In Tropical Climates, Is A Greenhouse Necessary?

The greenhouse structure must provide protection from heavy rain, strong winds, and pest damage to reduce damage to crops during frequent tropical storms and remove the need for insecticides. A decent underground foundation is necessary to prevent water flow down smoothly, and a solid cement foundation can be chosen. Tropical climates are ideal for growing a wide range of crops, with an abundance of sun and heat all year round. Greenhouses in tropical climates should follow the orientation of east–west (single span) and north-south (multispan with gutter connected) for maximum interception of light.

Tropical plants can thrive in a greenhouse with tropical or semi-tropical climate control, with full sun or partial shade being best for growing these flowers and blooming beautifully. Managing greenhouse climates in tropical and temperate regions presents distinct challenges and opportunities. In tropical regions, focus on shade management, ventilation, and humidity control to ensure optimal growth.

Greenhouses for vegetable growing in tropical Climates have remarkable advantages in comparison to open field production, such as higher yields, improved quality, and less damage to crops. Cultivation of crops in greenhouses is increasing from high altitude and temperate regions to warmer regions of tropics and subtropics. However, high temperature and humidity during summer months can adversely affect crop production in tropical regions.

Tropical greenhouses are taller with integral roof vents and constructed to exclude insect pests and keep rain off crops. Balancing keeping the greenhouse warm in winter and cool in summer is essential, as summer heat is basically year-round. Tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, basil, miniature palms that love humidity, and slow-growing tropical tree ferns can grow in hot summer greenhouses.

A properly selected greenhouse should provide optimal ventilation and have a steel frame. Greenhouse shelter/structures for tropical climates should have characteristics such as crop protection from rain, wind, and too high global radiation. A summer greenhouse requires 40 shade cloth, roof venting, and moisture.

In conclusion, tropical greenhouses offer numerous benefits for growing crops in non-tropical climates, including providing protection from heavy rain, strong winds, pest damage, and reducing the need for insecticides.


📹 Managing Heat in Greenhouses (Tropical Climate)

Kel Li breaks down ways to battle heat in greenhouses during summers.


Do I really need a greenhouse?

While a greenhouse is not a prerequisite for the cultivation of most plants, it can serve to prolong the growing season and facilitate a broader spectrum of successful plant growth. For vegetables of a cold-origin, such as brassicas, peas, beans, salad crops, and herbs, a greenhouse is the optimal environment. Plants that thrive in sunny conditions, such as tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, and cucumbers, exhibit accelerated growth and increased fruit production in a greenhouse environment.

Do you need a greenhouse in the summer?
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Do you need a greenhouse in the summer?

In hot climates, a year-round greenhouse with cooling systems is crucial for most growers to grow crops like kale, chard, tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers. These greenhouses use a combination of shade cloth, GAHT®, and evaporative cooler to prevent overheating and allow year-round growth. Other tips for using a greenhouse for summer growth include:

  1. Use shade cloth to prevent overheating.
  2. Use GAHT® to transfer heat from the sun to the greenhouse.
  3. Use an evaporative cooler for cooling.

What not to grow in a greenhouse?

Greenhouses are ideal for gardeners as they provide controlled environments that extend growing seasons and protect plants from harsh weather. However, not all plants thrive in enclosed spaces. Some common mistakes to avoid include large trees and shrubs, which can outgrow containers and damage structures. Invasive plants, such as mint or certain ivy species, can quickly overtake other plants and become difficult to eradicate once established in a greenhouse.

To avoid these issues, it is recommended to reserve your greenhouse for compact or easily pruned plants. Additionally, plants with high temperature requirements, such as long-lived perennials, should be kept outside for easier control. By avoiding these common mistakes, you can save time, effort, and disappointment in your greenhouse gardening endeavors.

What are the bad things about greenhouses?

Traditional greenhouses, powered by non-renewable energy sources, significantly contribute to CO2 emissions, with conventional greenhouses emitting around 575kg of CO2 per ton of lettuce. Advanced greenhouses, using renewable energy and closed-loop water systems, emit 352kg of CO2 per ton. This highlights the need for technological and methodological advancements to reduce greenhouse environmental impact. Additionally, greenhouses require significant energy to maintain optimal growing conditions, often sourced from fossil fuels, resulting in carbon emissions.

Do greenhouses work in hot climates?

Greenhouses are essential in hot climates to protect plants from excessive heat, limiting productivity and reducing energy and water requirements associated with controlled environment agriculture. They are used to reduce the energy and water requirements associated with controlled environment agriculture. Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B. V., its licensors, and contributors. All rights reserved, including text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.

What temperature is too cold for a greenhouse?

To maintain optimal plant growth, keep your greenhouse temperature below 3C (37F). Tender plants like pelargoniums, half-hardy fuchsias, and citrus trees prefer a minimum of 7C (45F), and safest at 10C (50F). This temperature is ideal for young plants and plug plants. If you have a conservatory, use it to overwinter delicate plants. Position heaters carefully, placing them in an open, central spot away from water and angling the heater to prevent foliage desiccation by direct airflow above nearby plants.

What would the temperature be without a greenhouse?
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What would the temperature be without a greenhouse?

Greenhouse gases play a crucial role in maintaining Earth’s temperature for life. Without the natural greenhouse effect, Earth’s heat would escape into space, resulting in an average temperature of around -20°C. The greenhouse effect occurs when most infrared radiation from the Sun passes through the atmosphere, but most is absorbed and re-emitted by greenhouse gas molecules and clouds. This warms the Earth’s surface and lower atmosphere.

Greenhouse gases absorb infrared radiation in the form of heat, which is circulated in the atmosphere and eventually lost to space. They also increase the rate at which the atmosphere can absorb short-wave radiation from the Sun, but this has a weaker effect on global temperatures.

What happens if there is no greenhouse?

Greenhouse gases play a crucial role in maintaining Earth’s suitable temperature for life. The natural greenhouse effect occurs when most of the infrared radiation from the Sun is absorbed and re-emitted by greenhouse gas molecules and clouds, causing the Earth’s surface and lower atmosphere to warm. Greenhouse gases absorb infrared radiation in the form of heat, which is circulated in the atmosphere and eventually lost to space. They also increase the rate at which the atmosphere can absorb short-wave radiation from the Sun, but this has a weaker effect on global temperatures.

What is the best climate for a greenhouse?

The optimal greenhouse temperature range for most common crops is 18°C (64°F – 75°F), which is commonly found in greenhouses worldwide. Temperatures outside this range can lead to slower growth and suboptimal crop quality. Controlling humidity is crucial in greenhouses and indoor growing facilities, as untreated humidity can cause problems and inefficiencies. Unoptimal conditions can result in slower growth, smaller crops, and reduced crop quality. Unchecked humidity can also cause condensation, leading to diseases like botrytis and downy mildew, which can rapidly destroy large amounts of vegetables, cannabis, or other crops.

What temperature should a tropical greenhouse be?

The temperature of the house is maintained at a range of 50-85 degrees Fahrenheit, with humidity levels adjusted to emulate a subtropical environment. The placement of plants is altered on an annual basis to reflect the progression of growth.

What is the disadvantage of greenhouse?
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What is the disadvantage of greenhouse?

The greenhouse effect, which is caused by human activities, results in soil erosion, which in turn destroys fertile land, decreases crop yield, and contributes to global warming. Furthermore, it gives rise to climatic alterations, including the elevation of water levels, which inflict damage upon marine life and aquatic ecosystems. It is therefore imperative to take action to mitigate the effects of this phenomenon.


📹 Tropical and Hot Climate Greenhouse Design: Natural Ventilation Augmented Cooling NVAC Greenhouse

Natural Ventilation Augmented Cooling Greenhouse. An alternative approach to cooling and ventilation in hot climate …


In Tropical Climates, Is A Greenhouse Necessary?
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4 comments

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  • If you are interested in testing this in a true hot climate that represents future generations I’d like to hear from you. I am in North Texas. Our temperatures spike on the high end but we have extreme low end valleys as well. Basically -6c for two months, typically an average of 29c for four months, with peak summer months sustained as much as 40-43c. Testing in the Caribbean is useful only when accepting the uniqueness of island climates: yes it is hot during the day, but evenings drop significantly. This is true whether rainy season or dry. Regulars rains help with cooling and those are consistent regardless of season. We Texans tend to vacation across the Caribbean and Central America. 😉 The local climate does a lot of the misting for you already. To truly prove out the approach you need a climate where sustained dry seasons last up to six months with no expectation of appreciable evening drop down nor the typical and predictable showers the Caribbean enjoys in early mornings and mid to late evenings.

  • If the outside RH is equal to the amount provided by the misters, will the system still work (as evaporative cooling is dependent on the differential between inside and outside RH)? Wouldn’t a simple fan system with a GH tube be much cheaper, simpler, and more effective? I’ve seen similar designs in the tropics, however the problem here is keeping air moving and humidity down. This means a simple rain cover and a fan system. I don’t believe that adding more humidity in tropical zones will be helpful, especially considering the many fungal issues present.

  • It’s a nice idea but when it’s monsoon and summer and humid like ur in a boiler in my region this misting is needing more adjustments. Now in hot dry summer with heat waves we then get a sudden rain it’s like a climate mix in summer in my region and the need for electricity and they just assume u get water liberally….it’s possible for some places but unfortunately not all…if only someone could make the green house pretty like a glass house in hot areas too….I purely wanted a green house in a terrace for it’s looks to grow some flowers and look at the rain from inside….

  • Hi, your topic is on the design of greenhouse in hot and humid climate. However, the end conclusion of the results actually shows a high RH which is detrimental to plants which I would already have guessed so from the usage of a mister. Ultimately does this serve as a solution to a good greenhouse design for hot & humid climate. Please take note I am referring to hot and humid….not hot and dry. Thanks.