Rooted in success

Stuppy Greenhouse has emerged as an expert in greenhouse heating, and what distinguishes them from other greenhouse structure manufacturers is their Heat₂O Hydronic Heat line. Designed in-house, Heat₂O includes on-bench, under-bench, ground and floor heat.

“We have created our own proprietary designs so that we can offer our customers the best options for efficient, effective radiant heat,” says Armando Echavarria, regional account manager at Stuppy.

With hydronic heat, hot water is circulated through tubing at the root zone, which brings soil to the desired temperature through radiant heat. Heating at the soil level makes all the difference for fast, healthy plant growth.

“We know that this type of heating helps improve rooting, increase nutrient uptake and reduce disease issues for healthier plants overall,” Echavarria explains.

That can save growers real money. “Heat2O creates a more efficient growing environment by allowing growers to produce more with faster turns in the same amount of space,” he adds.

Hydronic heat systems can reduce greenhouse operating costs as well, with fuel savings of up to 20% compared to conventional forced-air heating.

“Most greenhouse heaters sit above the plants, making it necessary to drive that heat down towards the plants,” Echavarria says. “If you want a 68- or 70-degree temperature, you might have to heat the upper canopy to 90 degrees to get that ideal temperature at the plant level. You’re burning a lot of fuel to heat areas where you aren’t growing.”

When considering the up-front costs of adding Heat2O and return on investment, Echavarria says it’s important to figure in things like fuel costs. Savings can also be maximized when Heat2O is configured to control multiple temperature zones in a single greenhouse, which allows growers to reduce costs associated with keeping various plants at their optimal temperatures for the highest quality.

“When you use Stuppy’s Heat2O Hydronic Heat,” he continues, “you target the root level, save money on energy and grow better plants that will make customers happy.”

All hydronic heat options in the Heat2O line can be customized to suit the needs of any operation. On-Bench Heat, or Bench Tube heat, provides heating options for any grower, from higher seed germination to accelerated rooting in young plant production. Under-Bench Fin Heat provides radiant heat and natural convection; as water warms the aluminum fins, they radiate a canopy of heat around the bench to envelop the soil, roots and foliage. Ground Heat (Ground Tube) works in gravel, sand or soil to accelerate rooting and plant growth at the ground level. And Floor Heat, or PEX tube heating, offers in-ground heat that is installed directly in the concrete. Crafted from ultra-durable, cross-linked high-density polyethylene, it gives growers and retailers an efficient heating option that will endure the toughest conditions.