Greenhouse Essentials

Many people will buy a greenhouse thinking that they will be all set with just that. There is a lot more that you will need to use your greenhouse most effectively and I hope that this article will help you start your greenhouse gardening off right. Water

A greenhouse is not a self-sustaining environment. You are going to need either a schedule that allows you to carefully time your watering cycle or you had better get an automatic watering system. Some types of plants require overhead watering so a suspended sprinkler system on a timer will do just fine. Other plants don’t like water on their leaves and should have a drip hose running across their roots. Of course you can get more complicated than that but there are the two simplest solutions. The right watering set up and a hose timer is all you should need to ensure your plants get the water they need.

Storage

One of the worst things we can do is accidentally turn our new greenhouses into storage sheds. Keep the tools and supplies either in your basement or garage. If you have the space in your yard I would suggest getting an actual garden shed so you can keep everything neat and organized while also keeping it all just a few steps away. Wood storage sheds are a great addition to any garden but are really useful with greenhouse gardening.

Heat

A greenhouse gets hot. That’s part of the point. Make sure to get an accurate thermometer which can be calibrated so you don’t accidentally cook your plants. I suggest digital and remote with a fast refresh rate so you can quickly check the ambient temperature without even leaving your hou se.

Air

On some really hot days the vents just aren’t going to cut it and you’ll need to move some air quickly before you plants wither and die. For this you need greenhouse fans that can survive the moist environment and move enough air that they will actually have an effect. If you want to go more advanced you can set the fans up on a temperature dependent switch so they kick in if it ever gets too hot.

All in all, having a greenhouse is as simple or as complex as you want it to be. Having these bare essentials ready when you start will make the whole process a lot easier. You will want a watering system, proper air circulation, thermometer and storage sheds eventually so why not start off a few steps ahead and save yourself the hassles that come from not having them.