Greenhouses are the holy grail for those who enjoy gardening and cultivating at home, but to ensure that they can provide you with the utilities and environment you need, you need to inform yourself first. We’d like to introduce everything a beginner needs to know about greenhouses so that you can optimize your harvests and successfully cultivate any kind of plant.
Starting Seeds
Because greenhouses give you control over the environment of your plants, it may be tempting to start out with something exotic or difficult to grow. We strongly recommend you start with “starter” seeds, which are easy-to-grow plants that allow greater room for error. Furthermore, you don’t want to bring in seedlings or cuttings, as they may run the risk of introducing diseases or pests into your greenhouse if you don’t know what to look for.
Temperature Control
Watering and providing your plants with adequate light isn’t anything new, but you need to keep in mind that you’re in control of the climate now. An electric or gas heater is a good way to extend your growing season, and a greenhouse will be ideal for capturing and containing humidity so that your crops don’t dry out. Make sure you add a thermostat to your greenhouse because, as simple as it may seem, it will be crucial for monitoring the climate of your greenhouse.
Pest Control
Perhaps the most important thing a beginner needs to know about greenhouses is how to eliminate pests should an infestation occur. Because your greenhouse has no natural ecosystem, you may find yourself quickly overwhelmed by a pest invasion. The best thing to do here would be to identify what pests you’re dealing with and release their natural predator into your greenhouse. For example, aphids are a common pest, and by releasing ladybugs, they’ll be able to eliminate the aphids without harming your plants.
Greenhouse Maintenance
Lastly, make sure you follow some greenhouse maintenance tips. Keeping the greenhouse clean and in its best state is key to ensuring your greenhouse can perform as expected. While cleaning and small maintenance tasks are doable yourself, make sure you know who you can turn to in your area for larger greenhouse repairs.
