Natural solar heat gain v controlled heat gain?
 

In my greenhouse (3 1/2 years) i have always relied on natural solar heat
gain ,i kept the greenhouse heater set at approx 60 f and let the sun do the
rest.Obviously there are times when there is no heat gain for a few days
,but havent seen a adverse affect with this ,although more careful
watering/spraying is needed.I have had good flowering too,i am now keeping
the greenhouse at 50f as i am now going cool so the temp difference should
be easier to achieve.At this time of year in the UK on sunny clear days the
temps rise to approx 60f in the greenhouse.All the books state the heaters
need to be set for a daily temp difference and other growers i know do
without fail .I havent had any problems to warrant me to unaturally set the
daily temp higher.
What do others do and what experiences have you had with either way of
trying to achieve the temp diff.
By the way my reason for not raising the temps other than solar is financial
and it does`nt seem natural to raise temps if the sun light is not there.
Any others with pro`s and con`s with first hand experience will be an
interesting read ..

Thanks Keith

Natural solar heat gain v controlled heat gain?
 

"keith kent" wrote in message
...
In my greenhouse (3 1/2 years) i have always relied on natural solar heat
gain ,i kept the greenhouse heater set at approx 60 f and let the sun do
the rest.Obviously there are times when there is no heat gain for a few
days ,but havent seen a adverse affect with this ,although more careful
watering/spraying is needed.I have had good flowering too,i am now keeping
the greenhouse at 50f as i am now going cool so the temp difference should
be easier to achieve.At this time of year in the UK on sunny clear days
the temps rise to approx 60f in the greenhouse.All the books state the
heaters need to be set for a daily temp difference and other growers i
know do without fail .I havent had any problems to warrant me to
unaturally set the daily temp higher.
What do others do and what experiences have you had with either way of
trying to achieve the temp diff.
By the way my reason for not raising the temps other than solar is
financial and it does`nt seem natural to raise temps if the sun light is
not there.
Any others with pro`s and con`s with first hand experience will be an
interesting read ..

Thanks Keith

I'm not sure what you're asking. My heaters are set at 62F. The temperature
varies from 62 at night up to 100F during a sunny day. The sun does the
temperature difference.

Natural solar heat gain v controlled heat gain?
 

Hi, Keith.

I follow the same regimen as you - set the thermostat for the minimum and
let good old "Sol" do the rest of the heating.

Many years ago, I did have the thermostat set to raise the daytime
temperature, and the result was plants that would get leggy and weak.

I know that warmer temperatures lead to faster growth, and that in winter,
we don't have sufficient light intensity to go along with that growth, but I
cannot claim to know the mechanism.

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies. Books, Artwork, and lots of Free Info!


"keith kent" wrote in message
...
In my greenhouse (3 1/2 years) i have always relied on natural solar heat
gain ,i kept the greenhouse heater set at approx 60 f and let the sun do
the rest.Obviously there are times when there is no heat gain for a few
days ,but havent seen a adverse affect with this ,although more careful
watering/spraying is needed.I have had good flowering too,i am now keeping
the greenhouse at 50f as i am now going cool so the temp difference should
be easier to achieve.At this time of year in the UK on sunny clear days
the temps rise to approx 60f in the greenhouse.All the books state the
heaters need to be set for a daily temp difference and other growers i
know do without fail .I havent had any problems to warrant me to
unaturally set the daily temp higher.
What do others do and what experiences have you had with either way of
trying to achieve the temp diff.
By the way my reason for not raising the temps other than solar is
financial and it does`nt seem natural to raise temps if the sun light is
not there.
Any others with pro`s and con`s with first hand experience will be an
interesting read ..

Thanks Keith

Natural solar heat gain v controlled heat gain?
 

Thanks for a response, i will stick to what i am doing Ray all seems o.k.I
was just curious if anyone had good/bad experience with artificially raising
the temp.

Thanks Keith


"Ray B" wrote in message
news:zbV2j.15601$281.6144@trndny06...
Hi, Keith.

I follow the same regimen as you - set the thermostat for the minimum and
let good old "Sol" do the rest of the heating.

Many years ago, I did have the thermostat set to raise the daytime
temperature, and the result was plants that would get leggy and weak.

I know that warmer temperatures lead to faster growth, and that in winter,
we don't have sufficient light intensity to go along with that growth, but
I cannot claim to know the mechanism.

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies. Books, Artwork, and lots of Free Info!


"keith kent" wrote in message
...
In my greenhouse (3 1/2 years) i have always relied on natural solar
heat gain ,i kept the greenhouse heater set at approx 60 f and let the
sun do the rest.Obviously there are times when there is no heat gain for
a few days ,but havent seen a adverse affect with this ,although more
careful watering/spraying is needed.I have had good flowering too,i am
now keeping the greenhouse at 50f as i am now going cool so the temp
difference should be easier to achieve.At this time of year in the UK on
sunny clear days the temps rise to approx 60f in the greenhouse.All the
books state the heaters need to be set for a daily temp difference and
other growers i know do without fail .I havent had any problems to
warrant me to unaturally set the daily temp higher.
What do others do and what experiences have you had with either way of
trying to achieve the temp diff.
By the way my reason for not raising the temps other than solar is
financial and it does`nt seem natural to raise temps if the sun light is
not there.
Any others with pro`s and con`s with first hand experience will be an
interesting read ..

Thanks Keith