What is a greenhouse dehumidifier?
A greenhouse dehumidifier plays a crucial role in maintaining optimal humidity levels by extracting excess moisture from the air. This helps create a controlled environment, enhancing energy efficiency while minimizing the risk of fungal diseases in plants. By using a dehumidifier, greenhouse growers can fully enclose their greenhouses without worrying about unexpected outbreaks caused by excessive moisture.
During the fall and spring seasons, humidity levels peak, leading to increased risks of plant diseases. Implementing a greenhouse dehumidifier helps prevent moisture-related damage, ensuring healthier and more productive crops.
How Does Humidity Contribute to Plant Diseases?
- Daytime Effect: On sunny days, plant transpiration and soil evaporation release moisture into the air.
- Moisture Retention: The warm air inside the greenhouse retains this vapor.
- Nighttime Condensation: As temperatures drop at night, the excess moisture condenses into water droplets on plant leaves and greenhouse surfaces.
- Fungal Growth: This unwanted moisture creates an ideal environment for fungal pathogens like powdery mildew to thrive.
- Pathogen Spread: Water droplets dripping from greenhouse coverings can spread diseases from one plant to another through soil splashing and plant debris.
The Role of a Dehumidifier in Disease Prevention
By effectively reducing excess humidity, a greenhouse dehumidifier helps eliminate the breeding ground for fungi, keeping plants healthier and reducing dependency on chemical treatments.
Key Benefits of Greenhouse Dehumidification
- Optimized Humidity Levels – Creates an ideal growing environment by maintaining consistent humidity.
- Temperature Control Without Compromise – Allows for balanced temperature and humidity management.
- Reduces Disease Risk – Lowers the chance of fungal infections and mold growth.
- Decreases Need for Chemical Treatments – Minimizes reliance on pesticides and fungicides.
- Lower Labor and Maintenance Costs – Reduces the need for manual ventilation and disease control efforts.
- Vapor Pressure Regulation – Ensures uniform moisture distribution for optimal plant health.
Best Tools & Methods to Control Humidity in a Greenhouse
- Bottom Heat Systems – Improves air circulation, preventing condensation on leaves.
- Anti-Drip Plastic Liners – Coating greenhouse surfaces with a wetting agent minimizes interior moisture buildup.
Ventilation & Heating
- Ventilation: Replaces moist indoor air with fresh, dry air from outside.
- Heating: Raises the temperature of incoming air, optimizing it for plant growth.
How to Choose the Right Greenhouse Dehumidifier
Selecting the ideal dehumidifier depends on several critical factors:
- Greenhouse Size: Larger areas require higher capacity dehumidifiers.
Targeted vs. Whole-Greenhouse Coverage:
- A single unit without ducting will dry only the immediate area, leaving distant zones humid.
- A properly placed system with adequate circulation ensures uniform humidity control.
- Air Circulation Needs: Ensure the airflow is evenly distributed throughout the greenhouse.
- Cost & Energy Efficiency: Consider long-term savings on energy and labor costs.
What are the desirable humidity levels?
The desire humidity levels generally vary with the desired temperature. These levels are an average accepted rate and specific plants may require certain specific other levels. The most common temperatures are listed below:
• 50 Degrees Fahrenheit- 83% humidity
• 61 Degrees Fahrenheit: 89% humidity
• 68 Degrees Fahrenheit: 91% humidity
• 86 Degrees Fahrenheit: 95% humidity
Humidity management in a greenhouse is a valuable tool that helps in the prevention of fungal diseases in a plant and is a part of the overall Integrated Pest Management. Controlling the humidity inside the greenhouse along with the temperature not only reduces diseases outbreak or the use of chemical pesticides but also ensures that the reentry intervals from pesticide use does not create any issues.