Month: September 2023

Maintaining the ideal humidity level with greenhouse crops can be difficult.
We can already notice some humidity related issues with our Poinsettias.

Fungus Gnats and whiteflies can be detrimental to the plants’ health if not controlled appropriately. Whiteflies can visibly damage leaves by sucking sap out of the leaves, and fungus gnats can attack roots, which can be especially problematic with Poinsettias, since they tend to be more easily susceptible to root issues.

Another problem related to high humidity that can be observed is the presence of algae and liverwort appearing on the surface of the media. While not directly detrimental to the health of plants, they can exacerbate issues around irrigation and humidity control.

Greenhouse Action:

Sidewalls:
Down

Shade Curtains:
Opened at 100%

Irrigation:
Spot Watering of all plants with Mg (250ppm) at 14:15

Climate:

Weather : Overcast
Temperature Max: 25.77 at 12:41
Temperature Min: 18.29 at 1:57
Mean : 21.18

Humidity Max : 73.4% at 23:59
Humidity Min: 47.1% at 12:41
Mean 63.27%

The great majority of plants are looking fantastic and seem to be reacting really well to the pinch. We can already see healthy new growth on the poinsettias, and stronger roots starting to appear around the edge of the pots.
Now that the plants have been pinched, the students can start measuring the plants, with the goal of getting them up to somewhere close to 40cm.

The students have also started having the option of using a different fertilizer (18-6-20) with Magnesium applied at 250ppm, that will provide the plants with a balanced nutrients availability and will help keep the foliage healthy throughout the plants production.

Greenhouse Action:

Sidewalls:
Opened at 11:30
Closed at 15:45

Shade Curtains:
Opened at 100% at 9:00

Irrigation:
Spot Watering of Pinks and Whites on bench 3 at 11h30

Floor Watered at 11:00 and 14:15

Climate:

Weather : Mix of sun and clouds
Temperature Max: 27.1 at 16:14
Temperature Min: 18.56 at 6:06
Mean : 21.40

Humidity Max : 67.2% at 6:03
Humidity Min: 37.5% at 16:36
Mean 56.03%

Greenhouse Action:

Sidewalls:
Down all day

Shade Curtains:
Opened at 25%

Irrigation:
No action

Climate:

Weather : Mix of sun and clouds
Temperature Max: 28.09 at 12:27
Temperature Min: 17.52 at 4:42
Mean : 21.69

Humidity Max : 65.9% at 00:56
Humidity Min: 35% at 12:39
Mean 54.55%

Greenhouse Action:

Sidewalls:
Up and fully opened at 9:00 on the 2nd
Down at at 15:15. Not opened on the 3rd

Shade Curtains:
Opened at 25%

Irrigation:

All plants watered with Ca(No3) on the 2nd at 15:10
Floor watered at 9:15 and 13:05 on the 2nd

Climate:

Weather : Sunny on the 2nd, Mix of sun and clouds on the 3rd
Temperature Max: 30.92 at 15:58 on the 2nd, 28.7 at 10:56 on the 3rd
Temperature Min: 19.01 at 5:44 on the 2nd, 18.28 at 23:59 on the 3rd
Mean : 23.49 on the 2nd, 21.96 on the 3rd

Humidity Max : 73.1% at 10:49 on the 2nd, 71.1% at 00:01 on the 3rd
Humidity Min: 39.9% at 16:53 on the 2nd, 34.4% at 11:01 on the 3rd
Mean 55.58% on the 2nd, 55.43% on the 3rd

It is important to always have an eye on your crop and it’s environment. Thankfully, the systems we use help us keep a watchful eyes on what’s happening in the greenhouse, even at a distance. If any drastic change of temperature would happen while we are away, alarms would be triggered letting us know of a possible danger to the crop.

Greenhouse Action:

Sidewalls:
Up and fully opened at 9:00
Down at at 16:00

Shade Curtains:
Opened at 25%

Irrigation:
Floor watered at 9:10

Climate:

Weather : Sunny
Temperature Max: 31.08 at 16:25
Temperature Min: 18.27 at 5:42
Mean : 23.10

Humidity Max : 71.1% at 5:42
Humidity Min: 32.4% at 16:51
Mean 54.32%