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The Evolution of Climate Control in Cultivation

The Evolution of Climate Control in Cultivation

Greenhouse Humidification

Intro

Indoor growing has always been about one thing: control. Control over temperature, light, and most crucially, humidity. But how we’ve achieved that control has changed dramatically over the centuries.

So how did we get from sunlit orangeries in Renaissance Europe to fully automated greenhouses fine-tuned by sensors and software? Let’s take a look.

Where It All Began: The Origins of the Greenhouse

The concept of protected cultivation can be traced back thousands of years. The Romans used transparent mica sheets and frames to grow cucumbers year-round for Emperor Tiberius. But true greenhouses emerged in 17th-century Europe, when wealthy botanists and royals sought to grow exotic plants from around the world.

Purpose: Extend growing seasons, cultivate tropical plants, protect from weather

Environment: Relied on natural sunlight and basic insulation like straw or brick walls

Humidity Control: None—growers simply dealt with whatever the air brought in

These early greenhouses were marvels of architecture but lacked any real precision. Moisture levels fluctuated with the weather, often leading to inconsistent growth or disease.

Industrial Age Innovation: Glass, Steam, and Scale

By the 19th century, advances in glass production made large greenhouses more accessible. In colder climates, boiler-driven steam heating allowed growers to maintain temperatures year-round. However, this created a new issue: dry air.

Response: Manual misting, open water trays, and wet burlap sacks were common

Challenges: Inconsistent RH levels, disease spread, and labor-intensive upkeep

Humidity was now recognized as essential to healthy plant development—but methods to maintain it were still rudimentary and reactive.

The Green Revolution: Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA)

The mid-20th century marked a turning point. Agriculture became more scientific, and so did indoor cultivation. Greenhouses began integrating fans, heaters, and misting systems to better regulate environmental conditions.

Hydroponics and early CEA models required careful humidity monitoring

Growers began understanding humidity’s role in disease prevention, transpiration, and nutrient uptake

Still, humidification often came at a cost: too much water, inconsistent coverage, and the risk of mold or mildew when surfaces stayed wet.

Today’s Approach: Smart, Automated, and Precise

Modern growers now use sensor-based automation to control every parameter of the growing environment, and humidity is no exception.

Enter dry fog humidification.

What it is: Ultra-fine droplets (less than 10 microns) that evaporate instantly

Why it works: Increases humidity evenly without surface wetting or runoff

Automation-ready: Easily integrated into climate control systems for hands-off operation

This method is especially valuable during propagation and germination, where young plants are most vulnerable to desiccation or mold. Unlike traditional misting, dry fog helps create an ideal vapor pressure deficit (VPD) zone—without drenching the space.

From Guesswork to Precision Agriculture

Today’s growers aren’t just reacting to plant stress, they’re proactively preventing it. With the ability to set exact humidity targets for different stages of growth, modern greenhouses are vastly more efficient, sustainable, and productive.

Dry fog represents the latest chapter in a long history of innovation: the evolution from sunlight and stone walls to finely tuned, sensor-driven ecosystems.

And just like those early growers striving to protect a citrus tree in winter, today’s cultivators are still pursuing the same goal; only with far better tools.