Greenhouse Basics

Greenhouse Heating Mats

Heating mats are a great tool for keeping plants at a consistent temperature. They are primarily used for soil and seedlings but shouldn’t be overlooked for very small plants.

There are many options on the market for heat mats today. You can find heat mat thermostats to maintain proper temperatures, and if you are using several mats you can find multi-outlet cords to keep wires tidy.

If your intention is to apply heat to soil, soil heating cables may be the right supply for you. Using a built-in thermostat, the cables heat up the soil every time it falls below optimum levels. Bottom-heating is used to maximize the potency of soil.

You need to consider how much area is heated by each product. A reliable vendor will share a chart showing how much area is heated by each of its products. This is vital information without which can spell disaster for your entire growing operation.

Pest Control Tips for Maintaining Your Greenhouse

Greenhouses provide a warm, humid atmosphere and are home to a variety of different plants and flowers which is why they are a perfect target for insects. There are numerous types of insects which will want to live in your greenhouse and feed off of the wonderful plants and flowers which you have put so much time and effort into maintaining. The information below will provide you with tips and guidelines to follow in order to ensure you are doing everything in your power to ward off any unwanted pests.

The first step in learning how to prevent and eliminate insects from entering into your greenhouse is to understand and become familiar with the types of insects which are likely to reside there. The following is a list of the most common types of insects which you will likely find in your greenhouse:

Research insects that are common problems for greenhouses to find out their vulnerabilities.

● Aphids ● Fungus Gnats ● Flies (many forms) ● Bloodworms ● Thrips ● Caterpillars ● Mites ● Slugs and Snails

Now that you are aware of the different types of bugs and insects which may have taken up residence in your greenhouse, it's time to learn how to prevent and/or eliminate them from remaining there.

Here are a number of things to keep in mind in order to ensure there are no bugs in your greenhouse:

1. Always keep all doors, screens and windows shut when not being used for specific purposes.

2. Inspect all new plants to ensure there are no bugs on them to begin with. Bugs have the ability to multiply quickly and can potentially cause a huge infestation in your greenhouse.

3. Make sure there is no water lying around whether it is in jugs, cups or in a puddle on the floor. Insects are attracted to wet areas.

4. Keep your greenhouse in good, clean condition. Not only do insects like water but they like to disguise themselves under areas of clutter. This also means keeping the lawn around your greenhouse mowed and neat at all times. Many pests reside in weeds, if you keep your lawn cut there will be no weeds for the insects to reside in.

5. Bright colors such as yellow and red attract insects. Try not to wear or display (other than on the flowers themselves) any bright colors which may attract unwanted insects.

These guidelines will provide you with the basic knowledge you will need to ensure there are no unwanted insects in your greenhouse. Now you can relax and enjoy all the hard work which went into creating such an amazing atmosphere.
About the Author

Holly Masters

Greenhouse Accessories

Accessorizing your greenhouse isn't quite the same as accessorizing any other 'room' in your home. Greenhouse accessories aren't a fashion statement - they're functional things like shelves, misters, irrigation systems, covers and heaters that increase the functionality of your greenhouse. What greenhouse accessories should you consider if you're building a new (or refurbishing an old) greenhouse? It depends a great deal on how you use your greenhouse and where it is.

Among the greenhouse accessories you might consider are thermometers and humidity gauges, automatic plant misting systems, plant lighting options, soil sterilization and treatment kits, potting benches, specialty shelving systems that can create mini-greenhouses within the greenhouse, shades and shelters and venting and roof openers.

Potting benches

Now that you have your greenhouse find out what you need to start growing.

Potting benches are one of the most useful greenhouse accessories you'll invest in. Generally, a potting bench has one or two shelves to hold potting supplies like pots, dirt and fertilizer, and a slatted top with a tray to make it easy for you to clean. By keeping all your potting supplies on one easy to move potting bench, you save yourself all sorts of steps and labor and keep everything you need close at hand.

Greenhouse shelving

There are a number of different styles of specialty shelving for greenhouses that can be counted as greenhouse accessories. Grow shelves are aluminum frames into which you can fit seedling trays. Grow shelves often come with UV stabilized plastic covers to create greenhouse conditions within the greenhouse for starting new plants or isolating specialty plants that need different conditions than standard.

Misting Propagation Systems

One of the most important factors for healthy growth and propagation of plants is the moisture in the air. Automatic misters can maintain the high humidity needed by rooting plants. They're available with timers that you can set to mist the entire greenhouse at specified intervals, or with moisture sensors that will send out a cooling mist whenever the moisture content of the air falls below a specific density. A misting propagation system can be one of the important greenhouse accessories in a greenhouse that grows tropical plants, or in which you intend to often start plants from leaf cuttings. There are many choices that can be both affordable and useful.

Rainwater Systems

For the eco-conscious gardener with a greenhouse, rainwater systems allow you to collect rainwater via gutters and downspouts and reuse it for irrigation and watering of your plants. Remember the old-fashioned rain barrel? Welcome to the modern version, which will automatically recycle rainwater for use in your greenhouse.

Lighting Greenhouse Accessories

Grow lights are one way to increase the amount of available full-spectrum light for your plants, particularly during northern winters when days are short. They come in full kits that include wiring, or as individual lights that can be set up for specific purposes.

Whatever the needs for your greenhouse, you'll find greenhouse accessories that are specially designed to fit the needs and help you grow lush, beautiful plants with a minimum of effort.
About the Author

Garry John

Three Things to Consider about Grow Lights

Things to consider when choosing grow lights:

1. Energy Output. Most novice growers don't realize how expensive the energy used can be--it's important to find the most efficient lights for long-term savings.

2. Metal Halide. Metal halide is specially used for leafy-green plants that have a limited amount of growing space. Metal halide lights are best used with plants that receive no direct sunlight.

3. High Pressure Sodium. High pressure sodium lights trigger exceptional budding in plants that receive some sunlight. If you've been looking to add lights to your greenhouse kits, then high pressure sodium is probably the way to go.

Greenhouse Exhaust Fans

When purchasing a greenhouse exhaust fan there are some things you’ll need to consider. Things like where will the fan be positioned? Or where should you place your vents?

For walk-in greenhouses you’ll want to start on the wall opposite the doorway. Position the fan high up in the peak of the roof. Then place two additional fans, 1 or 2 feet from the floor, on either side of the entryway.

When looking to install a fan for cold-weather gardening be wary of heat loss. Precious heat can escape through the ventilation system costing you money and your plants well being. Look for ventilation systems made with heat resistant metal to prevent heat loss.

There are many vendors online you can choose from to find, preview, and purchase exhaust fans.