It is not easy for plants to be spared from greenhouse mold in the long term. However, if only a few rules for a healthy microclimate in the glass house are heeded, the dangerous gray mold has little chance of causing major damage or destroying entire crops.
The climate in the greenhouse is ideal for mold
Growing fruit and vegetable plants or tropical exotic plants under glass all year round or even breeding completely new varieties is incredible fun and is the best The supreme discipline of hobby gardeners. At least until mold starts to form in the greenhouse, then the fun is over. Still must the dreaded gray horse no reason to despair. Even under the mostly complicated climatic conditions that naturally prevail in the greenhouse and sometimes change several times a day, you can prevent the annoying fungi quite well.
Causes of Greenhouse Mold
The good news to start with: Even the most aggressive gray mold can hardly harm healthy and undamaged plants. On the other hand, there are problematic targets for attack withered parts of plants, broken flowers and leaves or overly fertilized plants. This means that regular checks on the stocks help immensely, which means nothing more that the tomato, pepper or cucumber plants in question should be as far as possible quickly and rigorously removed Need to become. After all, this method is still better than watching the greenhouse mold destroy all plants in a very short time.
Too many plants would be false ambition
As understandable as it may be, at some point every greenhouse is simply full and reducing the planting distances only in favor of the quantity pays off in very few cases. Especially at high humidity levels the natural ventilation of the crops work with each other. If it doesn't, it won't be long before the characteristic 'grey turf', made up of rapidly propagating mold spores, begins to spread to previously healthy plants. When setting up a greenhouse seasonally it would be important to note that:
- Plants must have enough space to dry off;
- Excessive humidity is avoided (regular airing);
- When watering, do not get the leaves wet, it is better to pour on the roots;
- Plants also suffer from stress, be it due to drought, cold or heat, but also wrong fertilization!
How to avoid greenhouse mold
In the greenhouse, it is best to water during the growing season right early in the morning. This gives the plants the best chance of drying off quickly, as the humidity is still bearable for them at this time. As a preventative, in addition to regular checks for imminent mold infestation, occasional Pouring with nettle or horsetail broth proven. If it is too hot during the day, it helps to cover the greenhouse and thus quickly lower the inside temperature. If you want to practice your hobby in a particularly professional way, you should Purchase of a suction fan recommended, which can later be switched to heating mode in winter.
tips
Especially in summer, never use cold water for watering, always use stale water from the watering can. The danger of greenhouse mold decreases considerably if the temperature and humidity inside are checked several times on hot days and regulated accordingly.