growing greenhouse crops. what type of plants can one grow in a greenhouse? trees? shrubs? bulbs...
TRANSCRIPT
Growing Greenhouse Crops
What Type of Plants Can One Grow in a Greenhouse?
• Trees?• Shrubs?• Bulbs• Herbacious?• Perenials?• Annuals• Grass?• Food?• Cut flowers?
What are the Limiting Factors in a Greenhouse?
• Cost?
• Space?
• Seasons?
Types of Greenhouses
Cold Frame
Lean to Greenhouse
Topics
• Greenhouse Environment• Containers• Media• Irrigation• Fertilzation• Controlling Plant Growth• Managing Pests• Schedule• Specific Plants
Environment
• Temperature 55 to 65 degrees with 10-15 degrees warmer during the day is critical for most plants.
• Thermotropism: Plants growth in response to temperature
• Thermoperiodic: Flowering due to temperature
Environment Continued
• Light: Maximum intensity must be achieved with sun and lights.
• Light Duration: Some plants respond to day length for growth cylcles.
• Photoperiodism: Plants flower due to day length. Short day plants flower when days are short (less than 12 hours).
Environment Continued
• Air: One must have air flow. You can increase CO2 levels with machines.
• Humidity: High humidity is good for plant growth but can increase disease levels.
Containers
• There are different containers for all different types of plants.
Growing Media
• Well drained
• Good Moisture holding capacity
• pH of 5.5-6.5 (slightly acidic)
• Good support
• Common ingredients include perlite, sand, vermiculite, bark, and peat moss.
Irrigation (Watering)
• Drainage: Medium and pot must be well drained
• Timing: Water just before plants show signs of water deficiency
• Amount: The entire medium surrounding the roots must be wet. The only way to ensure this is to have water come out of the bottom
Watering Continued
• Water in morning.
• Don’t get foliage wet if possible.
• Types of watering include hand watering, spaghetti tube, drip, ebb and flood, and capillary mat system, overhead, perimeter, and soaker hose system.
• Dissolved chemicals such as flouride or cholorine can be harmful to plants.
Fertilizers
Organic Fertilizer: Natural derived from living things such as manure, blood and bone material.
Inorganic: Synthetic nutrient compounds made by humans. These are most often used in greenhouse crops
Application methods: Injection (through the irrigation lines, solids (top dressed or mixed with the soil.)
Controlling Plant Growth
• Pinching: Pinching off the unwanted material to create desired growth.
Controlling Plant Growth Continued(Growth Regulators)
• Hormones– Auxins: rooting hormones– Gibberellic acid: flower growth/elongates
growth– Ethephon: flower growth– Height retardents: shorten stems– Chemical pinching agents: promote branching
Integrated Pest Management in a Greenhouse
• Prevent entrance of pests: inspect new plants.• Weed control: they can harbor disease and
compete for nutrients• Sanitation: Keep it clean• Crop inspection• Environmental manipulation: give the plant the
right conditions so that pests can’t live.• Pest eradication: Pesticides/biological control
Scheduling Plant Growth
• All plants have specific schedule to get desired crop at the right time.
• Temp
• Light intensity and day length
• Seasons