Category: Horticulture & Greenhouse Science

Why climate control defines greenhouse success Greenhouses modify the plant environment beyond what field conditions provide. Temperature, relative humidity, light intensity, and CO₂ concentration interact to determine growth rate, flowering time, and disease pressure. Unlike open-field production, every environmental variable is manageable — but only when sensors, actuators, and crop physiology are understood together. Temperature…

Moving beyond soil Hydroponics delivers water, oxygen, and nutrients directly to roots in controlled solutions or inert media. Greenhouse operators choose systems based on crop type, capital cost, labor, and water recycling goals. Major system types NFT (nutrient film technique) — thin solution film flows through channels; excellent for leafy greens but vulnerable to pump…

From seedling to field-ready plant Nursery production bridges germination and mature cropping. Transplant shock — wilting and growth pause after planting — occurs when seedlings are not physiologically prepared for field stress. Hardening off protocol Gradually reduce irrigation frequency over 5–7 days. Increase light exposure and lower night temperatures. Apply mild nutrient stress to thicken…

Pruning as crop architecture Pruning redirects growth, improves light penetration, manages disease, and shapes plants for harvest efficiency or aesthetic goals. Timing and technique depend on whether the plant flowers on new or old wood. Types of cuts Heading cut — removes terminal bud, stimulating lateral branching below the cut. Thinning cut — removes entire…

IPM inside the greenhouse Closed environments can amplify pest outbreaks when natural enemies are absent. IPM combines monitoring, biological control, cultural practices, and selective chemistry to keep pests below economic thresholds. Monitoring workflow Deploy yellow sticky cards for flying insects (whitefly, thrips, aphids). Inspect undersides of lower leaves weekly — pests colonize there first. Record…

Quality loss after harvest Horticultural crops remain metabolically active after harvest. Respiration, ethylene production, and water loss determine shelf life. Field heat must be removed quickly — delay of even one hour in summer can halve storage life of leafy greens. Temperature and humidity chains Leafy greens — rapid cooling to 0–4°C, high humidity, minimal…