The afternoon sun brought a noticeable shift to the greenhouse atmosphere today. As the day progressed from morning into the late afternoon, the environment warmed up steadily, with ambient temperatures climbing from a cool 18.9°C in the early hours to a peak of 22.7°C. This heat was mirrored by our plants, which saw their internal temperatures rise from around 18°C to nearly 21°C by the evening.

However, the dryness of the day is the most significant story from our sensors. Humidity levels started high at 43% but dropped off sharply as the sun beat down, ending the day at just 32%. The air felt quite arid, which is typical for a sunny afternoon but worth noting for our moisture-sensitive herbs.

Our water reservoir held steady throughout the day, with no signs of depletion. The water temperature remained consistent at roughly 17.7°C, acting as a cool anchor for the greenhouse environment. The light levels were particularly active, swinging from low dawn readings of 61 lux up to a bright 1184 lux before settling back down as twilight approached.

Soil moisture tells a different story for our chilli plants compared to the others. While basil and oregano held healthy moisture levels around 50%, our chilli plants are running a bit dry, hovering near the lower end of their range at 27.6% by evening. The basil also lost a small amount of moisture, dropping from 50.7% to 48.7%, suggesting they may need a top-up soon to stay comfortable.

The pressure remained stable around 1020 hPa, indicating calm weather conditions outside. As the sun sets and the light fades, we are left with a slightly cooler, drier evening. We will be keeping an eye on those chilli roots to ensure they don’t dry out further overnight.