Exploring Greenhouse Structures

Warm Up What building material can you recognize in

this photo?

Essential Question What are the common greenhouse designs?

Common Green House Designs

4 Common designs Lean-toEven-Span Uneven-SpanRidge and Furrow

Lean-to Greenhouseshares a wall with a building and relies on the

building structure to provide some support for the greenhouse roof.

Even-span GreenhouseSingle houses that have roofs with an even pitch and

an even width.Hoop House/Quonset: common even-span greenhouse

that uses arching pipes for the framework

Uneven-Span GreenhouseHave unequal pitches and widths.Limited to hillside useRarely Built

Ridge and Furrow Greenhouse

Structures consist of a number of greenhouses connected along the length of the house.

Shared interior walls reduce energy costs and allow for large interior spaces.

Best oriented north and south to reduce permanent shadows on the crops created by the gutters.

Types of GreenhousesExpanded

Greenhouse FrameworkSupports the greenhouse

covering materialShould be:

Strong, allow for maximum amount of light to enter, require little maintenence

Aluminum is most popularOther materials include

wood, steel, angle iron

Greenhouse CoveringCovering= glazingConsiderations

Durable, light transmission, cost, heating effectiveness

Possible materialsPolyethylene

Stretched over greenhouse framework, cheap, not durable, not expensive

Structured sheets polycarbonate, acrylic, and fiberglass materials have

grown in popularity. Multi sheets= good insulation

Structured Sheets Polycarbonate structured sheets

most widely used, good light transmission, resist hail damage, easy to work with

Acrylic structured sheetshigh light transmission, costly, prone to hail

damage, and are less flexibleFiberglass

discolors after 7 to 10 years, is flammable,and provides poor insulation

GlassConsidered best greenhouse glazing

(covering) material Highest light transmissionLong lasting

HeadhouseAttached to the greenhouseUsed as a storage area, a potting area, an

office, and/or a shipping area.

Retractable Roof Greenhouses Designs allow the roof to be opened and closed.Gives plants protection from weather when neededReduced watering, rainwater can be used

Greenhouse Benches Holds the plants above the ground. Materials include:

galvanized steel, aluminum, plastic, and rot resistant wood.

Arranged in greenhouse with aisle space to walkRolling Benches:

movable bench used to maximize growing space by limiting space for aisles

benches are placed on pipes, which allows them to be easily moved from side to side.

Rolling Bench

Vocabulary

ActivitiesReview Quiz 1

Go over Review Quiz Hand out project worksheet

Controlling Greenhouse Climate

Warm UpWhy is this plant wilting? What does wilting

mean?

Essential QuestionWhat are the common greenhouse climate

control systems?

HeatingHot water heat system

heating water in a boiler and pumping the hot water through pipes located in the greenhouse located under benches, low maintenance, even heat

Steam heatboilers that bring water to a boil and the

resulting steam flows through pipes in the greenhouse

HeatingUnit heaters

heat air within the unit, then blow the air throughout the greenhouse. Polyethylene tubes evenly distribute air flow, cost more to operate

Infrared heat systemsproduce heat energy that is absorbed by the

plants, media, and benches, do not heat the air, suited for high greenhouses

CoolingFan and pad cooling system

Number 1 system, based on evaporation of water, pads at one end of the house are kept wet, fans at the other end of the house pull air through the pads. Air entering the house is cooled as water in the pads evaporates.

CoolingFog systems

involve an atomizer that produces water vapor, flash evaporation of this water cools the greenhouse.

Ventsconsist of panels

that open and allow air exchange with the outside, Natural cooling

Energy CurtainAutomated systems using fabrics that can

insulate a greenhouse at night and shade the crops during the dayInstalled gutter to gutter, run by computers

Short-day curtainsSimilar to energy curtains, provides darkness

that will simulate a short-day effect.

Climate Control SystemsEnvironmental controls

Devices used to turn greenhouse systems on and off, including heating and cooling systems.

Includes:ThermostatsAnalog controlsComputer controlsComputerized environmental management

systems

Climate Control SystemsThermostats are low cost, easy to install

environmental controls.On-off thermostats control fans, heaters, and

vents with the change of temperatures.Analog controls use proportioning

thermostats to run amplifiers and electronic circuitry.heating and cooling operations are integrated

resulting in better performance

Climate Control systemsComputer controls use microprocessors to

make complex judgments based on information from a number of sensors.

Computerized environmental management systems, although expensive, are accurate and can control all the automated systems together.

VocabularyAnalog controlsComputer controlsComputerized environmental

management systemsEnergy curtainsEnvironmental controlsFan and pad cooling systemFog systemHot water heat systemInfrared heat systemPolyethylene tubesShort-day curtainsSteam heatThermostatsUnit heatersVents

Activities Represent Heating and Cooling and Systems

Draw them on a separate piece of paper from your notes. This will be turned in.

Review Quiz 2 Go over Review Quiz

Automated Greenhouse Systems

Warm UpWhat does this machine do? Why is it convenient?

Essential QuestionWhat are some advantages of automated

systems?

Automated Systems Incorporate technological developments in

the production of greenhouse crops.Automated systems cut down labor costs Automated systems allow for larger crops

Automated Systems- Planting

Automated pot fillersused to fill pots with medium, medium is lightly

packed, and the pots are stacked or move down a conveyor for planting.

Automated seederspermit the sowing of entire flats or plug trays in

a few moments, trays move down a conveyor to a germination room or move to the greenhouse

Automated transplantersremove small plants from plug trays and

transplant them directly to pots.

Automated Systems- Transporting

Transporting= most labor intensive part

Conveyor belt systems are used to move plants from one area of the greenhouse to another.

Tray mechanization, has grown in popularity in the U.S.Individual trays or palletized benches that hold

100 pots or more roll on a series of rails from one area to another.

Automated Systems: Watering

Spaghetti tubingAutomated system

that involves small tubes connected to a main line

End of each small tube is placed in a pot, and when functioning, dribbles water onto the medium.

Allows flowers and foliage to stay dry

Automated : Watering Drip irrigation

a system like spaghetti tubing

differs = provides a slow steady drip

Used with hanging baskets

Wastes less !!

Automated: Watering Ebb and flood

Watering involves watertight benches in which pots are set

Water or nutrient solutions are pumped into the bench, the medium absorbs the water, and the water drains away.

Little water loss, nutrient levels are easily adjusted, plant foliage kept dry

Automated: Watering Capillary mats

consist of porous mats placed on a bench and wetted.

The medium in the pots absorbs the water through capillary action.

Foliage stays dry, high humidity provided

Automated: Watering Irrigation booms

Move across the entire bench and well-placed nozzles flood the pots below as they pass over the plants

Commonly used with bedding plants, plug trays, and some potted flowering crops.

Automated: Watering Overhead sprinklers

Stationary sprinkler heads placed throughout the growing space

Large amount of water in a short period of time Often used with bedding plants.

Automated: WateringIntermittent mist

systemsProduce tiny droplets

in the air for the purpose of keeping plant material wet

Commonly used in the propagation phase of production to reduce water stress on cuttings

Continuous or programmed times

VocabularyAutomated pot fillersAutomated seedersAutomated transplantersCapillary matsConveyor belt systemDrip irrigationEbb and floodIntermittent mist systemIrrigation boomsOverhead sprinklersSpaghetti tubingTray mechanization

Activities Research Project

1 page SINGLE space paper, size 12 font, times new roman or comic sans

Which automated watering system is the best and why?

Review Quiz 3 Go over Review Quiz

Managing a Greenhouse Business

Warm Up What types of jobs are conducted in a

greenhouse?

Essential Question What are the types of greenhouse

businesses?

Greenhouse Businesses3 categories

Specialty GrowersWholesale GrowersRetail Growers

Specialty GrowersProduce crops sold to wholesale or retail

greenhouse growersSpecialize in one, or multiple crops

Can specialize in:Rooted cuttingsSeed production Bulbs for forcing

Wholesale Growers Produce a limited number of crops

Can ProduceCut rosesFoliage PlantsPotted flowering plants

Products are sold to retail stores

Retail Growers Generally produce a variety of crops sold directly to

the public through their own retail outlet.

Common Costs Direct materials costs

those costs including plant materials, pots, chemicals, and growing media.

Direct labor costs based on production activities such as planting

crops, spacing crops, watering and fertilizing crops and managing pests and diseases.

Common Costs Continued…Overhead costs

do not have a direct impact on the production of the crops. heating fuel, office management and secretarial

support, taxes, depreciation, insurance, and utilities

Marketing costs associated with advertising, packaging

products, shipping, and billing.

Career Opportunities Greenhouse Manager

responsible for the total greenhouse operationGrower

charge of the day to day tasks involved in producing one or more crops.

Marketing manager’s sell the crops

Shipping room manager handling a crop from the time it leaves the

greenhouse until it is shipped.

Skills Required Understand crops and how to care for themMechanical SkillsUnderstand the marketDeliver plants in a healthy stateAdministrative SkillsGood understanding of local, state, and

national laws pertaining to plant growing, sale, and transport

Vocabulary

Direct labor costsDirect materials costsGreenhouse managerGrowerMarketing costsMarketing managerOverhead costsProduction managerPropagatorRetail growersShipping room managerSpecialty growersWholesale growers

ActivitiesReview Quiz 4

Vocabulary Analog controls Computer controls Computerized

environmental management systems

Energy curtains Environmental controls Fan and pad cooling

system Fog system Hot water heat system Infrared heat system Polyethylene tubes Short-day curtains Steam heat Thermostats Unit heaters Vents

Automated pot fillers

Automated seeders Automated

transplanters Capillary mats Conveyor belt

system Drip irrigation Ebb and flood Intermittent mist

system Irrigation booms Overhead

sprinklers Spaghetti tubing Tray mechanization

Direct labor costs Direct materials costs Greenhouse manager Grower Marketing costs Marketing manager Overhead costs Production manager Propagator Retail growers Shipping room manager Specialty growers Wholesale growers

Growing Potted Flowering Plants

Warm Up

Essential QuestionWhat is one important aspect to keep in mind

while growing flowering potted plants?