There are various ways on how to generate ventilation in a small greenhouse, such as using natural ventilation and fan ventilation. Today, many growers have already recognized the purpose and advantages of setting up a greenhouse.
It protects your plants from unwanted heat, cold, and the bothersome pests. As a result, your plants, flowers, fruits, and vegetables are healthier, and you can be confident that you will harvest larger yields.
Because many areas have consistently hot weather, the supply of cold air is not sufficient. Remember, cool air is one of the most critical factors for a plant’s sustainable growth. In that case, the growers must learn how to generate ventilation and facilitate air distribution to make sure that all plants are healthy.
If you still have many questions, finish reading this article because it aims to provide knowledge on the proper way of generating ventilation in a small greenhouse.
Types Of Ventilation For A Small Greenhouse
First thing’s first, you need to know the types of ventilation. Learning about this allows you to understand how to generate ventilation in a small greenhouse based on your resources and especially your location.
Let us delve further into natural ventilation and fan ventilation.
Natural ventilation
The first type of ventilation is natural ventilation. It mainly depends on the concepts of science about air movement- the factors that affect the rise and movement of air and temperature.
It is usually done through a putting-up window and movable louvers near the roof in the greenhouse end. This type of ventilation’s primary purpose is to control the warm air to stay near the windows while the air outside pushes the cold air to go in.
However, a lot of growers say that this type is much more complicated. It requires you to check the windows and louvers from time to time- whether you have to open it wider or close it.
Hence, it needs a lot of maintenance because the weather changes from time to time. Indeed, after putting-up the louvers, the only thing that you should do it to check it, but it takes too much of your time and effort. Indeed you have to do it very often.
Tips To Generate Ventilation Using Natural Ventilation
Here are tips to make sure that your natural ventilation is sufficient. The reason why this process is widely accepted because it is budget-friendly- perfect for beginners who don’t want to spend too much yet.
#1 Choose the right size of the vents
In doing this, you should consider the area of the roof. It should be equal to the scope of the sidewall vents. Also, the size vents must be 15% to 20% of the area of the floor.
With this, you can make sure that the amount of cool air moving in is enough, while a massive amount of hot air will be eliminated. If the vent’s size is right, the distribution of cold air will be useful for all the plants in the greenhouse.
If the size is otherwise, it might not be capable of supplying cool air to all; it might be too slow that it will focus and repeatedly deliver to the same area.
#2 Choose the proper location of the vents
The suggested location of the vents is above the bench height. It allows your greenhouse to mix cold and hot air before going to the plants. So, you can expect larger yields and healthy growth even to your plants placed on the floor.
Because, again, natural ventilation aims to affect all of the plants inside the greenhouse. However, if you are using a gutter-connected design of the greenhouse, we suggest integrating your vents to the roof.
#3 Make sure the height of your greenhouse
As the altitude increases, the temperature decreases. It will give you good results if the air is leveled with the plants. But, if you’re already convinced with the height of your greenhouse, we don’t suggest that you should spend money, time, and effort in improving its height.
You can just increase your benches’ height or just set-up your vents with the proper size and at the appropriate location.
#4 Improve your greenhouse orientation
You should make sure that you have sidewalls that follow the natural flow of air. Doing this can guarantee the supply of cool air, and it will not miss affecting a single plant in the greenhouse.
Eventually, you will be delighted with the results. If you have not started your greenhouse yet, we suggest that you put it up in fewer trees and infrastructures.
Obstructions can destroy the air movement. On the other hand, a lot are also admiring fan ventilation. It is very prominent during the summer when the natural air is inevitably hot.
Fan Ventilation
On the other hand, you can also use the fan ventilation to generate air for your plants. It depends on electric fans to produce cold air and push away hot air outside. Also, it is practical because you can install it anywhere you think it can be best effective.
You just have to make sure that it has moveable panels and spaces so that there are paths where cold air can pass through. A lot of people prefer this type because you will not need to waste your time in maintenance.
You need to set it up, and after that, it will do all the work in assessing the temperature that your plants need to grow pleasingly. However, you just be prepared in the financial aspect because you surely have to pay a considerable amount for your monthly electrical supply if you want the ventilators to perform frequently.
Things to consider for a better ventilation
There is a lot of operating consideration that you should remember to make it useful, we have listed it for you.
#1 Choose a ventilator with a highly efficient motor
With this, you can have a continuous operation, and your plants will surely be healthy because there is a non-stop supply of the much-needed element-air. Also, it avoids overheating, and it saves energy so you can also have a lesser electrical bill. Well, air circulation is vital for your plant’s growth.
#2 Locate the thermostats at the center of the greenhouse’s growth area
Doing this will allow you to have great control of the air. Surely, the air passes through the center, so it is suggested to install your thermometer there to have accurate readings.
#3 Make sure the capability of your fan
Your fan should be capable of supplying the right amount of air at the right frequency. Also, the provided air should be enough for the whole area of the greenhouse. It’s too slow, it will surely not reach other areas, and it will most likely focus only on where it is located.
#4 Do not put your fan near an area with prevailing hot air
It will just accommodate high temperature and exhaust it inside the greenhouse. If you do not follow this, you will end up having nothing at all from your efforts to install the electric fans.
#5 Use the needed level of ventilation
If you let it stay on the highest stage, you might encounter overcooling, which is not healthy for the plants. The use of thermostats is highly suggested to assess the temperature that your plants need.
#6 Close the doors
It is much better if you close the doors to let just the ventilators evaluate and control the airflow. We also suggest that your greenhouse is full of plants to improve evaporative cooling.
Conclusion
On the whole, generating ventilation helps a lot in the life of your greenhouse. Of course, you should make sure what type of ventilation is most fitted based on your greenhouse size, location, etc.
Now, have you learned about how to generate ventilation in a small greenhouse? Make sure to follow the correct process to achieve the results that you are expecting—hoping that this article will help you ensure the health of your plants.