About Walters Gardens: A Journey through Horticulture

At Walters Gardens, we operate a perennial plant cultivation and wholesale business, renowned for our superior quality and service, and for continuously introducing new products. We cultivate over 1,000 types of perennial plug seedlings in more than 500,000 square feet (46,450m²) of modern greenhouses, annually introducing over 100 new varieties to the market.

Walters Gardens Inc. began as a small perennial farm established in Zeeland, Michigan, by Dennis Walters and Harriet Walters in 1946. It has since grown into one of the largest perennial cultivation farms in the United States, committed to providing the highest quality products to customers throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Greenhouse at Walters Gardens, Equipped with Dry Fog Humidifiers AKIMist®

Challenges to Maintaining a Uniform Humidity Level in Greenhouses

Humidity control in greenhouse cultivation is as crucial as temperature management for the growth of seedlings. Aiming to deliver higher quality products more quickly, we were keen on implementing a superior fogging sprayer system for plants to achieve an optimal humidity environment. As we evaluated various mist systems, gathered quotes, and consulted industry peers about the effects post-implementation, we became aware of specific challenges associated with traditional mist systems, which made us hesitant to proceed with the introduction:

1. Traditional mist systems struggle to maintain uniform humidity levels inside greenhouses. This inconsistency in humidity leads to uneven growth among seedlings, even those planted simultaneously in the same section. Consequently, trays containing slower-growing seedlings sometimes must be left behind, while those with more rapidly developing plants are shipped out first. This not only results in redundant cultivation management efforts but also incurs additional shipping costs.
2. Traditional devices often spray coarse mist, which can wet the leaves and harm the seedlings. Additionally, the dampness caused by the mist can sometimes make the working environment uncomfortable for operators.
3. Many traditional systems have complex configurations, leading to increased costs for piping, installation parts, and installation labor. Because they use high-pressure pumps, numerous high-pressure water pipes must be connected. Moreover, the misting devices need to be installed at a high level to prevent the mist from wetting the seedlings.
4. There were also concerns regarding maintenance. Cleaning or replacing nozzles in just one section requires shutting down the entire system, which risks disrupting the humidity environment for crops and plants in other sections.

Greenhouse at Walters Gardens, Equipped with Dry Fog Humidifiers AKIMist®.

Introduction and Installation of New Fogging Sprayer: Dry Fog Humidifier AKIMist®

As we conducted research on traditional mist systems and clearly recognized the various challenges along with their benefits, we encountered the Dry Fog Humidifier AKIMist® at an agricultural exhibition. Intrigued by the fine mist produced by this compact and simple humidifier, we obtained informational materials and requested a demonstration at our farm.

Seeing the demonstration of the Dry Fog (ultra-fine mist) instantly evaporating and blending into the air in the greenhouse, we were convinced that it could efficiently increase humidity without wetting the leaves. Additionally, each AKIMist® unit can be equipped with up to four nozzles, covering an area of five meters by five meters. This feature suggested that uniformly placing the units would solve the issue of uneven humidity distribution across different sections, leaving a very favorable impression on us.

Dry Fog Humidifier AKIMist® with Four Spray Nozzles

After carefully considering the installation layout based on IKEUCHI’s proposal, we finally decided to introduce 60 units of the new fogging sprayers (Dry Fog Humidifiers AKIMist®) into our 6,000m² greenhouse. Compared to traditional systems, the simpler configuration made the piping work and installation easier than expected, proceeding smoothly without any issues. After installation, the system started operating perfectly as soon as we connected the compressor air and purified water to each humidifier.

Achieving Perfect Humidity Control with AKIMist®

“I remember coming in, first thing in the morning, just seeing. You could tell as you walked in the ranges that humidity was definitely higher, and able to maintain that too.” (Drew)

“It works really nice,” (Justin)

Thanks to the AKIMist® that sprays Dry Fog with ultra-fine, droplets, Walters Gardens can now deliver uniformly grown seedlings to customers in the best possible condition and in large quantities.

“A better more uniform mist it has, really allowed us to produce plug trays that are a little more uniform in size and development.” (Drew)

Secondary Benefit of the Humidification

After we began controlling humidity with the AKIMist®, we experienced an unexpected secondary benefit: the humidification also provides a cooling effect. The Dry Fog absorbs latent heat as it evaporates, slightly lowering the temperature inside the greenhouse compared to the outside air. Previously, during the summer, we only used ventilation systems to expel hot air from the greenhouse. This cooling effect has been gentle and appreciated by both the seedlings and the workers.

Humidity Control in Greenhouses at Walters Gardens, Also Providing a Cooling Effect

Summary: Benefits of Dry Fog Humidifiers AKIMist® in Greenhouse Cultivation

• Ensures uniform humidity within the same section, minimizing humidity variations.
• Uniform plant growth uniform humidity allows for simultaneous shipment of all products cultivated in the same section.
• The system, which does not require high-pressure pumps, has a simple configuration that makes piping and installation work easy, thereby reducing startup costs.
• Maintenance does not require shutting down the entire system. Individual humidifiers can be serviced while keeping the other units operational, ensuring that the humidity environment for crops and plants in other sections remains unaffected.
• Enables hygienic cultivation without wetting plants, operators, or the interior of the facility.
• Provides a cooling effect through evaporative cooling.