Best Green Houses

Plants require water as well as sunlight and carbon dioxide to manufacture their food. This is

accomplished through a process called photosynthesis. With out the presence of the three

aforementioned agents, photosynthesis seizes to occur. As a result the plant starves and dies.

While it is important to water plants regularly, it is also essential to maintain the optimum level of

humidity in the atmosphere for the plants' well being. The importance of humidity can be gauged

through an understanding of the process of transpiration.

Transpiration

Plants absorb water from their roots. This water is transported by the process of osmosis to

specialized tissues, known as xylum, which specialize in transporting water all the way up to the

leaves. It is essentially in the leaves that the process of photosynthesis takes place. In addition

to water, the essential nutrients needed by plants are also carried to the leaves, dissolved in

water. From the leaves, excess water is released into the atmosphere in the form of water

vapors. The evaporation of water plays an important part in keeping the plants cool. It also

serves to transport nutrients up to the leaves, since in the absence of evaporation, leaves would

get water logged, whereby the xylem tissues will get saturated and no further absorption of

water will be possible by the roots. This process of transporting water from the roots to the

leaves and its subsequent release into the atmosphere is called transpiration.

For the process of transpiration to occur smoothly, the level of humidity in air must be at an

optimum level. In case there is excess humidity, water will not evaporate in leaves, thereby

creating a condition where leaves get over soaked. As a result, the supply of nutrients to the

leaves gets halted. On the contrary, if the level of humidity drops below normal, excessive

evaporation will occur, saturating the leaves with nutrient salts, as well as depleting water level

in the soil. A fully grown tree may lose several hundred liters of water through its leaves in hot

and dry conditions. About 90% of the water that is absorbed by the plant's roots is used up in

this process. In the absence of water, plant will be unable to synthesize their food and will

starve. Furthermore, excessive transpiration will also drop their temperature below normal.

Maintaining humidity inside the greenhouse

Evaporative coolers can help in maintaining temperature as well as humidity inside a

greenhouse. Other units are available that package warmers and humidifiers to maintain

temperature and humidity. Humidifiers can effectively control moisture level in air. Other

gadgets that accompany humidifiers are directional airflow louvers, which maintain flow of air,

thereby humidifying, ventilating, and cooling the ambience inside the greenhouse.

Coolers available commercially are designed to suite their purpose in a greenhouse. Some

models have heavy-gauge, zinc-coated metallic louvers and cabinets featuring zinc-chromate.

The amount of sunlight received by plants depends on seasonal climatic conditions. Over

exposure to the sun can occur during summers. It is advisable to install cooling and humidifying

systems so as to maintain the right temperature in the greenhouse. This utility extends during

the winter season, when sunlight could be scarce.

Proper heating and ventilation in a greenhouse is important to grow healthy plants and

appropriate systems must be installed to maintain temperature and humidity at optimal levels.