The Propagation Greenhouse
The Purpose of a Greenhouse
• To provide the optimal growing conditions for
a specific crop to include: Light, Temperature,
Humidity, Water, and Air circulation
The Differences
Standard So. CA Greenhouse
Propagation Greenhouse
• Standard Light ranges are high
and can be adjusted down to
crop specific levels with shade
cloth.
• Evaporative cooling pads
increase humidity from typical
low outdoor values
• Gas heater for colder seasons
and to protect from nighttime
lows
• Exhaust fans and circulatory
fans for even distribution of
temperature and humidity.
• Standard Lower light intensity –
reducing transporation demand
• Increased humidity – reducing
transporation demand
• Misting for cuttings – cooling the
cuttings by providing intermittent
evaporation from the cutting’s
surface.
• Fogging – increasing humidity in
the air
• Bottom Heat - Encouraging root
growth
• No circulatory (HAF) fans –
Reducing evaporation
Fog
Greenhouse Fog systems push Microdroplets into the air through
specialized nozzles and the evaporation of those droplets cool the house
as well as maintain the proper high humidity levels.
Intermittent Misting Systems
Misters are nozzles that produce larger droplets to coat the surface of the
cuttings and cool them as those droplets evaporate. By having time in between
the application of the mist time for evaporation and subsequent cooling can
occur.
The electronic leaf is a system using a surface
mimicking a leaf to measure evaporation and
trigger the next misting application
Bench Heat
Bench heating systems are a part of plant propagation greenhouses and are many
times the only source of heat for the house. The purpose of bench heating is to keep
the soil in the root zone heated to the proper temperature for optimal root
establishment and subsequent growth.
Circulating Tube system allows
pots and flats to be placed
directly on top.
Radiant fin system
Light Reduction
Light in a propagation greenhouse is usually reduced significantly from other
greenhouses. The idea being that we want to grow roots on the plant pieces and reduce
the demands placed on those limited roots systems by higher light levels. Higher light
levels will increase the need to photosynthesize and create demand for the water
needed to support that process. Less light =less demand on roots
Whitewash in an
inexpensive and
changeable solution
to lowering light
transmission into a
greenhouse.
Shade
Shade structures are an important
compliment to the propagation process.
Moving material out of the greenhouse
and into an environment that can
gradually harden off the plants as they
bring their root system and top into
balance is critical to success.