Hello Everyone!
I have been outdoor growing in Southern California (Los Angeles/Beach Area) for the past few summers and have always run into a mold issue when it comes time to flower (either from humidity or from caterpillars eating my buds). Last year I also ran into a pH issue, but that wasn’t due to mold, just to me over fertilizing. To help with the mold during flower, i am thinking of creating an “as air tight as possible” greenhouse with PVC pipes and plexiglass or clear plastic. Ideally i would like to utilize the power of the sun and while trying to maintain a temperature controlled environment.
What I am planning on doing is creating the greenhouse in my back yard with PVC pipes and fitings, cutting slots into those fittings, slotting the plexiglass or equivalent into the slots, and then using a silicon caulk to fill in the cracks and seal the house up. I am also planning on including a dehumidifier, small portable AC (also want to use this space as a drying room when ready), and potential air purifier to remove any mold spores that enter when I enter and leave the house. All these electronics would be fed out through the glass and sealed with the caulk so that it is air tight.
All that said, I am wondering if you have any thoughts on the build (is it overkill? do i need the purifier? will the temp be an issue in CA in summertime? maybe i dont need the AC?) and if anyone has had any issues with temperature control inside a greenhouse? I understand that this is not very cost efficient lol. I have just germinated my seeds and planted in small cups, so i have some time, but would love to hear any thoughts or suggestions before I get started. Thanks!!!
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Air tight isn’t fool proof, mold spores are everywhere.
The best suggestion I can offer is to control the environment humidity and temperature to prevent mold from growing.
As for the outside greenhouse, there are thermostatic controllers that will open vents when it gets too hot inside. Air conditioning that space I wouldn’t recommend due to a lot of different complications.
Need air movement sealed or not sealed. Stagnant air = mold.
I was planning on putting an oscillating fan in there as well to move the air around. Sorry should have mentioned that.
Thanks for the reply! What are the complications for the air conditioner? And what brand of controlled vents do you recommend?
There is a business out there that specializes in this. Although the ones I have seen are pretty much below grade and use geothermal heating/cooling. Definitely not someone you would be able to do cheaply from local home improvement store, but if you find them on the web you may also find some ideas in making this work.
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Ive learned that the less sealed up my greenhouses are the less problem i have with mold. Its all about airflow. I fight high humidity during late flower due to monsoons. I use my greenhouses as shelters from the hard rains and high winds but never seal it up. One of my greenhouses there’s panels missing and I swapped out the door for a screen door it has a 3500cfm fan and 3 other fans as well. The other is a dog run that I built a 9ft high frame and cover with 6 mil plastic. The ends are left open for airflow it has no fans. I have times where I cant get the humidity below 80% at night during flower. If it was sealed and the humidity was 80% Id be fighting mold all the time. The only drawback is fighting grasshoppers and caterpillars.
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