Greenhouse Ventilation – Vents and Fans
The success of a greenhouse depends largely on the efficiency of its ventilation. Ventilation allows the green house to have the proper temperature required by particular plants that are grown, it encourages pollination within the green house, it provides fresh air that are needed to aid sunlight in photosynthesis, and it prevents the infestation of pests. Aside from the usual care, when the plant and seedlings are withering or the growths are stunted, the most probable cause is improper ventilation.
Vents
While greenhouses are built to supply heat to growing plants, a little over the threshold of the plant and the plant dies or the growth is stunted. In fact many plants will die faster from heat than from cold. Installation of vents corrects the problems. The vents when located at right the proportions along the greenhouse will allow the heat to escape naturally and correct temperature conditions. During hot climates, an evaporative cooler is needed in conjunction with the vents to maintain correct temperatures.
Fans
The plants photosynthesize to make sugars that they use as food. Without a good airflow, carbon dioxide within the greenhouse will not be sufficient to produce the food that they need and the plants wither. While vents are essential to let humid and stale air escape, the greenhouse needs fans to conduct fresh air into the greenhouse and distribute it throughout the entire enclosure.
Outside of the greenhouse, winds, and insects causes pollination. Inside the enclosure, this will be harder to achieve without the fans to transport the pollens around. When the air inside the greenhouse moves, it will carry with it the pollens that are required by the plants for fruiting. Moving air will shake plants that are self-pollinating like tomatoes. Gentle shaking of the plants inside the greenhouse encourages the development of sturdier stems and roots thereby growing healthier plants.
Many bugs and insects thrive in fetid and low ventilated surroundings and environments. What many people do not realize is that the insects and bugs most harmful to young plants will breed faster if the greenhouse is not properly ventilated.
Exhaust Fans
For better temperature control, exhaust fans are often mounted opposite the door. If that is not possible due to design constraints, additional circulation fans will solve the problem.
There are plants that are more heat sensitive than other plants. Usually plants that are heat sensitive are those that have delicate leaves. If so, be sure to open the vents during summer to decrease the temperatures inside the greenhouse.
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