11 Best Ways How To Keep Greenhouse Cool 2023

How to keep greenhouse cool? Let’s check it!

When we think of the possibility of gardening all year round in greenhouses, everybody is concerned about maintaining the temperature during the winter. What they should be concerned about is how to cool the greenhouse during the summer.

If greenhouse temperatures begin to increase, it could create serious problems for the plants in your greenhouse. This is why it is essential to understand how to cool your greenhouse to ensure you can grow healthy plants all through summer.

There are many methods to ensure your greenhouse stays cool in the summer months, especially in the hotter regions. It is possible to try some DIY methods such as active ventilation or install accessories like swamp coolers or misters.

The method you choose to use will depend on the budget you have available and how much cooling capacity you require. In this article, you’ll find 11 methods to ensure your greenhouse stays cool during summer. The first step is to answer the most important question!

The Reasons to Make Sure You Keep Your Greenhouse Cool

If your greenhouse becomes excessively hot, there are a number of issues that could occur: y our plants could dry out, which can create a perfect environment for pests, it could result in your plants beginning to die and can make your plants more vulnerable to diseases. These are the reasons you need to monitor the temperature of your greenhouse.

In the summer heat, it is crucial to keep your greenhouse at the optimal temperature of around between 80 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. There are a variety of ways that to keep the temperature of your greenhouse at a comfortable level. There is no need to follow all of them initially. You may want to start with just one or two choices and then see how it works for the summer months and then determine if you should add more ways to cool down in the future.

And now let’s check how to keep your greenhouse cool.

Strategies to cool Your Greenhouse in the Summer

1. Install The Thermometer

In the beginning, you must purchase a thermometer in case you don’t have one already. This will allow you to monitor the temperatures of your garden. A thermometer of any kind will help you monitor the greenhouse temperature to ensure maximum growth.

2. Cool Your Greenhouse by Using Good Ventilation

Natural ventilation occurs in the process of using vents and the wind to air circulation in your garden. How you ventilate your greenhouse will be contingent on the type of greenhouse you own.

If you’re using an outdoor greenhouse that is made of plastic sheeting, you could simply open the sides whenever you are sure that it is going to be extremely warm air. A walled greenhouse fixed to the ground typically has vents that are typically located on the sides, and occasionally in the roofing.

We have a variety of natural vents for our greenhouse. We have a huge garage-style door that is open in summer, and also a few ventilators on either side of the door, and on the other side, so that the wind flows straight through the greenhouse and keeps the air flowing quite nicely.

NOTE: When you are using natural ventilation, the inside part of your greenhouse would be cooled to the temperature of the air outside.

3. Utilizing Greenhouse Fans

The movement of air around your greenhouse will lower the temperature. Remember, your greenhouse will still require air coming from outside or inside. Therefore, if the temperature is 90 degrees do not expect your greenhouse to drop significantly lower than that when you’re only using an exhaust fan to cool the greenhouse.

There are a variety of options with regard to fan systems. But, there are some aspects to be considered prior to install any type of fan.

In the beginning, you must determine the right size fan to fit your greenhouse. It is important to determine the ideal rate of ventilation suitable for the structure you have. A professional to assist you with this. Typically, fans must provide an air exchange every minute, with a maximum of a max of eight feet.

Another important aspect is the place of the fan. It is recommended to install the fan on the top of the structure since hot air is pushed upwards (for the exhaust fan) and, this way the air flow will be over the plants. Exhaust fans are used to blast heat out. The roof vents for intake (louvered vent) should be placed on the opposite end of the greenhouse. It should be positioned towards the bottom, so it draws in the cooler air.

Combining a standard greenhouse fan along with louver vents can increase the airflow too. They can be placed behind the fan to ensure that it pulls cooler air from outside or put on top of the wall to let hot air escape.

It is also important to conduct regular maintenance on the fan system. Simple tasks such as cleaning fan blades, belts, and motors can make sure the life of your fans. If you reside in a more humid area it is possible that you will need more efficient solutions such as Evaporative cooling.

4. Utilize Evaporative Cooling

This happens when the water that is collected from various surfaces of the greenhouse evaporates before being used to cool the hot ambient air. In a greenhouse, the evaporative system may reduce the temperature by 10 to 20 degrees lower than the outside temperature. In a greenhouse, this could be accomplished with the help of a fan and pad system. It is best in climates that are less humid however it can be utilized successfully in other locations.

A fan-and-pad evaporative cooler makes use of an over-the-top water source as well as an evaporative gutter to collect water on pads. There are typically fans on both sides that draw hot air through the pad. Therefore, the pads are always moist and the liquid turns to gas and absorbs the heat.

You must choose an appropriate evaporative cooler for your greenhouse. Around 1 square foot of pad is needed for cooling 20 sq ft of floor. Additionally regularly cleaning your evaporative system would be a good way to improve its efficiency.

5. Creating Shade

There are two primary ways to make shade in the Growing Dome. The first is the natural process of selecting plants with large leaves. Large leaves shade the soil, thereby making your greenhouse cooler. (The more expansive leaves, the more transpiration!) Deciduous trees that are outside of the dome, especially located on the South-West aspect are also an excellent option to shade your dome during summer.

The other method to create shade is by using one of our specially-designed shade cloths made of aluminum. The shade cloth cuts down on sunlight exposure by 50%. sun by 50%, without denying the plants excessive sunlight.

They are included in the kit and are designed to fit the various Growing Dome dimensions. The kit also includes eye bolts and strings to attach it easily to the struts of the greenhouse. The majority of Growing Dome owners put it up from April to June, then remove it between September and October.

But, if it’s a dark-colored shade cloth, it can be hot, and it is possible to raise the temperature.

This shade of cloth is referred to as known as Aluminet(r). It is made from aluminum and it does not heat the interior part of the Growing Dome.

We suggest 50% shading.

Do not completely cover the area part of your dome. You don’t want too much shade. This can result in plants becoming sloppy.

By hanging the shade cloth on the south side of the building, you will reduce the midday sun but receive early morning or late afternoon sunshine.

6. Install a Misting System Or a Fogger To Keep Your Greenhouse Cool

They are similar to evaporative cooling systems. They can cool air to a higher extent at a greater speed. If you reside in a region that is cooler the use of a fogger or mister is an easy option that will work flawlessly.

Foggers and misters are able to cool the atmosphere by releasing water droplets through nozzles. When they evaporate, temperatures decrease. Both systems are similar but foggers produce tiny droplets and possess even greater cooling system capabilities.

They also assist in raising the humidity levels. However, I’m going to warn you that misting systems as well as foggers don’t work as well in areas of high humidity since the air already contains plenty of moisture.

7. You Can Cool Off Greenhouse With the Wind

Natural wind gusts can keep the temperature cool in your greenhouse. It’s similar to when the wind blows on the exterior of your home and this causes the side to become”cooler” than the “cooler side of the house” The same principle applies to your greenhouse. Before you construct your greenhouse, you should check whether there’s an area that aligns with the natural wind patterns.

Notice: Be careful with natural winds, they are also a danger when your region is susceptible to high winds. You should ensure that you have the right greenhouse for wind gusts in your region.

We selected a greenhouse that is built to be able to withstand Wyoming wind conditions (one among the Gable series models from Greenhouse Megastore) and we make use of Wyoming breezes to our advantage when we set up our greenhouse’s ventilation system.

8. Damping Down

A different DIY how to keep your greenhouse cool technique involves damping. It’s like misting system. It assists in keeping plants cool even during extreme temperatures. This technique works by increasing the humidity so that plants are able to cope with higher temperatures. It is easy to do this by spraying the surfaces that are hard like paths, and even staging inside the greenhouses.

As the water evaporates the levels of moisture rise which helps to in keeping pests away. You can moisten your greenhouse however often you like, but if temperatures are extremely hot, make sure not to overdo it.

9. Make Sure to Water Tour Plants Regularly

Regularly watering your plants will keep them healthy, and also ensure that the heat doesn’t plant stress out. As I mentioned earlier, they absorb all the water they require, and the remainder evaporates.

Making sure your plants are supplied with the correct amount of water can ensure that the process of transpiration happens.

10. Do not let Down Your Greenhouse

It is the practice of spraying pathways, empty areas as well as other surfaces within your greenhouse to ensure that the water will evaporate and cool the atmosphere. This process is similar to the misting system and is designed to keep the plants cool. Damping down can create an environment that is humid, and the plants are in a position to stand the temperatures.

11. Make Use of Plants Strategically

Another natural method will keep the greenhouse cool during the summer months. Plants are the first natural cooling systems that evaporate. In order to keep the greenhouse cool it is necessary to plant large-leaved trees like fig trees and grapevines.

The huge leaves help release water and provide shade to the soil. Then, you can reduce the temperature inside as well as shade your soil. You can also have delicious fruits, fantastic you think?

What do you think? You can also plant plants as shade for your greenhouse. Simply building your greenhouse close to the deciduous tree will provide the shade you require against the heat.

Deciduous plants will provide to provide all-year-round protection for your greenhouse. The leaves fall off in winter and offer sunlight during this cold winter season. But, the leaves come again in spring, which means you’ll have the shade you require from the burning sun.

We don’t advise the construction of a greenhouse that is near a tree. This could result in harm to the tree. Be careful If you live far North. You’ll require all the sunlight that you can find in the fall, spring, and winter. In this situation, it is recommended to use a shade cloth. be more effective.

Look also — How To Cool A Greenhouse — The Best Guide 2022

Are You Doing Your Best to Keep The Temperature of Your Greenhouse Cool?

Monitoring your greenhouse’s temperature will ensure you have healthy and productive plants all through this season. These different ways to cool your greenhouse will assist in preventing stress on plants and pests from entering as well as diseases spreading.

A greenhouse addition has allowed us to extend the gardening season and also increase our security in food. It’s been a step on our way to becoming more self-sustainable and free of systems that hinders us.

How to Keep Greenhouse Cool FAQ