Sunday, 15 September 2013

Greenhouse Misting System




Greenhouses have become important tools in plant cultivation. They provide much needed growing rooms for places which are not very conducive for the development of certain plants. They allow the cultivation of plants in places which could grow these plants normally.





There are many factors which can affect the development of plants inside a greenhouse. The proper balance of air circulation, ventilation, humidity, shading and heating will provide the plants with an optimum environment.





Misting





Other factors will such as ventilation and shading, are important for prevention of overheating in the greenhouse. However, proper misting or the control of humidity is the main factor which maintains a comfortable environment for the cultivation of plants. Evaporation uses up heat when it turns water from liquid into a gas. When the venting process is done, much needed moisture is lost from the greenhouse because it escapes into the air. Misting is one of the ways to replace the lost moisture inside the greenhouse.





The amount of moisture which is needed to be maintained by the greenhouse is dependent on several factors such as the amount of shading and ventilation that is provided, the status of the local climate and the fluctuations in the daily weather. The rule of thumb is that for each 10 square-ft of area, there must be 1-2 gallons/hour of moisture. A misting system will effectively distribute moisture evenly to all the parts of the greenhouse. A good misting system can disperse water in a fine mist, this will prevent the plants from being soaked.





Misting systems reduce temperatures by as much as twenty-five degrees F which is about 14 degrees Celsius.





Here are some facts about misting systems





-Misting systems can be used to disperse water in an ultra fine mist or a very coarse spray. The size of the droplets can depend on the nozzle type, the spacing of the nozzle and the operating pressure.





-Misting systems are used for many different kinds of applications aside from its normal greenhouse chores. They can be used from dust suppression, controlling static electricity control and concrete curing.





-Misting systems utilize pumps which are designed for intermittent or continuous duty. Intermittent pumps are designed to sprinkle water for five minutes and rest for a minute in between misting.





-Misting systems now come with electronic timers which can be programmed to mist 1-14 times a day with each misting ranging from 1 minute to 24 minutes. Other systems can be programmed to mist in shorter durations but more often.





-Nozzles are made from brass or plastic materials. The brass nozzles can be easily affected by minerals that abound in the water supply. The plastic nozzles can tolerate these minerals and can actually repel lime and other deposits.





-The amount of water which is needed to maximize the efficiency of the misting system can be calculated by multiplying the rate of the nozzle flow per minute by the number of nozzles in the system and the result will then be multiplied again by the minutes that the misting system will be in operation each day. This result will be a good estimate of how much water is needed by the system.





-Most misting systems today offer pumps which are almost noise-free. They will not affect the plants and especially the people near the greenhouse.





-Misting systems can be supplemented by an evaporative cooler. They work very well in dry climates (where humidity is below 50%). The air is cooled by around 10-20 degrees by the water which is evaporated because they are drawn through the cooler and then into the greenhouse. Too much humidity can be a problem and this is why people should water the plant only when they need it.





-The use of tools which can measure humidity can also be very helpful for greenhouse enthusiasts.





There are other factors that need to be considered in greenhouse plant cultivation. Misting is just one of them. Misting provides the plants with much needed cooling for the plants.



There are many tools out there that are available for greenhouse plant cultivations which can immensely increase the quality of their greenhouses especially in terms of misting. A cultivator just needs to find out what kind of misting system should be employed for his plants.


Saturday, 14 September 2013

Warming It Up in the Greenhouse




Planting is some places can only be done in during a certain season. Some species can’t survive the cold or hot climate which prompts farmers to rotate this during certain times of year. It is also the reason why some goods such as fruits and vegetables that are ripe during the autumn months can hardly be seen during the summer.





Given that there is a demand for a certain product throughout the year, scientists and farmers have come up with another way to make these grow. These people have decided to grow the crops in greenhouses with the use of a heater to keep it warm.





These machines do not take up the much electricity which only consumes 1.8 to 4.8 watts. It might take more than 2 heaters to do the job in each structure which really depends on the size of the greenhouse.





Since certain plants grow well at certain temperatures, the farmer should make sure that it is set at all times to maintain the growth of the crops. Since the machines are expensive, the person has to choose the ideal heater that is within the budget that can perform the required task.





Some other things to consider are the types of plants to be grown in the greenhouse, the existing weather conditions and the how often will planting be done.





There are many kinds of heater in the market.





The first is the electric heater. This is good for hobbyists because of the small area that is used to grow plants. This small machine does not discharge anything into the air making it safe to use.





These machines are not big and can be placed inside the enclosed structure. Some models are stationary while there are other models that can be suspended on the ceiling.





Another is the gas heater. These machines can be powered using propane and natural gas. This requires the person to have ventilation inside the greenhouse to let the air go out of the structure. This type of machine is costly since the gas consumed has to be refilled from time to time.





The paraffin heater is another type that is used for the greenhouse. Just like the gas heater, it emits smoke into the air which requires the person to have ventilation preferably in the form of a smoke stack on top.





There are other ways to fuel heaters such as using coal and gas. Though these are non-renewable resources, these are the best so far until better ways of generating heat are invented.





The use of heaters in greenhouses allows the farmer to plant almost anything even during the coldest times of year. This gives the people an ample of supply of goods that can be purchased anytime and provides good business to farmers.





Given that farming is not an easy task; the person has to find the right kind of heater to do the job. To ensure that the plants are at the right temperature, a thermometer must also be installed inside the greenhouse.





The use of heaters can only go so far. For this reason, the farmer has to choose the right type of panels to ensure that the heat does not leave the greenhouse. This can be done by using proper insulation that is essential to plant growth.





Seasons change four times of the year and it is for this reason that farmers must be prepared to handle any situation. The use of heaters and a proper ventilation system should be more than enough to give the crops the proper heating and oxygen it needs to grow.





The right heater that is ideal for the plants should be something that a person who does this as a hobby or commercially must have. This will ensure that flowers, fruits or vegetables may produce the same quantity at any time of the year.





There are many suppliers that can provide the right heater to the individual. Those who live in farms shouldn’t have any problems. For individuals who need this at home, the best place to go to will be the gardening shop that carry a wide range of supplies and accessories to choose from.





However, if these are still expensive, then perhaps checking online can give the person better value for money.


Wednesday, 11 September 2013

5 Essential Commercial Greenhouse Equipments that a Grower Must Have



Le serre commerciali negli Stati Uniti sono in rapida crescita. In Georgia da solo, questo grande stato dispone di oltre 11 milioni metri quadrati che contiene tutte le serre commerciali disponibili nell'ambito della giurisdizione dello stato. La brama apparentemente famelica di nuove delle diversità per quanto riguarda la vegetazione e floricoltura industria commercio e commercio è interessata.




Inoltre, con la travolgente crescita della nuova tecnologia, sempre più persone chiedono per il più fondamentale e la maggior parte dei prodotti alimentari naturali. Ecco perché la maggior parte dei coltivatori commerciali serra hanno capito il potenziale che può portare questo tipo di impresa.




Una delle cose migliori di mettere su un business come serra commerciale è che si arriva a godere di doppie gratificazioni. Questo è perché con le serre commerciali, il coltivatore ottiene godere la soddisfazione che egli è in grado di contribuire alla Comunità e l'ambiente allo stesso tempo; Egli arriva a guadagnare un reddito notevole.




Tuttavia, come tanto come serre commerciali possono fornire opportunità di grande reddito per la maggior parte delle persone, che desiderano avere questo tipo di attività, partendo da una serra commerciale non è facile. Questo è perché è relativamente significativo per l'imprenditore fornire la serra con le attrezzature di diritto commerciale serra.




Come si suol dire, un'impresa non può riuscire mai senza gli strumenti e i dispositivi che saranno di aiuto o assistere l'imprenditore nella gestione del business.




Considerando la natura delle serre commerciali, è estremamente importante ottenere la giusta attrezzatura al fine di fornire i necessari requisiti delle piante.




Pertanto, per coloro che stanno progettando di stabilire una serra commerciale, ecco un elenco di alcune delle attrezzature che è necessario disporre di:




1. Riscaldatori serra commerciale




Come qualsiasi tipo di serra, personale o commerciale, riscaldatori sono considerati uno degli impianti più importanti. Questo è molto utile e particolarmente utile durante la stagione invernale, dove la generazione di calore all'interno della serra è quasi impossibile.




Così, al fine di rendere la maggior parte del tuo reddito potenziale anche se è già inverno, cercare di ottenere i migliori nemici commerciali serra. Questo sarà attirare le vostre piante per continuare a produrre di più e, a sua volta, vi darà un profitto di tutto l'anno rotondo.




2. Messa in scena Hard-wearing, altamente durevole serra




Dal momento che si produrrà più vegetazioni o prole rispetto alle altre serre che sono costruite solo per piacere o per piacere, è importante ottenere un'effetto serra in scena che è pesante e duro indossando.




Per esempio, la maggior parte dei vostri prodotti sono posti in pentole pesanti, quindi, al fine di portarli intorno a serra o li trasporta per il tuo camion per la consegna, è importante utilizzare serra messa in scena per il trasferimento più facile.




3. Mensola vassoio seme




Se il vostro scopo è quello di produrre tanti prodotti in un anno come è possibile, è necessario acquisire seme cassetto scaffale o rack. Questo sarà assolutamente risparmiare più spazio all'interno della serra. In questo modo, si arriva a coltivare tanto vegetazioni come potete senza sovraffollamento vostra serra commerciale.




Più si riesce a coltivare piante, maggiori profitti si possono trarre.




4. Impianti di irrigazione




La maggior parte delle serre commerciali sono più grandi e più le tipiche serre che possono essere trovate nel cortile di uno grande. Quindi, l'annaffiatura delle piante può essere molto noioso. Che è perché è importante che si ottiene il vostro hothouse alcuni irrigazione attrezzature che specialmente progettato per gestire il programma d'irrigazione delle piante.




5. Termometri




Grandi serre commerciali anche bisogno di termometri pesanti. Anche se la zona è così grande, è ancora importante gestire e controllare la temperatura all'interno del Conservatorio.




Dal momento che sei commerciale serra, è difficile monitorare la temperatura all day long. Quindi, sarebbe meglio ottenere e utilizzare la temperatura della serra e allo stesso tempo si apre automaticamente una finestra per regolare il calore all'interno della serra. Questi tipi di termometri commerciali serra sono solitamente montati su un dispositivo speciale che robotizzato si apre una finestra, una volta che la temperatura diventa più calda rispetto alla quantità necessaria.




Queste sono solo alcune delle molte attrezzature commerciali serra che dovete ottenere al fine di avere un flusso regolare all'interno della vostra zona. Tuttavia, queste sono alcune delle basi quindi acquistarli sarebbe già assicurarvi una corretta gestione con vostra serra commerciale.


Monday, 9 September 2013

What you Get from Lean-to Greenhouses




Greenhouses nowadays seem to vary in their styles and sizes. He may find large and small greenhouses in environmentally oriented communities. A person can also spend more money to improve his greenhouse.





Most of the time greenhouses come in rectangular forms, rounded and most are attached to the house. The size of the greenhouse does not matter as long it is comfortably built with the allotted space for its place.





A greenhouse can be freestanding or attached to the house. Many also call those greenhouses attached to the house as lean-to greenhouses. These types of greenhouses are very popular to many gardeners who patronize greenhouse gardening. A gardener may build a lean-to greenhouse or a freestanding greenhouse in his own backyard. However, they are different in the aspect of their structure.





A freestanding greenhouse is an independent structure built away from his house. The need to have a main source of heating systems and watering systems are very essential in this type of greenhouse. It may also require its own electricity to power the lights and automated systems on the greenhouse.





Freestanding greenhouses may require a person to spend more money considering the many expenses and high cost materials to build a freestanding greenhouse. On the other hand, a lean-to greenhouse is literally defined to be a greenhouse attached directly to a person’s house. It has the advantages of saving more space to a person’s lot and all greenhouse systems are directly supplied on his house.





He may get instant water, and heating from the lights supplied directly by the electricity of his house. It has also its advantage to preserve the landscape of the property because the allotted space should only require a small portion of the landscape.





Finding a site for a freestanding greenhouse requires many considerations. The site should be constructed with proper shelter and covering. He may also add shadings for hotter climates.





A shade is needed simply because there could be periods where there are warmer months and overheating can be encountered in the greenhouse. The risks of having over exposed plants will be disastrous to a freestanding greenhouse that has no proper sheltering and roofing. It is a wonder why most greenhouses used and constructed are popular for having such disadvantages.





The advantages of constructing lean-to greenhouses, which are commonly seen as attached to a house or a building gives the person the advantage of having enough time to attend to his plants anytime he wants to. The support of the lean-to greenhouse depends on the structure where it is attached. In many cases, they are connected to the walls structure.





He must remember that he must not alter or destroy the style of his house. He may match the style and design of his home to his lean-to greenhouse. He may construct it in his preferred size. The important thing is that the greenhouse should have easy access to the supplies and materials the plants need in order to grow and be maintained.





The most recommended size for lean-to greenhouses structure is an 8 x 12 foot measurement. The roofing should not be higher and wider to the house roofing. He may place a weather resistant wooden covering so that the wall attached to the house will cover the attachment and connection to the greenhouse.





He may also place a ledger wooden board using long screws and he must check if the connection is waterproof. To ensure that no water will flow on the wall connection, he may use flashing glues. It is important to place the lean-to greenhouse on the south wall of the house to ensure more exposure to sunlight. He may choose the option of having the wall vertically proportional or slightly inclined depending on how much sunlight he wants for his plants.





Every greenhouse should be used to its full potential and capability to grow and maintain the plants. He should consider all the factors that can affect the result of his greenhouse gardening. It may not matter on the type of greenhouse he wants to construct, the important thing is that he should always keep in mind his pleasure and fulfillment to grow the plants and maintain the structures and supplies on his greenhouse.


Saturday, 7 September 2013

How Does a Greenhouse Work: The Benefits that Can Be Derived From Its Operations




For people who are fond of plants, flowers, vegetations, and other ornamental plants, having their own greenhouse may be a dream come true.





A greenhouse or conservatory is a type of structure where plants are developed and grown. Usually, greenhouses are made of plastic or glass. This is to allow the natural light coming from the outside environment to permeate inside.





Because of its special condition, many people are wondering why do plants have to be cultivated inside this super special structure, wherein fact, it can be grown outside with the natural forces readily made available anytime, anywhere.





The answer to this particular issue is based on how the greenhouse really works. It is only through the understanding of its full operation that people will appreciate the advantages and environmental use of greenhouses.





Heat It Up





Putting up and maintaining a greenhouse can be a daunting task. However, the benefits that it brings not only to the environment but also to the owner of the hothouse cannot be underestimated. For one thing, greenhouses are perfect cultivating area for people who wish to grow their own vegetable farm or ornamental plants. This means that they have an all-year round supply of these items.





However, some people cannot just identify the real purpose of greenhouses because they believe that there is not so much difference between the outside environment with that of the interior condition in the greenhouse.





They say that light, water, and air are, in fact, readily made available in the natural environment. Inside the greenhouse, lights, water, and air are artificially supplied. They further contend that once the person who is in=-charge of the process has failed to do his job, chances are, the plants will die.





Hence, they insist that it would be better to cultivate the plants on its natural environment rather than locking them up in a glass-made ‘prison.”





The problem with these people is that they do not understand the main operation of the greenhouse that is why they cannot appreciate the goodness of greenhouses. They are not pleased about the benefits that greenhouses may bring.





Therefore, in order to gain the right appreciation of the purpose of greenhouses, here is a list of detailed facts about the real operation of greenhouses:





1. It uses solar energy





Like the natural environment, greenhouses make use of the solar energy as well. That is why greenhouses are made of glass or plastic to allow the natural light to pass through.





2. It converts the solar energy to heat





This is where the greenhouse benefits start. Basically, when the solar energy enters the greenhouse, the heat that goes along with the light are trapped inside the area. Once inside, the heat is distributed throughout the place. This is similar to the condition of a car that is parked in area with direct sunlight.





Have you ever observed that after you have parked your car in an open area with direct sunlight you can still felt he heat being trapped inside your car? Sam thing goes with the light and heat inside the greenhouse.





Generally, when the “electromagnetic radiation” of the sun enters the greenhouse, the things inside the structure like the soil, plants, and other notable material inside the place are being heat up.





Consequently, the materials that make up the greenhouse, like the glass or the plastic trap the hot air or the heat inside the room. Thus, it heats up both the air and the plants inside. Likewise, it also heats up the air close to the ground.





The main purpose of this particular structure of a greenhouse is to prevent “convection.” This is because through convection, heat is eliminated through the presence of fluids.





The main focus of the issue here is that this particular amount of heat should not escape the hothouse in order to proper growth to the plants.





It is for this reason that many people deem it more to cultivate their plants inside a greenhouse because with proper cultivation process as well as the regulated amount of light and heat present in the area, optimum plant growth and development is highly expected.





Indeed, just by looking at it, many people will still question the efficiency of greenhouses. But as soon as they understand the real concept behind eh operations within the area, they will soon realize that greenhouses are absolutely added features for the environment.


Wednesday, 4 September 2013

Hoop House Greenhouse




Having a greenhouse will give many benefits to a gardener, whether he is a mere hobbyist or an expert plant cultivator. However, there are many things to consider in having a greenhouse, not to mention the expenses that come with building greenhouses.





A good alternative is to own a hoop house type of greenhouse. These are very simple greenhouses which can be assembled very easily. There are many advantages in having a hoop house greenhouse, here are some of them:





-Availability of more growing time



A hoop house greenhouse provides a gardener more time to cultivate his favorite plants. An extra 3 to 4 months can be extracted for planting more crops in the greenhouse.





-Inexpensive way to cultivate



Hoop house greenhouses provide an inexpensive way to help greenhouse enthusiasts to get started into cultivating crops.





-Crop protection from predators and extreme weather conditions



Hoop house greenhouses are built to protect plants from different adverse conditions which can be brought about by weather conditions and different crop predators. They provide sturdy and efficient covering for the plants against these factors.





-More varieties of plants can be grown



Because hoop houses will allow longer growing seasons, more varieties of plants can be grown in the hoop houses.





-Increased income and savings



One can cultivate different crops which can be equated into additional income or savings. One can actually sell fruits and vegetables which are grown in the hoop houses or can plant crops which can be consumed by the family, therefore avoiding the need to purchase these from the supermarket.





There are many reasons why gardeners have availed hoop houses for their gardens. Here are some more pertinent facts about hoop houses that should be known by other enthusiasts:





-Most growers recover the cost of building their hoop houses in a single season of planting.





-There are no permits required in building hoop houses since they are not considered as permanent structures.





-The growing seasons can be extended by using hoop houses and several other equipments. Hoop houses usually extend growing seasons by as much as 4 months, but by adding layers of insulating film and an inflation blower, one can extend the growing season more than four months.





-Hoop houses are usually made from galvanized steel. The galvanized hoops serve as the framework for the greenhouse. The material is low maintenance, very sturdy and very economical.





-Hoop houses are characterized by natural regulation of its temperature. There is no need for extra equipments which can be sources of additional costs. The hoop houses are warmed by the natural sun and are cooled by the wind. One can roll the sides up and open the hoop house doors to be able to provide ventilation to the plants inside. This is a very cost effective way of cultivating plants in a greenhouse.





-Hoop houses can be built in places where the winds are prevalent and where snow can be a problem. Hoop houses are built from sturdy frames which are designed to handle heavy winds and can withstand the harsh effects of snowing. One can position the hoop house perpendicular to the winds to maximize the ventilation for the plants. One should also remember to do some maintaining when the snow comes. Occasional brushing of the snow will be very beneficial for the hoop house.





-Hoop houses are quite tall and gardeners can use the vertical space to be able to plant more crops. Adding purlins will allow one to hang baskets, tie up tomatoes and other plants. The baskets can then be used to plant ornamental crops or other types of plants.



-One can customize his hoop house in terms of the creation of doors or windows. The traditional hoop houses have a built-in door and a couple of windows for ventilation.





-There are other functions that hoop houses can do when the planting season is over. They can serve as a chicken coop if one installs poultry netting. They can also be used to grow orchids or other ornamental plants.





-Hoop houses can be relocated easily. Relocating hoop houses can be done without disassembling the structure.





There are many reasons why people turn to hoop houses when they want to have a greenhouse. Aside from the multiple benefits that plants can get from being sheltered by hoop houses, these greenhouses are very economical and won’t dig deep into the gardeners’ pockets.


Sunday, 1 September 2013

Essentials of a Solar Greenhouse






Plant breeding and plant production is a very productive hobby and livelihood. It is good way to earn some living by producing high-valued crops. It is also a good way of contributing to the environment. The best way to sustain this endeavor is to get a solar greenhouse. Read on to learn the basics of the solar greenhouse.





What Is a Solar Greenhouse?





The very purpose of any greenhouse is to collect solar energy whenever the sun shining high. However, solar greenhouses serve a more specific purpose. It is able to do more than collect the solar energy. The solar greenhouse is able to store heat that can be used during nighttime, cloudy days or the cold season. It provides adequate heat that the plants will need for their growth even during the night time or the cold seasons.





The good thing about solar greenhouses is that there are choices to choose from and to suit the needs of the owner.





They can stand alone. This is very ideal for big production greenhouses. The freestanding ones are ideal for commercial production. These are used to produce ornamentals or vegetables. They have two primary designs, the shed type and the Quonset type.





The shed-type has a long axis running from the east to the west. It has a south-facing wall glazed to collect maximum amount of the energy from the sun. The north-facing wall on the other hand is very much insulated to avoid heat loss. These features are what contrast a solar greenhouse from the ordinary ones.





The Quonset type can sometimes look like an underground pit. This is a low-cost greenhouse. It has a Quonset-shaped frame and looks like a tunnel. It has a layer or two of plastic film. This can save as much as 40% of the heating fuel.





They can also be merely attached to the greenhouses, very ideal for backyard use. The attached solar greenhouses are structures that form some sort of a room protruding from a house. This is a good space for transplants or herbs.





Passive or Active





The solar greenhouse is classified into two. It can be the passive solar greenhouse or the active. These two makes use of different resources, but still serve a same purpose.





The Passive Solar Greenhouse





In some places, where colder seasons tend to endure longer, there may be a need to resort to passive solar greenhouse, using gas or electric heating system. This is the only way to protect the plants from getting too much cold.



This is very ideal for growers as it can still give way to so much productivity despite the conditions. The use of heating systems for greenhouses to be cost-effective is best utilized if there are high-value crops to be produced.





The Active Solar Greenhouse





The active solar greenhouse makes use of supplemental energy. It transfers the solar heated air from the storage area to the other parts of the greenhouse.





Designing a Solar Greenhouse





Most would claim that managing and maintaining an ordinary greenhouse does not differ much with the solar greenhouse. However, there are a number of ways that they differ. These are significant distinctions.





Solar greenhouses, unlike the ordinary ones, have oriented glazing to get utmost solar heat, even during winter. Its materials are designed to minimize loss of heat. It uses heat storing materials. It also has insulation especially useful when there is no sunlight. The solar greenhouse also depends heavily on natural ventilation for cooling during summer.





Solar Heat Storage





This is one main feature in designing a solar greenhouse. To remain warm even during cool nights, there must be sufficient amount of solar heat stored. One common method used to store this energy is to put rocks or concrete directly receiving the sunlight to absorb the heat.





Cinder block walls at the north side of a greenhouse are also used as good heat storage. Dark-colored ceramic floorings can also be used to store the heat. Any wall or flooring not used for heat absorption is supposed to be colored light. This should be designed to reflect the heat and light and distribute it to the plants.





The management of a greenhouse can also determine the amount of heat stored. A greenhouse that is full of plants and structures can store heat easier compared to an empty one. Composts can also complement the heat storage goal as they help produce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Furthermore, the microorganisms in the compost also contribute to the increase in plant production.





Some would rely on any structure that would resemble a greenhouse to accommodate the plants. However, to be efficient and cost-effective, aim for the optimum setting in your solar greenhouse.