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Essential Greenhouse Supplies and Equipment

For proper functioning and maintenance of greenhouses, certain essential greenhouse supplies and equipment are required.

The first important supply is the covering or glazing material of the greenhouse since it identifies the effectiveness and success of the greenhouse in terms of plant growing and maintenance. Glass covering provides impact on the aesthetic appearance and permanence of the greenhouse. Some of the weaknesses of glass covering include the disability of retaining heat and low insulating value. It is heavier and therefore needs stronger braces or frames. It is fragile, easy to break and doesn't diffuse light so there's a possibility of plant burning. It also requires contractor installation, which may affect the budget.

Plastic covering includes fiberglass, polycarbonate, acrylic sheets, and polyethylene film. Fiberglass is an alternative to glass since it is translucent enough to transmit light. You can purchase them in rolls or ridged sheets. The corrugation grids seal and overlap sides to avoid appropriate temperature inside the greenhouse from escaping.

Polycarbonate is the newest covering option, which appears to be stronger and more resistant to environmental impacts like fire. It is available in single, double and triple walled sheets. Single walled coverings are very popular in hobby gardener greenhouse. Double walled is used in sunshine easy growth and Juliana greenhouses which sustains balanced lighting. Triple wall is prevalent in cross-country greenhouses and are the most expensive.

Polyethylene film is the most popular and commonly used in the US since it is cheaper in comparison to other coverings. It is easy to maintain and can be used for 3-5 years depending on the thickness of poly and UV treatment. One of its drawbacks is it is easy to rip and tear.

The second most crucial supply is water. The following are choices on how to water the plants. First is by using a garden hose. It allows the gardener to provide one on one plant watering individually. Although with some greenhouse planters, it can be a problem when there is not much time and when one is on vacation.

The second option is thru drip irrigation system. This is very commonly in use since a tube delivers to each pot from a main water pipe and it uses a nozzle to control water dispersion. It is equipped with a timer for watering plants with less supervision. Third option is the overhead sprinkler system, which automatically waters plants faster; however, plants can be susceptible to unequal distribution of water. The fourth is the overhead misting system, which is important for humidifying the area but not as a main water source.

The third most important supply is the greenhouse thermometer, which provides information or records high and low temperatures inside the greenhouse. It serves as a reference of the wetness and dryness of the surroundings maintenance. The maximum and minimum thermometer uses a small needle to determine the temperature. Some thermometers provide the Ph, moisture content and humidity levels for proper monitoring of the plants. Market offers several types of thermometers like the indoor/outdoor thermometers with sensors, digital wall mounted, or tabletop type with humidity indicator plus soil thermometers for seedbeds and compost monitoring.

The fourth supply is the greenhouse frames. These are in use as skeletons for the greenhouse covering or glazing. The most commonly used frames include wood, aluminum, galvanized steel, and PVC. Wood is extremely popularly in sunrooms or homemade greenhouses. It provides attractive appearance and easy to design with accessories. It is heat containing and are considered to be heavier and larger, therefore allowing more shadow or shade in the greenhouse.

One weakness of wood frames is its proneness to deterioration because of damp atmosphere although there are wood frames that are element and insect resistant like the redwood and cedar. One can also use sealants to increase wood life. Aluminum is indeed the most expensive of all frame choices; however, it is rust, rot and break resistant. Galvanized steel frames are the strongest frames but it needs a heavier structure. PVC pipe frames are popular because it is cheaper, easy to install and portable.

The fifth important supply is the floor, which consists of the walkway and under bench areas. The walkway is best created when it is non-slippery, easy to clean and strong enough to resist everyday moisture and dirt. Some materials for the walkway may include stone, gravel, brick concrete, wood slits, and ground bark. The under bench areas usually use porous materials that can absorb moisture and at the same time allow easy water drainage. Some materials include gravel, sawdust, and ground bark. It also helps to use a sheet of woven weed barrier to avoid growth of weeds.

The sixth most important supply is the benches, which greenhouses use to allow gardeners enough space to work. They also function as shade to the plants. A good bench top allows water to drain and permits flow of fresh air.

The seventh supply is the lighting, which greatly affects the growth of plants. A specific greenhouse area or season creates an impact on the lighting and that's why there is available artificial lighting for greenhouses.

The eighth supplies are the ventilation system. These include the fan shutter, exhaust fans, fan controls, roof vent openers, louver windows and circulation fans. Shutter fans permit air exhaustion and circulation. Some fan designs are corrosion resistant, quiet, easy to maintain and UV protected. Fan controls are receptacles that control the fan with installed thermostats. Automatic roof vent openers are easy to install which do not require electricity or batteries. Louver windows also help in air circulation. The ideal place for them is opposite the door. Some are adjustable and you can operate them manually or by automatic openers.

The ninth supply is the heating system. These include the electric heaters, small and large gas heaters and heat circulation fans. They function to distribute heat evenly all throughout the greenhouse. Recommended heaters must have automatic thermostats and shut off controls for safety. Gas heaters are in use particularly when electrical plugs are not available in the greenhouse. They are energy proficient and emit carbon dioxide and water.

The tenth supply is the shading system. Shade covers are popular during long hot summers to block about 20% of sun's rays. They are particularly useful to plants, which are in need of less sunlight. Some factors that you may consider when choosing shade cover size include the greenhouse location, climate, and light requirement of the plants inside the greenhouse.

The eleventh supply is the staging equipments. A single tier with 2 feet height is an ideal set up for staging. However, for large greenhouses, it is best to use 2-3 tiers for maximum use of space. There are available small propagating frames, which are equipped with soil warming cables and air warming sides. Some come with built in thermostats.

The twelfth supply is the watering cans. Despite the availability of automatic irrigation systems, it is also essential to have watering cans. It helps in sustaining water in the greenhouse. A recommended can is a well-balanced one with long spouts to be able to refill water with ease.

The thirteenth supply is the dibbers. These are wooden hand tools handy for creating holes in the ground for plant seedlings and cuttings.

The fifteenth supply is the sieves. These help in soil sifting and compost making.

The sixteenth supply includes buckets, pots and trays, which serve as plant receptacles. These are very common garden supplies.

The seventeenth supply is the measuring jugs and sprayers. These help with pesticide maintenance.

The eighteenth supply is the protective netting. These help to trap insects and bugs, which can be detrimental to the growth of plants. One good example of netting is the plastic netting, which is very economical.

The nineteenth supply is the composting system. Composting system consist of recycling your waste products and using your compost bins and wire containers. These are popularly called commercial composters to make composting easy and manageable. They are easy to rotate and are secure from bugs and pests.

The twentieth supply is the fertilizer. Ideally, plants need to be fertilized once a month to provide the proper nutrients needed by the former.

The twenty-first supply is the hand tools. One must be sure that there are available plant scissors, cultivators, trovels, and weeders in the greenhouse.

The twenty-second need is the tie down kits. This tool will prevent the greenhouse from being blown off by the wind.

The twenty-third supply is the seed heat mats. This is primarily used to germinate seeds faster. Some mats are enclosed with lighting and watering instructions.

The twenty-fourth supply is the plant labels. These are used as aids in plant monitoring. It helps to save time when plants are labeled.

The last supply is the garden apparel used by the gardener. The market offers wide range of choices particularly with the shoes and hand gloves to be used inside the greenhouse. Gloves come with easy grip features while shoes are non-slippery in design and comfortable to use.

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What kind of container do I use to calibrate a thermometer? (Take 3)?

I'm calibrating by Ice method. I have several containers to put the ice and water in. Which one do I use to get a proper reading of 32 degrees Fahrenheit?

In theory, you can use any of them. The hitch is that you have to give the water time to chill down. Ice can be colder than 32 degrees, but it is only at 32 that it melts into water. So if you have a cup full of water and ice, the water will be chilled down to 32 degrees by the ice. For any warmth absorbed by the water from the container and environment, some ice will melt off, and the water will stay at the melting point.

Personally, I'd use styrofoam because it will have the best insulating properties of the materials listed. Half water, half crushed ice would be what I would use. The crushed ice has more surface area to interact with the liquid water. You should use water, as any other things in the liquid can affect your reading. If I were to do it, I'd also put a cover over the cup, with the thermometer through it (like through a straw hole for example).

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