Month: August 2023

A greenhouse environment can protect plants from most of the harsh elements of the outside world. It is still extremely important to get informed on the weather forecast when making decisions that will impact the crop’s health and growth, especially when you’ll be away from the greenhouse for a day or two. Expecting a hot day, or a cold night should influence your watering and climate control actions.

Greenhouse Actions
Sidewalls:
Up and fully opened at 8:00AM
Closed at 3:45PM

Irrigation:
All plants watered with clear water at 11:00AM

Climate:
Temperature Max: 29.26 at 4:16PM
Temperature Min: 15.95 at 5:53AM
Mean: 21.30

Humidity Max: 58.2% at 10:32PM 
Humidity Min: 28.8% at 4:16PM
Mean: 43.30%

First signs of watering needs can be observed on some plants, especially those closer to the sidewall, in more direct contact with the wind and sun. Increased aeration and light equals more evaporation and absorption.
Students decided to do spot watering on selected plants to avoid stress.

Greenhouse Actions
Sidewalls:
Up and fully opened at 8:00AM
Down at bench height at 4:00PM

Irrigation:
Spot watering on selected plants

Floor watered at 8:25AM and 2:45PM

Climate:
Temperature Max: 31.11 at 2:09PM
Temperature Min: 18.76 at 11:54PM
Mean : 24.53

Humidity Max : 56.9% at 7.07AM
Humidity Min: 34.7% at 4:35PM
Mean: 47.83%

A couple of days after being potted is when signs of stress of the cultural change will appear more prominently. A certain amount of root damage might trigger the plant into dropping some leaves to better relocate the resources required to maintain it’s overall health. Too much damage to the roots will make it difficult for the plant to absorb water and send it to its extremities, making the plant droopy looking. The presence of Pythium root rot before potting can exacerbate these phenomenon.

It also takes some time for the media to settle in after plants are potted, and we can now notice that some of the plugs might have not been planted deep enough in the pot, or not covered with an adequate amount of soil, which is very much excepted when you do 1200 pots in a few hours.

The students will certainly take the appropriate action, if they decide to do so.

At this point, only a few plants seem to be struggling more dramatically. The vast majority of them seem very satisfied with their new home.

Besides climate control, no actions were required today.

Greenhouse Actions
Sidewalls:
Up and fully opened at 8:00AM
Down at bench height at 4:00PM

Irrigation:
No plants watering required

Floor watered at 9:00AM and 1:00PM

Climate:
Temperature Max: 33.12 at 4:11PM
Temperature Min: 20.67 at 6:24AM
Mean : 26.42

Humidity Max : 65.8% at 7:09AM
Humidity Min: 33% at 5:07PM
Mean 48.97%

So far, all the plants are enjoying their new home, despite the hot temperature of the current heat wave.
Besides raising and lowering the sidewalls, the only action today was getting some water on the greenhouse floor to raise the humidity level.

Controlling humidity level is important to help maintain an ideal environment for healthy growth. During hot summer days, especially during heat waves where the temperature inside the greenhouse can get close to 40 degrees Celsius , it becomes necessary to introduce water in different ways then through regular watering, and so spreading water under the bench where plants are located can help increase the humidity level.

Greenhouse Actions
Sidewalls:
Up and fully opened at 8:00AM
Down at bench height at 4:00PM

Irrigation:
No plants watering required

Floor watered at 9:00AM and 1:00PM

Climate:
Temperature Max: 36.03 at 3:49PM
Temperature Min: 21.52 at 3:57AM
Mean : 27.79

Humidity Max : 58.6% at 4:02AM
Humidity Min: 28.8% at 3:03PM
Mean 44.84%