It is said that a greenhouse is the faithful friend of a gardener. In tuning, he must have some control over various parameters. A good example of this is temperature. Summer temperatures that are too high can slow the growth of indoor plants or even endanger them.
A greenhouse can be kept cool in several ways. Shading, cooling, and ventilation are some of them that help keep the greenhouses from overheating, creating a stressful environment for plants.
You might be wondering how you can keep a greenhouse cool during the summer. Here are some tips. 5 useful tips will be discussed on this subject.
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How Do High Temperatures Affect Plants?
A warm climate can provide excellent yields, but be prepared to deal with its potential disadvantages. High temperatures can cause the following problems:
- As long as they have sufficient water, plants can tolerate temperatures up to 40 °C. Perspiring helps to keep the body cool. The plants may die if the temperature rises above 45 ° C. When plants are young or recently transplanted, they may lose a part of their tissues.
- Our plants can also experience other problems. During high temperatures, pollen viability can decline significantly in tomato crops, for instance. Fruit abortions or poor fruiting can result from this. In addition to chili peppers, peppers, and cucurbits, the same problem can occur in other fruit-forming crops.
- The so-called “sun blow” is another risk factor, as excessive solar radiation can damage the quality of the fruit. It can produce significant losses if the fruit is rejected by the market.
- Cucumbers and peppers, among others, can suffer from skin damage when the temperature exceeds 38 ° C. Tumor necrosis (yellow, brown spots) results from them.
- Last but not least, some diseases are more likely to spread when temperatures are too high. The tomato bacterial spot, tomato bacterial wilt, and tomato fungus, for example.
Because of the dangers of high temperatures, you should try to keep the greenhouse cool.
How Do You Keep a Greenhouse Cool in Summer?
A proper ventilation system
Ventilating a greenhouse is the first step to cooling it from a practical standpoint. Basically, fresh air is exchanged outside with the heat captured inside.
When a greenhouse is ventilated, warm air inside the greenhouse will be replaced with cooler air that comes from the outside. This method can be used to evacuate a large part of the heat overload. This will result in a reduction of temperature and, consequently, a modification of gas concentrations and humidity. In addition to mechanical ventilation, natural ventilation can also be used.
1.Mechanical ventilation
By means of natural ventilation, hot air rises and passes out of the greenhouse through two openings on the roof. Furthermore, two openings are placed in the lower portion of each facade for intake.
As a result, there is a continuous flow of air throughout the entire interior. A large opening of up to 25% of the roof surface is necessary for this type of ventilation. A plant’s air velocity cannot be controlled by this system.
2.Mechanical ventilation
A mechanical ventilation system uses fans, or electromechanical elements, to remove air from the roof. On the opposite wall, there are air inlets coming from the exterior.
In a wet ventilation system, the energy input air is saturated with humidity. A water-soaked fibrous material is used to make large panels in this system. The layout of ceiling fans and air intakes should be adopted on both sides of a very wide greenhouse.
Shading
There is generally a stress climate created when ventilation capacity is limited. During this process, an additional cooling method is used inside the greenhouse. Shading is the most commonly used method. Shade reduces the amount of solar radiation reaching the greenhouse and the plants.
As opposed to reaching a specific light intensity, the goal is typically to lower the leaf temperature. Plants like shade or shaded areas, of course. Light that is too intense, as well as heat it generates, will not be supported.
In addition, it is much more effective at preventing excess radiation from entering the greenhouse.
It is important to prioritize climate and greenhouse economics when choosing a dual-purpose energy shade curtain. The greenhouse structure makes this less expensive.
Whenever a shading method is chosen, retractable shading systems are the best choice. During hot weather, shading can be accomplished in this way. It’s also possible to stop shading when temperatures are not a problem/when available light is a limiting factor.
There is also the option of using chalk, shading paint, or a fixed system of shading. You will reduce the amount of light available 24 hours a day with this system.
This practice isn’t an issue if the amount of light is always excessive. This isn’t an ideal system, regardless of the circumstances. A certain amount of temperature may not be an issue at certain times.
Selecting reflective materials is better than selecting materials that absorb light.
Water Spraying and Nebulization
Sprays of water are distributed throughout the room to disperse drops throughout. A large portion of the solar energy is absorbed by these drops of water as they evaporate. As a result, they cool the environment.
The lack of ventilation in this system makes it inferior to humid ventilation. It is therefore advisable to combine simple ventilation with it.
The spray equipment is very delicate, which is a drawback. With water salts, it is easy for the small holes in the jets to clog.
Water Tank
Located to the north, the dome is kept cool and moist thanks to the water tank. Natural cooling is all the more effective when there is a great deal of water in the reservoir. Water is held inside the dome at a capacity of four thousand liters. The water garden can be used to grow aquatic plants or to breed fish. The reservoir creates a beautiful pool.
Whitewash/Liming
Whitening the walls is one solution. The greenhouse walls and cover are whitened with carbonate, calcium, or lime. The temperature inside can be cooled most cheaply this way.
Although there are many types of shading, this is one that is more affordable, easy to use, and breathable. Spray the lime mixture on the wall after mixing it with water or dishwashing soap (for better adhesion). Remember not to use it on glass walls, as it will deteriorate the plastic wall.
Final thoughts
So, how do you keep a greenhouse cool in summer? In many ways.
Nevertheless, we mentioned some of the best or the most affordable ideas. Gardeners have used them for decades because they are easy to use. Additionally, these cooling methods have been proven to be an essential part of the design of Dome Greenhouses. Vegetables and flowers benefit from them since they help create an ideal growing environment. You will, hopefully, also be helped by them.