Tracey Cortez tcortez@austinisd.org Greenhouse Maintenance and Equipment

Tracey Corteztcortez@austinisd.org

Greenhouse Maintenance and Equipment

So you have a greenhouse…Now what?

Teaching?Fundraising?Research?Production?Student Projects?All of the above???

WeedsSolarize the greenhouseManually removeRound UpPramitolRock SaltNewspaper as a barrier

Fans and PadsClean your pads once a year

Let them dry out Knock off the algae and mineral depositsUse Zerotol, Triatholon, or barley straw to

control algaeDo not use bleach!!!

FansService your fans once a yearTighten or change beltsKeep extra belts on handKeep and extra motor on hand

Glazing MaterialsClean your glazing material once a seasonJust like washing windowsDirt and dust will diminish your light levelsUse a hose with some soapRinse off well

DisinfectingDisinfect your greenhouse after each cropAllow the greenhouse to be empty each

year for a couple of weeks so that you can clean really well

Limit your chances of diseases and insect outbreaks

Clean irrigation system as wellZerotol or TriathalonUse a Foaming Sprayer to apply the

chemical – available from Nasco

Fertilizer InjectorsService your fertilizer injector once a yearSend the unit to the companyIf the injector will not work soak it in a

bucket of water for 24 hoursKeep an extra injector on handYou will need to have an RPZ backflow

preventer installed before you injectorI recommend Dosmatic Injectors

Irrigation SuppliesDramm

Red Head Water BreakerColor Storm No Kink HosesHeavy Duty Shut Off Valves

NetafimFiltersPressure Compensating DrippersDrip LineDripper Accessories

WeightsDrip Stakes

Chemical ApplicatorsDramm

Chemdose - $2000Apply chemical solution pot by pot

MSO Sprayer - $1500Hydraulic sprayer

Mini Autofog - $2500Applies chemical solution in a fine mistControlled by a timer

Pump SprayersGilmour Professional QualityHand or Backpack

Use spray tank cleaner!Neutralize

Compost TeaAerobic Brewer

10 Gallon - $50024 Hours to BrewGrowing Solutions

Composting VesselsBW OrganicsCompost Project Center Waste, Food Scraps,

Lawn Scraps, etc1 Yard a Day Machine - $26,000Vermicompost

Greenhouse Building and RepairBWI Grower Technical SalesLudy Greenhouses – Sylvia CourtneyStuppy Greenhouses – Jerry Haines

Chemicals I UseInsecticidesFungicidesGrowth RegulatorsFertilizersRead Labels and keep a copy of the MSDS

SheetsUse IPM Techniques to Control Insects and

Diseases

InsectsYellow and Blue Sticky CardsUse Lady Bugs and Parasitic WaspsGet rid of infected plantsUse water to loosen and remove insectsInsecticides:

Insecticidal Soap – M-PedeTame/Orthene followed by Preclude AerosolsTristar

Fungi and DiseasesManage moisture in the greenhouseAllow plants to dry slightly between

wateringsWater the soil not the leavesFungicides

ActinovateBanrot

Use as a drench and follow the directions

Growth RegulatorsKeep plants uniform and internodes shortB-Nine

Spray, very forgivingBonzi

Spray or drench, not forgivingFlorel

Spray, not forgiving, cheapFlowers will abort for 6 weeks

FertilizersCompost TeaMilorganiteScotts Pro HorticultureUse a fertilizer injector

Pots and SoilElle Pots

Paper Liner filled with SoilTMAC Nurseries, Angleton, Texas

Dillen Pots6.5” Azaleas10” Hanging Baskets

SoilPro Mix BXPro Mix HP

Supply DealersBWIKenny Bonded

What to grow?Bedding PlantsPotted CropsHanging BasketsSpecimen PlantsMixed ContainersTopiariesAny other ideas?

What We Grow

PoinsettiasEllisons

GreenhousesChristmas Cacti

Whitton Greenhouses

PansiesRaker

VegetablesGrown from Seed

HerbsGrown from Seed

Bedding Plants40 varietiesRaker or North

Carolina Plant FarmSeed

SeedsPark Seed or Burpee

What are you doing?Any new ideas?