Gardening is transformed by greenhouses and controlled environments — where the garden can grow despite the weather outside. These controls allow gardeners to control light, temperature, humidity precisely, and so on so that any plant can be grown, from natives to exotic varieties to food crops. Greenhouses and artificial environments can extend seasons and yields, whether you’re a hobby grower or an enterprise grower.
What Are Greenhouses and Managed Environments?
A greenhouse is an enclosure made of glass or clear plastic that catches sunlight and maintains a stable temperature for plants. Controlled environments go even further, using technologies such as heaters, chillers, and grow lights to make things even more microregulated.
They’re great if you’re growing them all year long, need to shield them from the elements, and want to grow plants that don’t always grow in your area. Gardens that grow natives can use greenhouses to plant seedlings early or extend the flowering season of plants important to native habitats.
Types of Greenhouses
Cold Frames:
Cold frames are essential, cheap structures that heat using sunlight. They can be used to plant native species, such as wildflowers, late in the season or to winterize hardy perennials.
Heated Greenhouses:
These greenhouses are heated, so they are ideal for tropical cultivation or for wintering delicate plants. Native shrubs or sapling trees (dogwoods, redbuds) can be trained in a hot climate before transplanting.
Ventilated Greenhouses:
You will need ventilation to control humidity and avoid mold or insects. You could use ventilation for native plants that like a bit more humidity, such as prairie grasses.
Hydroponic Greenhouses:
They’re designed to grow without soil so that you can use them for leafy greens, herbs, or native edibles such as wild spinach.
The Advantages of Greenhouses and Remediated Climates.
Extended Growing Seasons:
With a greenhouse, the gardener can keep his vegetables and herbs warm all year long without being frost-bitten or subjected to extreme temperatures. This is especially true of native plants that can flower late or early in their natural season because a greenhouse can extend their blooming season.
Pest and Disease Management:
Pests and diseases are kept to a minimum in managed landscapes. Native seeds started in greenhouses can get solid roots and grow out before exposure to the outdoor environment, making them less susceptible.
Customization for Plant Needs:
There are plants with different light, moisture, and temperature needs. These demands are easy to satisfy in cultivated settings, whether promoting shade ferns or sun-loving wildflowers.
Space Optimization:
Vertical gardening, like hanging pots or stair-style shelving, can save valuable space in a greenhouse. Native climbing shrubs such as honeysuckle can be cultivated in raised beds and made to work for little space.
Setting Up a Controlled Environment
1. Temperature Control:
The temperature has to be correct. For hot-season vegetables such as tomatoes or peppers, try to keep it 65-75°F, and for cool-season vegetables such as lettuce or kale, 55-65°F.
2. Humidity Management:
The right humidity will keep the plants stress-free and fungi-free. Aim fans or vents to circulate air and humidity meters to monitor.
3. Lighting:
Overhead with LED grow lights when days are getting shorter. They’re low-energy, can even simulate sunlight, and are great for high-light-demanding plants like native grasses.
4. Irrigation Systems:
Don’t water continuously, so get drip irrigation. This specialized watering method can benefit local plants such as milkweed that like moderate moisture.
5. Soil and Fertilizers:
Fill the pots with nutrients suited to the plants you are growing. Plant natives in well-drained soils, so ensure the pots or beds are well-drained.
Best Plants for Greenhouses
1. Native Plants:
Native plants start very well from seed in greenhouses. Plants such as butterfly weed, wild bergamot, or cardinal flowers can be started in the spring to aid pollinators and transplanted outdoors.
2. Exotic and Tender Varieties:
Plant tropical or Mediterranean varieties that are impossible to grow outside, such as orchids or citrus trees.
3. Edibles:
Grasses, vegetables, and fruits like their conditions fixed. To stay on track, try using local edible species such as elderberries or wild strawberries.
4. Perennials and Annuals:
Perennials such as coneflowers flower longer under greenhouses and annuals are protected from frost.
Sustainable Practices in Controlled Environments
Energies Savings: Using solar panels or insulation to save on energy.
Rain Water Harvesting: You can put up rain barrels to capture water for use in your garden.
Biocomposting: Install a compost heap for the food scraps that feed your greenhouse plants.
Native Seeds: Introduce native plants to ensure biodiversity and less dependency on non-natives.
Challenges and Solutions
1. High Costs:
Getting set up and powering it up for the first time can cost a fortune. If you are low on funds, use passive solar or cold frames.
2. Overheating:
Be careful about temperature, especially during summer, and have vents or shading devices.
3. Pests and Diseases:
Greenhouses keep pests at bay, but aphids and mold are still a concern. Introduce beneficial bugs such as ladybugs or spray with organic products to control outbreaks.
Gardeners find an enchanted universe of possibilities in greenhouses and controlled environments where they can grow all year, generate more biodiversity, and cultivate native plants under the right conditions. If you apply this method, you’ll be able to achieve a flourishing, sustainable landscape that benefits your garden and is environmentally responsible. So whether you’re growing vegetables, plants for decor, or native wildflowers, a greenhouse is the ultimate extension of your garden.
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About the Author: Tammy Sons studied Horticulture and is the Founder and CEO of TN Nursery, a family-run business rooted in her deep love for plants and gardening. With decades of experience, Tammy specializes in helping gardeners of all levels create thriving, beautiful landscapes.
