Growing plants in the greenhouse is impossible without the right equipment. But what does the necessary equipment include?
As soon as you have decided on a greenhouse - no matter what size - you should also equip it with the right and useful accessories. Without light, the right temperature and good humidity, you won't have much success growing plants. A greenhouse has to meet a number of conditions in order to be able to grow fruit and vegetables or cultivate plants.
In specialist shops nowadays, greenhouses are often offered with basic accessories such as shelves, thermometers, climbing aids, etc. However, this equipment does not always match the needs of a gardener or some of it is often not absolutely necessary. It is therefore ideal to buy a greenhouse with or without flexible accessories, which you can then buy or use as needed.
This is part of the basic equipment
To prevent the plants in your greenhouse from dying due to unfavorable climatic conditions, you and your greenhouse need the following basic equipment:
- Heating
- Ventilation
- Lighting/Shading
- Irrigation
Basic equipment of a greenhouse in detail
➤ Heater:
The specific heaters for greenhouses are divided into electronic fan heaters and circulating air heaters, frost monitors, special greenhouse gas heating systems, paraffin heaters, heating mats, heating cables and the like.
We can recommend, for example, the purchase of a fan heater that not only heats but also cools, i.e. that is suitable for summer and winter use. However, you should then definitely pay attention to drip water protection.
Important:
Many plants depend on the right temperature in the greenhouse. In order to monitor this, it makes sense to integrate a thermometer in the greenhouse. Some of these are even offered with a moisture meter. And for monitoring natural soil in the greenhouse, special soil thermometers are also usedoffered.
➤ Ventilation:
In the area of "ventilation" you should know that a greenhouse should always have ventilation flaps or air slots to ensure a good climate in the greenhouse. In order to conveniently control the ventilation, you can then integrate automatic and/or mechanical window openers in the greenhouse. Additionally, it may be worth considering purchasing fans, blowers, or humidifiers.
➤ Lighting/shading:
When it comes to greenhouse lighting, you need to know that there is a distinction between general lighting and special plant lighting. While general lighting only provides light in the greenhouse on dark days and at night, plant lighting is absolutely necessary for the growth of some plants. After all, plants need between 12 and 16 hours of sunlight a day for photosynthesis! And since this is not always the case (especially not in winter), the use of so-called true light or growth lamps (available here, for example) is recommended. These ensure sufficient natural light (a kind of daylight) in the greenhouse, especially in winter, and thus promote the growth of new plants.
So that the sun does not shine too aggressively on the plants or the greenhouse on sunny days and it does not heat up so much, you should also equip it with a shading system (reading tip: Darken the greenhouse - this is how it works). Blinds, slats or blackout foils are recommended for the inside and shading nets for the outside.
➤ Irrigation:
The issue of "watering" is a bit complicated in a greenhouse, because here you have to consider a few aspects:
- Should the plants be watered, pollinated or only watered around the roots?
- Do you want to water your plants yourself or do you want it to be automatic?
- Should the greenhouse have a water supply or should it be fed from a rain collector connected to the greenhouse?
Only when you have answered these questions should you start looking for the perfect irrigation system. There is no harm in consulting an expert.
Useful accessories for the greenhouse
The equipment just described were all those that should not be missing in a greenhouse. So basically the basic equipment.Of course you can (do not have to) expand these with the following accessories:
➜ flexible shelving systems
➜ climbing aids (e.g. climbing aid nets, plant holders, clips)
➜ base plates against weed growth
➜ catwalks and bed plates, bed borders
➜ Insect nets (for the entrance area and window openings)
➜ Glass clamps for window and door opening
➜ Bed covers, including plant holders and individual plant hats
➜ Cleaning accessories and care products
➜ Multiple electronic plug with drip protection
➜ Insulating foil and sealing tape
➜ Garden fleece for the winter months