Greenhouse Ventilation

Discussion in 'Indoor and Greenhouse Plants' started by Aljade, Feb 16, 2006.

  1. Aljade

    Aljade Member

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    I live in Arizona and the humidity is very low(usually stays below 5%). I am growing a plant that requires humidity above 50% so I am building a greenhouse. I plan to do it in my backyard where I have an area in my yard that is enclosed by my house wall and my backyard wall. So I can easily make it into a greenhouse because all I will need to do is put some fiberglass ontop and in front with a door. So I will have one side wall connected to my house(about 15', brick), the back wall is a cinder block outside wall(about 8'), the other side is more of the cinder block outside wall(about 15'), and the entrance will be fiberglass with a door.

    Now I was thinking I could somehow ventilate the greenhouse through my house(there are two windows on either end that will be inside the greenhouse) to keep it at ideal temperature. Now I need some help with how I am to make this work. I need the humidity to stay above 50%, but I can definitly set up some misters on a timer.

    Help and suggestions would be greatly appriciated.

    I have one more question if anyone can answer it: Is there any kind of water filter I could attach to a hose which would be used for misting the plants?
     
  2. Eric La Fountaine

    Eric La Fountaine Contributor Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    I guess you don't have a swamp cooler in your house? The last time I was in Tucson I had a cold and borrowed an inexpensive humidifier from a friend. It was just a reservoir of water with a small blower. It worked great. You should be able to find a simple one for your purposes. If you look at a good garden centre or certainly a greenhouse supply catalog you can find water-breakers that attach to a hose and emit very fine mists. They come in different grades for fineness of mist.

    Good luck,
     
  3. Aljade

    Aljade Member

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    Yes I do have a swamp cooler in my house, why would that matter?

    So do you think I could ventilate the greenhouse through my house as long as I got a mister in it?
     
  4. Eric La Fountaine

    Eric La Fountaine Contributor Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    The swamp cooler adds humidity to the air, so the air from the house will help counter the dryness.
     
  5. Aljade

    Aljade Member

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    I have 2 windows to do it from one near the front of the greenhouse at another near the back(both on the long side of the greenhouse). How would you recommend ventilating it through the house? Should I use an exaust fan in one blowing into the house and leave the other as a passive intake or what?

    Also what about the winter, its still almost zero humidity and I wont have the swamp cooler on.
     
  6. Eric La Fountaine

    Eric La Fountaine Contributor Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    The ventilation from the house will help, but you will still neet some sort of small humidifier or mister.
     
  7. Rima

    Rima Active Member

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    Have you considered all those flying and crawling things in your house? I'm not sure screens would entirely solve the problem.
     
  8. Aljade

    Aljade Member

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    Yeah, I will definitly set up some timed misters.

    Hmm thats true, do you have any suggestions on how to control this problem?

    Do you think it would work if I used a very fine screen?
     
  9. Eric La Fountaine

    Eric La Fountaine Contributor Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    If the space is enclosed in fiberglass, the bugs shouldn't be any more of a problem than they are in your house. Just make sure to seal the edges or cover with some type of tape. This will also help prevent the loss of moisture.
     
  10. Aljade

    Aljade Member

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    Cool thanks!

    One more thing:
    I have 2 windows to do it from one near the front of the greenhouse at another near the back(both on the long side of the greenhouse). How would you recommend ventilating it through the house? Should I use an exaust fan in one blowing into the house and leave the other as a passive intake or what?
     
  11. Eric La Fountaine

    Eric La Fountaine Contributor Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    I don't know about that really. Experiment to see what works, I guess. Seems like either way would be fine.
     

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