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Growing in greenhouse

In the northen hemisphere, coca plants grow well in green houses all year round. The longer photoperiod in summer is no problem to coca plants. They will only grow faster and perhaps flower, get pollinated, and produce seeds. On very hot days, it is necessary to cover the greenhouse with a (30%) light blocking sunscreen. This will prevent the temperatures above 35° C (95°F). Young plants up to 1.5 years always need susncreen protection. Sometimes even with a sunscreen the temperatures can rise to 50°C (122°F) and air humidity can drop to 25%. It´s amazing that, with sufficient water, the adult plants keep their heads up under these conditions. But younger plants will show signs of stress under the same conditions. Spray the younger plants with cool water and they will recover.

The shorter photoperiod in the winter is not a problem. The coca plant will only grow more slowly than she does in the summertime. It is important to heat the greenhouse if the night temperature drops below 10° C (50° F). Adjust the heating to 22° C (71.6°F). An electrical heater of 2 kilowatts is sufficient for 10 mt2. Even a petroleum or gas burner can be used for heating; the C02 (greenhouse gas) benefits the growth of the coca plants. You can save a lot of energy by insulating the greenhouse with a light permeable insulating screen. Air ventilation is important in the winter time as well. If a petroleum or gas heater is used, attention to ventilation is especially necessary.