Having a greenhouse is great, until a hot summer day fries all of your plants. Here are some ways I keep my greenhouse cool during the summer.
Greenhouses are great at keeping your plants warm by holding onto the thermal energy from the sun.
This is great during early spring when it's cool outside, but once the summer heat arrives your greenhouse can turn inhospitable to plants.
If you know me, I am not about to empty my greenhouse of plants because it's too hot. Instead I fill my greenhouse with plants and keep it cool.
Here are some of the ways I keep my greenhouse cool. (Cool during the summer in a greenhouse is under or around 100oF)
Get Airflow
Open your windows, doors, vents, or sides of your greenhouse. Getting good airflow in your greenhouse is key to keeping it cool.
During the summer months I never close my greenhouse doors and windows. You want these closed in the spring to hold heat in, so open them during the summer to let heat out.
Add Some Shade Cloth
Shade cloth is used to artificially create shade and it mimics a tree. Having shade cloth in your greenhouse keeps it cool and prevents your plants from getting too much sun.
You can buy commercial grade shade cloth here. It comes in different percentages of shade, so choose what is best for your plants and location.
I don't use professional shade cloth. Instead I just use burlap. I like the look of the burlap, and because of it's light color it reflects the sun's heat.
I use these greenhouse clips to hang the shade cloth in my greenhouse.
Spray You Greenhouse Down
You know how sweating keeps us cool because it evaporates. The same principal can be used for your greenhouse.
Wetting the inside of your greenhouse down can cool it down considerably. When I spray my greenhouse down on a summer day it quickly lowers the temperature.
Just soaking your greenhouse floor with water will help it stay cool. I do this midday during the summer months.
Add A Fan
If your are really struggling to keep your greenhouse cool a fan can help. Get a fan and point it, so that it pulls the hot air out of your greenhouse.
This increased airflow can pull the cooler air in while expelling the hot air.
Grow More Plants
I know I just told you the best thing ever... you need to grow more plants! Seriously, having a densely planted greenhouse can help regulate the temperature.
Plants can keep your greenhouse cool by shading the ground and as the soil evaporates it also cools the air.
Other Tips For Summer Greenhouses
Here are a few other tips for having a healthy greenhouse even during hot summers.
Grow Heating Loving Plants
Many plants are just not suited for summer greenhouses. However, there is a wide variety of tropical plants that thrive in the heat.
I grow luffas, butterfly peas, and eucalyptus in my greenhouse because they thrive in the heat.
Keep Your Greenhouse Humid
Most plants need humidity when the heat spikes in your greenhouse. If your greenhouse is too dry it will pull the water out of your plants leaves.
Unless your growing cacti or succulents you need to keep your greenhouse humid. Growing a jungle of plants makes it easier to keep the humidity up.
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