Before you bring plants into your greenhouse, there are some last additions you need in your greenhouse to make your first greenhouse crop a success. Some of these things will be helpful before you plant, and some are just considerations that will depend on what you’re wanting from your greenhouse.
IRRIGATION AND WATER MANAGEMENT
This is one of the most crucial needs of all plants. Without water, they will not produce, or they can become wilted and die. But as you learned with humidity control, too much water can also spell disaster. So after all the building and modifying is complete, you need to think about how you are going to water your plants. There are a few methods and systems for you to choose from, but which one is right for you?
- Sprinklers, overhead spray, or top down:
You can use this if you have a big greenhouse, and you have plants that are tolerant to wet foliage. Going back to humidity, this method will raise those levels, which can be great if you’re getting unused sections ready for planting.
- Misting and spraying:
Again, good for big greenhouses, but also ideal for propagating seedlings. If you have a lot of seeds planted at once, they need regular watering, and this is the best way to do that, so you don’t drown them.
- Microdrop, drip, or seep hose:
They are great for any greenhouse since you can scale them to any size you need. Drip irrigation systems will release water at intervals during the day, so while you need a powered system, they will cut down on water waste.
- Mat irrigation:
If you have a small greenhouse or are very new to gardening in general, this is a brilliant method. Seed capillary mats are effective and low-maintenance. There is a reservoir filled with water, and these mats will absorb that water. Plants are placed over the mats to get their water, which also makes them get deeper roots. This will also create a very humid environment.
Automated, Solar Powered, and Watering Cans
Automated systems will allow you to make sure your plants are given the proper amount of water without needing to do it yourself. Moreover, it might be more expensive than it’s worth unless you have a very large greenhouse. The nice thing is that if you go with solar power, you can use your automated system on that.
If you are looking for a less expensive approach, you have mat irrigation systems, but you can also just use your watering can. You can use the sprinkler head for top-down watering on plants that like wet foliage and to give your seeds the right amount of moisture. As your seeds grow and need dry leaves, you can take the sprinkler piece off the can and just water the soil directly.
Consider Rain Barrels
A gutter system in your home or greenhouse will direct rainwater to another area, but you can always put in some barrels and put that rainwater to good use. Like most things, there are some methods that work better than others. But if you want to keep your utility bills low and have a greenhouse at the same time, you should figure out which types of rain barrels are best for your greenhouse.
But why would you want to collect rainwater? Typically, a 1,000-square-foot roof can catch around 600 gallons of water during a one-inch rainfall. That is a lot of free water that can be used for your plants. It’s also water that doesn’t have the additives that are found in municipal water. Municipal water is better for humans to drink but not so much for plants. Rainwater is rich in nitrogen and oxygen, which is perfect for your plants. It also contains carbon dioxide, which helps balance the pH levels in your soil. In short, rainwater is just better all around for your plants.
There are some things to consider with your rain barrels. You want filtration, like mesh lids, to keep impurities and animals out. Some gardeners will take this a step further by adding a wire screen, which will keep larger impurities from reaching the mesh lid and clogging it. You should also look for something that has a spigot that will make getting the water out much easier.
You probably will not find a 600-gallon tank, though. Most barrels are around 55 gallons, so what about the rest of that water? You should get an overflow attachment and a couple more barrels. With this attachment, when one barrel fills up, it will send the extra water into another barrel.
You should also ensure that you are diverting this water away from the foundation of your house. This can be done with extra barrels to catch the overflow and another attachment that will direct rainwater away when all your barrels are full.
