by Stephanie Manning

Created on: March 14, 2009   Last Updated: June 12, 2010

A greenhouse can be a great asset for any gardener. Whether it is used for personal or commercial use, there are a few things you need to know about maintaining and using a greenhouse to create the perfect environment for plants to grow.

Using a greenhouse consists of more than throwing a few plants inside and leaving them to grow. A greenhouse still has its needs. They are great for growing beautiful plants but, the plants you grow inside will still need vital care. In fact, you can actually harm your plants from poor greenhouse techniques.

The most common mistake that takes place in the greenhouse is the heat. Many people take for granted the protection from the summer sun. What happens in the middle of summer when you leave your shed doors closed? It gets sweltering! The same thing will happen to your greenhouse if it doesn't have proper ventilation. Windows, vents, screens and doors that latch open is a simple fix to prevent your plants from roasting in the summer heat. All to often, new gardeners forget about the heat factor. While warm temperatures are good for most plants, none can handle 154 degrees F.

Water is another important factor in greenhouse gardening. Since the moisture will build up and keep the humidity high in a greenhouse, watering isn't needed as often as it would be outside. During peak summer months you may still need to water a few plants daily but most will not need daily watering. Check the soil to determine each plants indiviual needs. In addition to slowing moisture loss, greenhouses also create an atmosphere with high humidty. These conditions are great for seed germinating, cuttings, tropical plants and as well as foliage plants.

Another great use for greenhouses is to protect your plants from the cold weather. Frosts and extreme cold winds can injure and even kill most plants. Even during the cold months, greenhouses are great for protecting your plants from the frost. Depending on the temperatures, usually if they are below 30 degrees F, the greenhouse will still provide adequate protection without a heater. If you are growing tropical plants or cold sensitive plants you may choose to add a small heater or use a grow light to keep the greenhouse warm.

Protection from high winds and torturous rain storms is well worth the money spent on greenhouses. These elements can quickly wash out seeds, seedlings and breakdown the stems of your favorite plants. Moving them indoors to a greenhouse will help protect them from theses elements as well as prevent most diseases cause by excess water.

There are a few things that need special attention in the greenhouse. One down fall to using a greenhouse is when one plant gets a disease, others will to. You need to keep constant treatment in the greenhouse to prevent diseases. The same goes with pests and insects. They need to be treated for often to prevent and nasty outbreak. Using either commercial or organic sprays, follow the instructions for both a pesticide and a fungicide and keep a constant routine to prevent any outbreaks. Gardening in a greenhouse is kind of like a classroom full of kindergarteners. When one gets sick they all get sick shortly after!

Using a greenhouse is not hard. You just need to be sure that you are creating a great environment for your plants. Things like heat buildup, over watering and pest control is a few things you needs to take into consideration when gardening with a greenhouse. Since you are in a controlled environment, things are a little different the gardening outdoors.

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