Correct watering of plants is one of the most difficult things to achieve in a greenhouse. If you lack strength or mobility in your arms, but need to water manually, choose a light plastic can with a long spout. Alternatively, tying the end of a hose to a cane or broom handle, or using a lance attachment, will extend the reach. Never try squirting the water by pinching the end of the hose, as this can lead to inconsistent watering and severe erosion of compost from the pots. It also tends to knock over dry (and therefore light) pots. Lances with control triggers are useful to avoid splashes which can spread fungal and bacterial spores.
There are many self-watering systems now available that are either completely automatic, or semi-automatic.
Perhaps the most efficient form of watering is by capillary method where the pots and seed trays stand on special matting or a sand bed and take up only the water they need. A seep hose laid along the mats or sand bed takes most of the work out of watering.
Trickle irrigation is another method of supplying water directly to the plant or pot at a predetermined rate. A popular form is the spaghetti tubing system in which one supply pipe has a large number of individual smaller tubes leading off it, so that each pot receives a constant dripped supply. These are known as micro-irregation and can be bought quite inexpensivley from garden centres.
Whatever method you use for watering, remember that the plants nearest the windows will dry out faster than those near the centre of the greenhouse. They are also the pots that are most difficult to reach and so might become neglected during hand watering.
Good hygiene is vital in the greenhouse, to avoid the build up of diseases and the overwintering of pests. All areas of the greenhouse should be thoroughly cleaned with a disinfectant at least once a year. Care should be taken to get the disinfectant into all the cracks and crevices, used pots and seed trays, etc, where all the nasties try to hide. Regular checking of the condition of plants will ensure that you find pests and diseases early and can then take action to prevent damage. There is a whole range of organic and inorganic controls available for the greenhouse. Take care in following the manufacturers' instructions at all times. Any good sized garden centre will have a selection of products, so try your local one first.
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