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Greenhouse Accessories
Accessorizing your greenhouse isn't quite
the same as accessorizing any other 'room' in your home. Greenhouse
accessories aren't a fashion statement - they're functional
things like shelves, misters, irrigation systems, covers and
heaters that increase the functionality of your greenhouse. What
greenhouse accessories should you consider if you're building a
new (or refurbishing an old) greenhouse? It depends a great deal
on how you use your greenhouse and where it is.
Among the greenhouse accessories you might consider are
thermometers and humidity gauges, automatic plant misting
systems, plant lighting options, soil sterilization and
treatment kits, potting benches, specialty shelving systems that
can create mini-greenhouses within the greenhouse, shades and
shelters and venting and roof openers.
Potting benches
Potting benches are one of the most useful greenhouse
accessories you'll invest in. Generally, a potting bench has one
or two shelves to hold potting supplies like pots, dirt and
fertilizer, and a slatted top with a tray to make it easy for
you to clean. By keeping all your potting supplies on one easy
to move potting bench, you save yourself all sorts of steps and
labor and keep everything you need close at hand.
Greenhouse shelving
There are a number of different styles of specialty shelving for
greenhouses that can be counted as greenhouse accessories. Grow
shelves are aluminum frames into which you can fit seedling
trays. Grow shelves often come with UV stabilized plastic covers
to create greenhouse conditions within the greenhouse for
starting new plants or isolating specialty plants that need
different conditions than standard.
Misting Propagation Systems
One of the most important factors for healthy growth and
propagation of plants is the moisture in the air. Automatic
misters can maintain the high humidity needed by rooting plants.
They're available with timers that you can set to mist the
entire greenhouse at specified intervals, or with moisture
sensors that will send out a cooling mist whenever the moisture
content of the air falls below a specific density. A misting
propagation system can be one of the important greenhouse
accessories in a greenhouse that grows tropical plants, or in
which you intend to often start plants from leaf cuttings. There
are many choices that can be both affordable and useful.
Rainwater Systems
For the eco-conscious gardener with a greenhouse, rainwater
systems allow you to collect rainwater via gutters and
downspouts and reuse it for irrigation and watering of your
plants. Remember the old-fashioned rain barrel? Welcome to the
modern version, which will automatically recycle rainwater for
use in your greenhouse.
Lighting Greenhouse Accessories
Grow lights are one way to increase the amount of available
full-spectrum light for your plants, particularly during
northern winters when days are short. They come in full kits
that include wiring, or as individual lights that can be set up
for specific purposes.
Whatever the needs for your greenhouse, you'll find greenhouse
accessories that are specially designed to fit the needs and
help you grow lush, beautiful plants with a minimum of
effort.
About the author:
Garry John contributes to many home improvement and
garden sites such as greenhouses and conservatories
.
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