Heating Needs in a Greenhouse

Scientists have proven that the optimal growing temperature for most plants is between 50°F(10°C) and 85°F (29.4°C). This is a big temperature range and your consistent temperature target is really dependent upon the type of plants that you are growing in your greenhouse. If you have mostly seedlings then it is useful to note that seedlings thrive in warmer temperatures. If you have mostly mature plants then aim for a cooler temperature target. If the temperature gets above 85°F (29.4°C) then you will get plant growth problems such as slower growth and flower drop which will prevent flowers from setting and producing fruit. If temperatures get too low you will see much of the same problems as when the temperature gets too high. Temperature is vitally important to plants as it affects everything in their life cycle; photosynthesis, cell division, water intake, nutrient uptake, etc. It is thus, vitally important that we manage the temperature in a greenhouse so that we can assist our plants to grow at their maximum potential.

Here are four ways to supply a heat source to greenhouses; portable heaters, hot water pipes, wired in electrical heat or solar heating. Each has their own benefits and each has their downfall! Portable heaters are a wonderfully quick and easy way to add heat to a greenhouse or sun room;they can be powered by natural gas, electricity, propane, wood, oil or kerosene. The biggest downfall with the gas, oil, and wood or kerosene heaters is that whenever you burn them they emit gases that are harmful to plants so you absolutely must have some kind of a ventilation system that carries these emissions away and out of your greenhouse. Be careful that your venting system is not in direct contact with the skin on your greenhouse if it is made out of plastic as the heat from the ventilation system can melt the skin or in cases of excessive heat could actually cause it to melt! Also, check on the recommended size of heater for the size of your greenhouse. Most manufacturers will give you a recommendation for the maximum andminimum heating space that their heaters will heat.

Hot water systems are best installed by professional welders and plumbers. They are often custom made to fit the size of your greenhouse and usually consist of a system of pipes that run around the inside walls of your sun room. They are attached to a water intake system and a pump that circulates the water through the pipes. Although the initial heating of the water in the pipes is a little costly, once the water in the pipes is hot it retains its heat very well which is where the cost reduction in hot water systems comes into place. Electric heating in a greenhouse is an amazing concept in “how to very easily heat a greenhouse” you turn the dial!

The only problem is that electric heat in a greenhouse can get very, very expensive in the winter. Remember that if you lose power in the middle of a winter freeze you could actually lose all of your plants overnight! The best device for “watching” greenhouse temperatures is a ‘temperature alarm’ that is made specifically for greenhouses. This nifty little device will set off an alarm as soon as the temperature in your greenhouse or sun room goes below a level that you preset into it. When this happens you will know that either your power has gone out or you just need to turn up the heat! In cases of power outages perhaps the best back up plan is to purchase your very own generator that can power a portable heater or two inside the greenhouse or sun room until the power comes back. Another very wise investment is to purchase some solar heating panels for your greenhouse, these will generate enough heat through a power outage in the winter to prevent freezing, although they will not usually generate enough heat to keep a greenhouse warm through a long freeze.

Solar heating panels will prevent you from losing the majority of your plants in a short power outage during a freeze. Solar heating is a very cost efficient way of heating your greenhouse if you set it up properly and design your green house to use solar heating efficiently. The most important thing to consider when first designing your sun room or green house construction is to decide upon it’s location in your garden.

To maximize the usage of the sun’s energy it is best that orientate your greenhouse to have its long side face within 20 degrees of either side of truesouth. And in order to utilize larger solar panels it is best to have the greenhouse be 2 or 3 times longer than it is wide. Other ways to ensure solar heating is maximized is to make sure your greenhouse is airtight, so that it doesn’t lose its heat through leaks. Make sure that your glaze is double or triple glazing to help reduce heat loss. Insulate the walls of the greenhouse to prevent heat loss, this is especially useful on the north wall where most heat loss will occur; and the easiest way to insulate this wall is to buy bubble insulation in rolls (the kind of bubble wrap that packages come wrapped in for protection in the mail). Some green house supply stores carry clear bubble greenhouse insulation. Spray a glue adhesive to the inside of yourglazing and press your pre-cut bubble insulation up against the adhesive until it sticks. Earlier in this article we talked about insulating the foundation of your greenhouse with 1-2 inch thick Styrofoam board, and this is another way to prevent heat loss from your greenhouse especially if you choose to go with solar heating panels.

Healthy soil is required for good plant production and healthy soil is created when it has a proper pH! There are a few aspects to creating and maintaining healthy soil and a proper pH balance. If the pH level is off balance then it is impossible for the critical nutrients necessary for plant health to survive in soil. The pH describes what the level of acidity is in your soil.

Greenhouse gardeners are wise to test the pH levels in their soil and pH test kits are easily available at online green house supply stores. If your soil is too acidic (low pH) it is best to add limestone or wood to your soil, and if it is too alkaline (high pH) it is best to add compost material (avoid manure), sulfur or acidifying plant foods that are available commercially. A properly balanced pH will ensure that the correct nutrients are available for your plants to properly root and utilize the minerals in the soil that are required for maximum growth. It also ensures that the healthy and beneficial microbes that live in soil can survive and help plants grow. Healthy microbes are important in controlling diseases and they also feed on badmicrobes such as parasites too. When good microbes cannot survive in soil the bad microbes will take over and thus there is a greater chance of disease and pests entering the greenhouse environment. This is not unlike the good bacteria/bad bacteria that live in the human bowels; we need to keep these in balance too in order to prevent disease from entering the human body!

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