Gerbera Growers Adopt Dehumidification to Save Energy and Improve Yields

“Despite a 25% saving on gas, our crop has never looked so good, and production was higher than expected.”

Greenhouse Grower magazine recently published an article detailing new production techniques and advancements in greenhouse gerbera production, as well as their advantages. These include LED light installations, thermal screens, and active dehumidification, such as DryGair.

“Many large-scale producers are already operating fully LED-lit greenhouses, utilizing multiple screens, and integrating active dehumidification systems, such as DryGair.”

The following excerpts are taken from the original Greenhouse Grower article.

How Dehumidification Helps Solve Energy Challenges

“High energy prices and tightening carbon emission regulations make it necessary to improve energy efficiency. Rising energy costs have hit the greenhouse flower sector especially hard, as many growers already know. While transitioning to LED and installing energy screens can drastically reduce energy costs, it also creates a serious challenge – high humidity. This, of course, can be solved by incorporating active dehumidifiers to reduce humidity.”

The article included quotes from two gerbera growers in the Netherlands – LG Flowers and Oudijk Gerbera.

Joyce Lansbergen, the owner of LG Flowers, mentions in an interview with Onder Glas:

“Like many others, we have accelerated the switch to LED lighting. 80% of our company was immediately covered with LED, which was accompanied by many ‘learning moments’. So, before this winter started, we implemented changes so that growing under LED would work out better. We invested in screens and DryGair (active dehumidifiers). Our greenhouses were drier than ever last winter.”

Improved Flower Yields

“High humidity poses a serious threat to flowers, including gerbera daisies. It’s the leading culprit for some of the most common diseases, such as botrytis. Additionally, high humidity slows down or even stops the plants’ physiological processes, including growth and flowering. So overall, maintaining proper humidity levels increases yields and improves quality.”

Westerman of Oudijk Gerbera mentions:

“The main reason for investing in dehumidifiers was to improve the quality of our gerberas, as well as energy savings. We are known for our good quality, and we want to keep it that way. We now prevent high humidity in the greenhouse, and botrytis is no longer a problem.”