Greenhouses

kenny

I've got a small greenhouse that I usually use for cuttings and seed propagation. It's made with clear plastic covering 70% shadecloth. It works pretty well with seedlings and cuttings, but every more-advanced bonsai that I've stuck in there have come back out looking very unhealthy (with the exception of one Port Jackson Fig).

Is this because of the sudden change in environment or is there another reason??

Are there any additional considerations when putting plants in greenhouses (ie watering schedule)??

Are there any species that would/would not benefit from a spell in the greenhouse?? (for information, the species which I've seen to suffer have been a 'squamata' juniper and a cotoneaster).

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TreeBay

Both two species you mentioned (cotoneaster and juniper) take full sun where I live, while the ficus doesn't need it. That may be why you are having problems. If you get 15% transmission through the greenhouse glazing and cut it 70% more with shade cloth, you have lost 82% of the incident light.

Watering needs are the same - water when the plants need it, and do so thoroughly.

Some greenhouses don't have very good ventilation. There are fans and/or automatic or hand operated vents that can be installed to improve this.

Good luck,

Matt

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kenny

Thanks for your help. Wouldn't increasing ventilation/installing fans decrease the humidity, which I gather is part of the advantage of greenhouses??

TreeBay

The fans can be used to circulate within, or to exchange air with the outside. Vents will open to the outside, usually in pairs, with one on the roof and another near the floor. Greenhouses can provide elevated or more stable temperatures and/or higher humidity environments to accelerate plant growth or to extend the growing season or to promote plant propagation.

If you need to increase humidity, there are options like mist, water basins and evaporative cooling devices to do that. If you're watering in there periodically, you'll probably get a big humidity rise from moisture seeping into the turf, bark, gravel or cement floor and being released back into the air.

Regards,

Matt

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