The Greenhouse System
The whole system of a greenhouse is organized to provide the plant the right environment needed for the plant growth. With a greenhouse, you duplicate the natural system where the plants you have usually grow. It is your primary concern to supply the right amount of heat, sunlight, water and nutrients which will depend on the type of plant and its growth stage. As much as possible you have to go a step farther than what nature can do in optimizing the plants productivity at a minimum investment and input.
What are the inputs needed in starting a greenhouse? What do you have to give in order to benefit from abundant harvest? Operating a greenhouse would mean spending for heating, lighting and watering as well as pesticides and other nutrients added to support the fast growing and strong growth. You need to invest time and effort which of which you have a limited supply. So before you start on your greenhouse make sure that you have the commitment to spend the needed time to take care of your plants.
The whole greenhouse system is composed of different subsystem that needs to work harmoniously to provide the aimed environment. These subsystems are water, light, heat and nutrients. Each of these subsystems affects each other thus planning for each requires a consideration on how it will affect the whole greenhouse system.
Water is the medium that brings the nutrient from the roots to the different parts of the plants. Just like for humans, water is the basic need of plants. It is needed in the leaves as a primary ingredient of manufacturing plants food. Both the soil and the atmosphere in the greenhouse must be kept moist.
It is wise to invest in an automatic watering system since it is far more effective than manual watering. With the automatic watering system you can provide the right amount of water at a specific time interval based on the plant’s growth stage. You can control moisture in the air inside the greenhouse by misting. There are automatic misting systems available that you can purchase. If you are short of funds, you can save by collecting rainwater and pump it into your greenhouse.
A heating system requires higher investment. Study how you can control the temperature so you can adjust it depending on the need of your plant. Monitor carefully the temperature both inside and outside of the greenhouse.
Aside from heating, you have to monitor the light required by your plants. It is usually free however during winter season you might need to have an artificial light to lengthen the plants light exposure. During summer, shade is also essential since some plants can easily burn in a greenhouse.
Plants require nutrients to have the best result in your plants growth. Many greenhouse owners use the hydroponic system where the roots are suspended in a solution containing the needed nutrients.
When these subsystems are working jointly, you will have lesser effort in preventing pest and diseases.
