Light Deprivation Greenhouse

Ventilation Upgrades
Ventilation is a concern in every greenhouse, but the light dep greenhouse is particularly prone to developing both heat and humidity issues. The key to preventing this is to upgrade the ventilation system while adding any covers or tarps to block out light. If the greenhouse previously relied on passive ventilation alone, it'll need a re-design to rely on active ventilation instead. Passive ventilation simply can't be covered with light traps in the same way to ensure actual darkness, making it a poor fit for the high humidity of the light dep greenhouse.

Light Traps
Light traps are special baffles installed around ventilation equipment like air movers and fans. These baffles allow air to move through freely while still interrupting beams of light that might reach your plants and interrupt their night extension. Light traps work best on active ventilation systems since there's no need for a large gap to stay open to let air flow in and out. These kinds of designs are also available for doors and other entryways so that workers going in and out won't interrupt the photoperiod. If you're not going to invest in light controls for the entryways, make sure the greenhouse doors stay locked during dark periods while it's still bright outside.

End Wall Covers
Standard light deprivation covers are primarily designed to fit over the long end of a curved or Gothic arch greenhouse. Yet the end walls in most greenhouses also need their own covers if they're covered in translucent glazing or lack a tight fit to the rest of the structure. BTL Liners can happily supply the materials to create matching end wall covers to fit any size and style of greenhouse. Don't settle for covering end walls with improvised materials like siding or sheet metal that costs far more than affordable light deprivation material.

Tarp Pulling Arms
Whether you decide to go with an automated or manual tarp control system in the end, make sure you invest in actual tarp pulling arms. Trying to move hundreds of pounds of light dep cover completely by hand is a fool's errand, even with a large crew of people. As soon as you're covering more than a hoop house that is a few feet tall, invest in pulleys and arms that lift the cover over the building, so it moves freely. This reduces wear and tear dramatically to keep the tarp intact as long as possible. Each tiny crack and tear allows light through to interrupt the deprivation process, so don't risk damaging the cover just to save money on tarp pulling arms.

Interior Curtains and Enclosures
Unless you need to block off the entire greenhouse at once, and for the same photoperiod, you'll likely want some interior curtains to divide the space up. Interior curtains made of clear materials obviously ruin the light dep effect, so make sure they're made of the same total black out material as the rest of the tarps. These curtains and enclosures will have the same basic shape as end wall covers, but they'll need more temporary attachment options since they're likely to be moved around regularly to block off different areas.

Climate
Although a Light Deprivation Greenhouse offers protection from climate and the elements (much like your house does), a Light Deprivation Greenhouse is still affected by the weather to some extent. Is your climate particularly hot or cold, humid or dry?

If the weather tends to be hot and/or dry, you'll need a Light Deprivation Greenhouse with accessories that keep the inside cool. If you experience cold winters, you'll want a Light Deprivation Greenhouse that can not only withstand the elements (such as snow loads and high winds) but that is well-insulated and can keep the heat in.

Budget
What does your Light Deprivation Greenhouse budget look like? Is it fairly open-ended, or will it be a limiting factor? Budget is one of the easiest but most important guidelines to determine right from the start.

A lower-end budget might mean finding a smaller Light Deprivation Greenhouse or one made from less expensive materials. Sturdy glass Light Deprivation Greenhouses might seem heavy and expensive, but glass will last a lifetime and require little upkeep. Polycarbonate or polythene coverings, on the other hand, can be cheaper initially but will degrade over time and need to be replaced.

If you live in a cold climate, you'll want to make sure to look for a well-insulated Light Deprivation Greenhouse. A cheap Light Deprivation Greenhouse kit might save you money at first, but in the long run they rarely end up being worth it; they fall apart quickly and have little insulation. Keep in mind that any supplemental heating is going to cost you money in the form of your electricity bill.

Available space
Another simple yet important factor to think about is the amount of space available for a Light Deprivation Greenhouse. First, determine how much open space there is for a Light Deprivation Greenhouse. Then, ask yourself: how much space are you willing to dedicate towards a Light Deprivation Greenhouse?

If you don't have enough space in your yard or garden, maybe you have some room against the side of your house. If that's the case, a lean-to Light Deprivation Greenhouse might be perfect for you.

If you have some empty land and are willing to go big, or even if you just have a small plot available, you should definitely consider getting a freestanding Light Deprivation Greenhouse. This is especially because many people regret not going a size up when they have a chance. A Light Deprivation Greenhouse is a long-term investment, and you may realize after a few months that you want more growing space than you initially accounted for!

Gardening needs (plants you want to grow)
Believe it or not, what plants you want to grow and plan on growing in your Light Deprivation Greenhouse can drastically affect the choice you make when picking a Light Deprivation Greenhouse.

Will you use the space as: A potting shed? A seed germination area? Or a year-long growing space for tropical plants, sprouts, microgreens, or traditional garden crops?

Finding the right balance to suit your needs is important, so make note of your gardening needs as well as what kinds of plants you plan on growing in the Light Deprivation Greenhouse. A Light Deprivation Greenhouse can help you grow plants that you might not be able to grow otherwise; like citrus trees in Minnesota, for example!

Aesthetic preferences
Aesthetics is arguably the least important factor in terms of Light Deprivation Greenhouse structure, but it is undoubtedly a significant factor in the choice you'll ultimately make. How much do you care about the look of a Light Deprivation Greenhouse? What does an ideal Light Deprivation Greenhouse look like to you?

For a fashionable choice, you can get a Light Deprivation Greenhouse with beautiful glass windows that will look incredibly stunning in your home garden. If your garden aesthetics tend more towards the ‘functional’, you can consider installing a traditional Light Deprivation Greenhouse structure or even a hoop house.