company news about How to Choose the Right Greenhouse: A Guide for International Buyers

For those who have never been involved with greenhouses, selecting the perfect one can feel like navigating a maze—especially when considering the differences in climate, regulations, and agricultural practices around the world. As a leading Chinese greenhouse manufacturer, we have helped clients worldwide overcome these challenges. The following is a comprehensive guide to ensure your investment succeeds no matter where you are located.

I. Start with Core Needs: Clarify Purpose, Scale, and Goals
The design of a greenhouse should revolve around the plants to be grown, the scale of the operation, and the duration of use. This clear positioning can prevent overspending on unnecessary features and avoid underinvesting in critical ones.
Requirements for planted objects: Different plants have specific needs for their growing environment. Tropical orchids thrive in high-temperature and high-humidity environments above 30°C, while lettuce prefers a cool environment of 15-20°C. Seedling cultivation requires precise control of temperature and humidity fluctuations, and greenhouses for scientific research may need multiple independently controlled temperature zones and data recording functions.
Scale considerations: Greenhouses of 10-50 square meters are suitable for home gardening (simple arched greenhouses can be chosen); scales of 500-2000 square meters are suitable for small and medium-sized farms; those above 5000 square meters require overall planning. In addition, whether the greenhouse is placed indoors or outdoors also affects the design—outdoor greenhouses must be able to withstand extreme natural conditions, while indoor ones can have a simplified structure.
Planning for service life: For short-term projects (1-3 years), economical film greenhouses can be chosen. For operations with a service life of more than 10 years, you can either invest in durable glass or high-strength polycarbonate sheet greenhouses or choose film greenhouses. If you choose a film greenhouse, although the film needs to be replaced regularly, the initial cost is low. In the long run, through reasonable maintenance and replacement, it can also meet long-term use needs. The key is to decide based on your own budget and crop characteristics.

II. Adapt to Local Climate: Global Climate Challenges
The role of a greenhouse is to combat local adverse weather—no single greenhouse is suitable for all regions. Here are ways to customize your choice based on different regional conditions:
Tropical/subtropical regions (such as Southeast Asia, South America): High temperature, high humidity, typhoons, and monsoons are the main issues. Priority should be given to:
Typhoon resistance: The greenhouse frame must meet local wind load standards (for example, the Philippines requires resistance to level 12 typhoons).
Cooling system: Combine evaporative cooling pads with exhaust fans for efficient cooling—avoid relying solely on air conditioning, which will significantly increase energy costs.
Rainproof performance: The covering material must have impact resistance, and the roof slope design should be conducive to drainage to prevent water accumulation from damaging the structure.
Cold/high-latitude regions (such as Northern Europe, Canada): Low temperature, short daylight hours, and heavy snow are key issues. Focus on:
Insulation performance: Double-layer glass or polycarbonate sheets, paired with night insulation curtains, can minimize heat loss.
Heating system: Gas/oil systems are more economical than electric heating; in high-latitude regions, ground-source heat pumps can play an excellent role.
Snow load resistance: The frame must be able to withstand a snow load of 0.5-1.0kN/㎡ (as required in Finland) and be equipped with a built-in snow melting system.
Arid/desert regions (such as the Middle East, inland Australia): Extreme high temperatures, ultraviolet radiation, water scarcity, and sandstorms require special responses:
Covering materials with anti-ultraviolet functions, paired with external sunshade nets, to protect crops from sunburn.
Water-saving drip irrigation systems, combined with rainwater harvesting or wastewater recycling technologies.
Sandstorm prevention measures: Sealed frames and vent with filters to prevent dust from clogging equipment.
Coastal areas (such as Western Europe, Southeast Asian islands): Salt spray corrosion is a potential threat. Should choose:
Corrosion-resistant materials: Hot-dip galvanized steel, aluminum alloy frames, and salt spray-resistant polycarbonate sheets or glass.
Easy-to-clean design to prevent salt accumulation, as salt accumulation will gradually reduce light transmittance.

III. Greenhouse Types and Materials: Balancing Performance and Budget
There are various global greenhouse designs—choose based on your needs and budget:
Type--Core Features--Applicable Scenarios
Glass Greenhouse--High light transmittance (85%-90%), long service life (20-30 years)--Precision planting (such as Dutch flowers), scientific research purposes
Plastic Film Greenhouse--Medium light transmittance (70%-90%), film needs to be replaced every 3-5 years--Crop planting, mild climate regions
Polycarbonate (PC) Sheet Greenhouse--Good thermal insulation effect, impact resistance--Snowy areas, hot climate areas, places with safety requirements (schools, research institutions)

IV. Key Systems: The "Brain" of the Greenhouse
The performance of a greenhouse depends on its systems—don't skimp on these:
Climate control system: Heating (boilers, heat pumps) and cooling (evaporative cooling pads) systems must be able to cope with local extreme temperatures (such as -40°C in Siberia).
Ventilation system: In mild climate areas, natural vents can meet the needs; in high-temperature and high-humidity areas, mechanical fans must be used to prevent mold growth.
Irrigation system: In arid areas, drip irrigation systems can save water; tidal irrigation is suitable for seedling trays. Integrate water and fertilizer integration systems to improve efficiency.
Lighting system: In high-latitude areas, LED grow lights can extend daylight hours (such as in Norway); in tropical areas, sunshade nets can reduce strong light exposure.
Intelligent control system: Automated systems (monitoring temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide concentration) can reduce labor costs—this is particularly important in high-wage regions such as Europe and America.