Why do plants grow better in polytunnels? If you have been pondering upon this question, do not worry because we have an answer to that. The most obvious reason is that the humidity and warmth inside the polytunnel stimulate plant growth.
As we all know, three things are needed for a plant to grow. This includes light, warmth, and moisture.
A polytunnel can stabilise the plant’s growing environment as it maintains the right temperature and protects them from extreme coldness at the same time.
Even though cultivating plants in an outdoor garden in the UK lets you soak in the sun, many UK gardeners still prefer growing inside the controlled environment of a polytunnel. That is because even if there is an unexpected rainy day, you can continue to be productive.
Whether you desire to shift into growing indoors or merely interested in extending the growing season all year round, a polytunnel can be the best thing that can help you with it—knowing and learning the secrets of the polytunnel will surely change your gardening habit.
Advantages Of A Polytunnel
So, why do plants grow better in polytunnels?
In this section, you will know the advantages of growing your plants in a polytunnel.
This will answer the question of why do plants grow better in a polytunnel. It is mainly due to four reasons which we will have to talk about later in this post.
#1. Reduced exposure to disease and pest
The plants inside a polytunnel are grown in containers with specially chosen soil for the particular plant. Suppose you compare it with the soil in your outdoor garden in the United Kingdom.
In that case, it does have the possibility of harbouring pests and diseases that can potentially harm the plants.
With that being said, the polytunnel is sterile against bacteria, fungi, and pests like borers.
In the absence of those pests and pathogens, your plants can concentrate on growing healthy instead of defending and repairing themselves against those organisms.
#2. Humidity
The transpiration of the plant foliage depends on the consistent supply of moisture from roots. It also relies on its surrounding atmosphere for maximum growth.
The outdoor condition is dry; that is why plants forced to rely merely on the moisture that the soil can give. This results in water stress, particularly when the roots are exposed in a drought condition.
When the dry condition becomes constant to an outdoor plant, the growth will be affected. Furthermore, their resistance to diseases and pests will reduce significantly.
Gratefully, polytunnels have humidity controls, thereby keeping the air moist indoor for optimal growth of the plants.
Also, if you reduce the water stress of the plants, they can concentrate their energy on flowering and bearing fruits. This will be done by watering the roots.
You might as well provide them with a humid environment just like what a polytunnel does.
#3. Temperature control
The temperature outdoor significantly swing through day and night. Plants exposed to extreme heat and cold for 24 hours will not grow well compared to plants cultivated inside a polytunnel. Much more, exposure to varying temperature can cause stress to the plants. As a result, their growth will be affected.
But since thepolytunnelprovides you with an indoor space that is enclosed allows you to control the temperature that your plants will have to be exposed to.
In general, polytunnels integrated with an air ventilation system as well as heaters. In other words, you can control the temperature depending on the particular plant species that you are growing.
More so, the heaters are generally connected to a timer that will allow you to change the temperature settings depending on the time of the day. If only you follow the particular plant’s temperature preferences, fruits, flowers, and foliage will undoubtedly flourish in the controlled space.
#4. Carbon dioxide factor
If you can control the air indoors, a constant supply of carbon dioxide will be provided to the polytunnel plant. CO2 is vital for the plants in producing their food which is glucose.
Even though outdoor plants have enough supply of carbon dioxide, placing horizontal fans strategically on the entire polytunnel will allow the air to push closer to the plant foliage for optimal photosynthesis activity.
Suppose the carbon dioxide concentrated towards the plants. In that case, it often results in stronger stems, larger leaves of the plant, and early fruiting and flowering. But make sure that the air movement combined with proper ventilation.
Closing off the polytunnel from the air circulation outdoors will lower the carbon dioxide levels indoors. This is because the plants can quickly use up the gas while it transfers oxygen in exchange.
It’s A Wrap!
Why do plants grow better in polytunnels? For sure, by now, you already know the answer to that question. Plants grow better in polytunnels because they can regulate the temperature and humidity that the plants need to grow at their peak.
Other than that, the benefits of the polytunnel are greater than the sum of their components. Aside from enhancing the potential growth of the plants, it can also improve your gardening hobby in so many ways.