Greenhouse Accessories
Greenhouse accessories provide the operational infrastructure which make the growing area function at maximum efficiency. Greenhouse accessories are available at garden centers, in mail-order catalogs and, in particular, on the internet where most mail-order suppliers advertise. Companies that provide the structure normally can provide all of the basic greenhouse accessories which have been engineered to the requirements of a particular model greenhouse that match the temperature zone at your location.
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Ventilation
Intake fans and exhaust louvers are indispensable as greenhouse accessories for cooling when the temperature rises. Circulating fans are also important greenhouse accessories all year long to circulate the air for disease prevention. Insect screens should be installed over all air intake openings.
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Heating
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Of equal importance of the greenhouse accessories in colder climates are heaters. Electric, propane and natural gas heaters are available. Temperatures are controlled by remote thermostats. High/low thermometers will record the low night temperatures at critical locations, which are used to regulate the thermostats. Heat mats that are placed under seed trays can also be utilized at first. Night temperatures should be set as low as allowable for the plants being grown in order to save heating costs.
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Irrigation
Plants must be watered regularly or they will wilt and eventually die. Plants can also die from over watering which causes the roots to be deprived of oxygen. For a small operation, several different sized watering cans are ideal, so that watering can be controlled. For larger operations, irrigation systems are available as greenhouse accessories, which include overhead misting and sprinkling systems. Alternatively, seep hoses and drip irrigation systems, which water roots directly, can be used. In our opinion, the latter methods of root irrigation are better, for small operations, since high humidity, unless properly and precisely controlled, can promote disease which could spread rapidly throughout the growing area with devastating results.
Benches and Shelves
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Many styles of benches and shelves are available as greenhouse accessories. For example, a south facing lean-to structure could have a shelf unit against the north wall which could be used for storage, starting plants, etc. The south wall could contain a bench approximately two to three feet high for storing plants during the growing season both below and on top of the bench. |
Hydroponics
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Plants can be grown without soil, using only a bath of nutrient solution to feed the roots. This eliminates all the mess of dealing with potting soil and raised beds on the floor. Plant spacing can be reduced and the fertilizer quantities can be precisely controlled. Greenhouse accessories are available for this specialized growing method. |
Other Greenhouse Accessories
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