for all plants to be watered uniformly so all plants grow at the same rate and to the same size.
- Minimize runoff and water on foliage to prevent disease and decay.
- Manual and/or automatic watering methods can be used, depending on the application and layout of the greenhouse.
- Manual: hoses and wands
- Automatic: overhead, surface, subsurface
- The amount of watering a plant needs depends on many factors, so the worker needs to discern whether plants need water or not.
Growing Containers
- Rooting containers are made of peat to grow seeds and cuttings.
- Bedding plant containers come in multi-celled packs.
- Foliage and flowering plant containers for non-top heavy plants.
- Hanging baskets.
- Square pots help maximize space utilization.
Fertilizer
- Liquid or dry.
- It is important to calculate proper ratio of fertilizer to soil for best results.
- Apply by hand during watering or using hose device.
Insects and Other Threats
- Disinfect regularly to avoid pathogens and disease using:
- Disinfectant mats and buckets
- Pesticides are highly toxic substances, so it is important to do the following.
- Labels must be visible and read.
- Protective gear must be worn.
- All precautions must be taken.
- Use least toxicity possible.
Soil
- Should be thick enough to secure roots.
- Should be able to hold water at roots and drain properly.
- Loose and well aerated.
Sources
Center for Environmental Farming Systems
Missouri Department of Secondary Education