Watering Systems
Know the right way to water your greenhouse garden. Greenhouse supply stores sell several different types of watering systems. Much debate has been waged as to which is better, drip systems or misting systems. Pretty much, the right watering system depends upon the types of plants you grow, and the area used to grow them. Finding the right system depends upon the area you need to water.

Posted Thursday, January 19, 2006

Greenhouse supply stores sell several different types of watering systems. Much debate has been waged as to which is better, drip systems or misting systems. Pretty much, the right watering system depends upon the types of plants you grow, and the area used to grow them. Finding the right system depends upon the area you need to water.

Drip systems are nice because the water is administered in small amounts, allowing for full absorption. You can tell exactly how much water your plants are getting with a drip system. For most greenhouse kits and gardens, a simple, no-frills drip system will be just perfect. You build it yourself, so you control exactly where the water will go.

Though they are easy to install the process of installing a drip system can really wear out your arms. Rest up beforehand and bring a chair so you don't have to squat and stretch as much. When it comes to punching reliable holes, stick with brand names. Factory-pressed parts need to be sensitive when assembling a good drip system, so don't go with a generic brand. Many growers find it easiest to get a well-priced brand name drip system by browsing a recommended web vendor.

Misting systems are a great way to water plants naturally and evenly. This is a must for growing rare flowers. The misting system you should use depends upon several factors but there are some uniform needs. The right misting system depends upon the size of your greenhouse kit and the number of plants it holds. About 80-90 % of the water should be absorbed, so you usually want to mist about 1.2 times as much total water as you would normally need.

Fortunately, there are web vendors which allow you to fully customize your misting system based on the needs of your growing area. If you do go the custom route you'll need to chose from several different parts. Nozzles turn the water source into mist, and must fit the hose that delivers the water. There are also converters which allow you to use misting nozzles with specific PVC pipe, allowing you to make your own delivery setup.

An item of importance for your greenhouse is a drainage system. People often forget to include the right drain when making their greenhouses. If this has happened to you, it's best to deal with the problem early, before algae begin to grow. Make sure that water runs out of the greenhouse to prevent unwanted growth and rot. This is true for mist or drip systems. There are several different parts to a drainage system, depending upon how you choose to water your plants. A drain valve prevents water from collecting in the hose. Hose water can drip or grow algae, neither of which is conducive to good plant creation. For water-tight sealing, and various repairs, Teflon pipe tape usually works best in this kind of setup.