Production

Heating Figure 1. Bench-top root zone

heating system used at Purdue
University for finishing bedding plants.

Bench-Top Root Zone Heating:

Can You Reduce Air Temperatures And
Finish Bedding Plants On Time?
In the second article of a two-part series focusing on energy-efficient production strategies
for annual bedding plants, Purdue University researchers present updated findings on the
use of bench-top, root zone heating systems.

by JOSHUA R. GEROVAC and tribution piping and thermostat controls several commercially important bedding
ROBERTO G. LOPEZ (Figure 1). While these technologies were plant species grown today is not currently

I
developed approximately 40 years ago, a available. Therefore, the objective of this
N the July issue of Greenhouse survey conducted in 2008 revealed that study was to evaluate the effectiveness of
Grower, we discussed the effects only 7 percent of growers were using root root zone heating, in combination with
of transplant date and the use of a zone heating. reduced air temperatures, on the growth
row cover on cold-tolerant bedding Several studies conducted in the 80s and development of nine commercially
plants grown in high tunnels, compared and 90s stated that energy savings up to important bedding plant species with dif-
to conventionally heated greenhouses 50 percent could be achieved by using root ferent cold tolerance classifications.
(http://wp.me/p3Y8MU-fxH). In this zone heating in combination with reduced
article, we highlight another energy-effi- air temperatures, compared to perimeter How This Study Was Conducted
cient strategy: using bench-top root zone hot water heating. However, a majority of Plant Material and Culture: Plugs or
heating in combination with reduced air those studies were conducted on cultivars liners of cold-tolerant petunia ‘Dreams
temperatures to finish bedding plants. that are no longer commercially avail- Midnight,’ pansy ‘Matrix Yellow,’ French
Soil, floor and bench-top root zone able. To our knowledge, research-based marigold ‘Durango Bee,’ snapdragon ‘Oh
heating systems are by no means new information about specific combinations Snap Pink’ and osteospermum ‘Serenity
technologies. In fact, the use of root of air and root zone temperatures for Bronze’; cold-intermediate seed impa-
zone heating dates back to as early as tiens ‘Super Elfin Lipstick’ and verbena
the 1970s. Bench-top root zone heating More Online ‘Aztec Blue Velvet’; and cold-sensitive:
systems generally consist of a boiler or To read the other article in New Guinea impatiens ‘Celebration Red’
hot water heater, circulating pumps, dis- this series, please visit and vinca ‘Pacifica XP Rose Halo’ were
http://wp.me/p3Y8MU-fxH.

28 Greenhouse Grower August 2014

Production Heating ‘Dreams Midnight’ petunia
Commerrcial Root-Zone Temperature Set-Points (oF)
Control
80 75 70 65 Ambient
received at Purdue University from a com-
mercial greenhouse propagator (Tagawa
Greenhouses, Inc.). Refer to our Basics
and Beyond article on base temperatures
in the July issue of Greenhouse Grower for
3 weeks after transplant
more information about the cold-tolerance
classifications. (http://bit.ly/1nfN2Gf)
Upon arrival, plants from each species
were transplanted into 4.5-inch round
containers filled with substrate comprised
of 65 percent Canadian sphagnum peat 6 weeks after transplant Time to flower (d)
moss, 20 percent perlite and 15 percent
vermiculite. Plants were fertilized once a 35 39 41 46 48 50
week with clear water supplemented with
a water-soluble fertilizer (WSF), providing Figure 2. Time to flower (days) of petunia ‘Dreams Midnight,’ as influenced by
400 ppm N. root zone temperature (ambient, 65°F, 70°F, 75°F or 80°F), compared to a commer-
Between each fertigation, plants were cial control (68°F/65°F). Photos were taken three and six weeks after transplant.
irrigated as necessary with acidified
clear water, and leaching was kept to a
minimum. The weekly application of a
‘Durango Bee’ French marigold
high-rate fertilizer was used to reduce any
Commerrcial Root-Zone Temperature Set-Points (oF)
confounding variables that could have Control
80 75 70 65 Ambient
been associated with treatments receiving
different rates of fertilizer, as a result of
substrates drying out faster under higher
root zone temperatures.
Greenhouse Environment: Plants
were grown in two glass-glazed green- 3 weeks after transplant
houses with exhaust fan and evaporative-
pad cooling and radiant hot water heating,
controlled by an environmental computer.
The photoperiod was a constant 16 hours,
consisting of natural daylengths with
6 weeks after transplant Time to flower (d)
day-extension lighting provided by high-
pressure sodium lamps (HPS), which also 30 35 36 39 36 38
delivered supplemental lighting to achieve
a daily light integral (DLI) of 10 to 12 Figure 3. Time to flower (days) of French marigold ‘Durango Bee,’ as influenced
mol∙m–2∙d–1. by root zone temperature (ambient, 65°F, 70°F, 75°F or 80°F), compared to a com-
Temperature Treatments: The green- mercial control (68°F/65°F). Photos were taken three and six weeks after transplant.
house air temperature set point was a
constant 60°F for plants receiving root selected, spaced equally in trays and day/night air temperatures of 68°F/65°F
zone heating. Substrate temperature set placed on benches with or without root (Figure 2). The delay in time to flower
points of 65°F, 70°F, 75°F and 80°F were zone heating. for most of the cold-tolerant species was
achieved using independently program- minimal when they were grown on bench
mable sections of bench-top tubing that Can You Finish On Time? tops with root zone temperatures of 75°F or
circulated hot water from a high efficiency Our results indicate that the time from 80°F and an air temperature of 60°F.
electric boiler (Figure 1), with an ambient transplant to first open flower of plants For example, French marigold showed
treatment receiving no root zone heating placed on root zone heating varies by spe- a 6- and 5-day delay and pansy showed a
serving as a control. cies and cold-tolerance. For example, time 6- and 1-day delay, respectively (Figure 3).
A separate greenhouse was used as to flower for petunia was delayed by 15, However, time to flower of cold-tolerant
a commercial control with a day/night 13, 11, 6 and 4 days, respectively, as root snapdragon and osteospermum was
air temperature set point of (12h/12h) zone temperature increased from 60°F to delayed by 9 and 14 days, respectively,
68°F/65°F and no root zone heating. Ten 80°F with an air temperature of 60°F, when at root zone temperatures of 75°F and
plants of each species were randomly compared to the commercial control with 80°F (Figures 4 and 5). As expected, time

30 Greenhouse Grower August 2014

Production Heating

to flower of cold-sensitive New Guinea

impatiens and vinca was significantly de- ‘Serenity Bronze’ osteospermum
layed with root zone heating. Additionally,
chilling injury made the New Guinea im- Commerrcial Root-Zone Temperature Set-Points (oF)
Control
patiens unmarketable. 80 75 70 65 Ambient
Shoot tip temperature primarily con-
trols the rate of development (i.e., leaf
unfolding rate, days to first open flower)
and, to a lesser degree, substrate tem-
perature. Therefore, we postulate that 3 weeks after transplant
species that have a prostrate or shorter
growth habit are best suited for root zone
heating production.
Our results indicate that cold-tolerant
petunia and French marigold can be pro-
duced with limited delay in flowering time, 6 weeks after transplant Time to flower (d)
while maintaining quality, compared to the
commercial control if root zone tempera- 42 51 51 54 52 52
tures of 75°F or 80°F are achieved with a
reduced air temperature of 60°F. Figure 4. Time to flower (days) of osteospermum ‘Serenity Bronze,’ as
influenced by root zone temperature (ambient, 65°F, 70°F, 75°F or 80°F),
What About Energy Savings? compared to a commercial control (68°F/65°F). Photos were taken three and
eight weeks after transplant.
We used USDA’s Virtual Grower soft-
ware (http://1.usa.gov/1lNyNYM) to es-
timate potential energy savings a grower ‘Oh Snap Pink’ snapdragon
may achieve by producing a petunia crop
in a double poly greenhouse located in Commerrcial Root-Zone Temperature Set-Points (oF)
Indianapolis, Ind., with a projected market Control
80 75 70 65 Ambient
date of March, 10, April 10 and May 10.
It estimated that a grower could reduce
heating costs by 20 percent, 16 percent
and 15 percent, respectively, by reducing
the air temperature from 68°F/65°F to a
constant 60°F with an added four days of
production. These estimates are reduced
for every day the crop is delayed. At a
certain point, any savings that could be
7 weeks after transplant
achieved by lowering the air temperature Time to flower (d)
will be negated and eventually will re- 39 53 53 56 53 53
quire more energy.
If we were only considering the cost to
grow under reduced air temperatures, the Figure 5. Time to flower (days) of snapdragon ‘Oh Snap Pink,’ as influenced
by root zone temperature (ambient, 65°F, 70°F, 75°F or 80°F), compared to a
energy savings may be high enough for commercial control (68°F/65°F). Photos were taken seven weeks after transplant.
a grower to consider installing a bench-
top root zone heating system. However, water heater to heat the root zone would installed, select crops that respond posi-
growers must consider the other costs reduce the 15 to 20 percent savings, not tively and avoid crops that we found to not
associated with using root zone heating to mention the additional cost to install benefit from root zone heating. GG
in combination with reduced air tempera- the system and potential return on in- Joshua R. Gerovac ([email protected]) is a
tures, such as the expense of operating a vestment. However, for growers who graduate research assistant in the Department of
boiler or hot water heater. Unfortunately, already have root zone heating systems Horticulture and Landscape Architecture at Purdue
University. Roberto G. Lopez ([email protected])
with our system, we were unable to quan- installed, this study may give you a better is an associate professor and floriculture Extension
tify the amount of energy that would be idea of the substrate temperatures needed specialist in the Department of Horticulture and Land-
necessary to operate our boiler to heat the to grow bedding plants under reduced scape Architecture at Purdue University. The authors
thank Ball Horticultural Co., Everris, Fafard and the
root zone to 75°F or 80°F. air temperatures. This study may also Indiana State Department of Agriculture Specialty Crop
The energy used to run a boiler or hot help growers who already have a system Block Grant 205749 for supporting this research.

34 Greenhouse Grower August 2014