Portable Greenhouse Part 3
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Flat plastic sheets make up the side walls of the Reh greenhouse. These sheets, measuring 36 by 72 inches, are fitted with edges butted; the seams are sealed with the sticky mastic and covered with cypress molding.
The greenhouse does not have a solid foundation wall; the plastic material extends to ground level giving full-length light for growing plants.
Belleville is located in the south western part of Illinois. The seasons are variable. Although the temperatures never dip as low as in Minnesota, it is necessary to make some provision there for heating a greenhouse. The Reh heater is a propeller fan type with steam entering a finned coil through which the fan draws air.
To give proper circulation of the warm air there are adjustable blades attached to the heater. These blades make sure the warm air is thoroughly circulated throughout the greenhouse. Control of the Reh heater is done through the use of a thermostat and an aqua stat.
The Reh heater hangs down from the roof of the greenhouse. The Reh heater operates by gathering and circulating the humid air as it cools from under the roof. It does this before the moisture in the air has time to condense. It then fans this warm air onto the plants below.
The plants love it, its equivalent to a nice, warm, humid, breeze. By being located close to the ceiling of the greenhouse, it helps to prevent drip. Dripping occurs in traditionally heated greenhouses because the moist air is able to form condensation and is accumulated on the cooler glass roof. It then drips down from the roof.
While a steady drip of water is quite annoying to us, it’s much worse for the plants you are growing. The dripping water can cause plant diseases when it falls on top of your plants.
What’s even nicer about this system is that it’s virtually hands free. Temperature and humidity are monitored and regulated automatically. The day I went to visit the Rehs, it was a very hot summer day. It was in the high 90′s. However, it was a very different story inside the greenhouse. Inside the greenhouse it was a much cooler 85 degrees. The moisture in the air made it feel like a very pleasant spring day.
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