Growing healthy, high-performing plants in a greenhouse is often reduced to a simple formula: light, water, and nutrients. But according to head grower at Sunterra Greenhouse, Luis-Gabriel Forero, that formula only scratches the surface.
In a recent podcast episode of Greenhouse Success Stories, Gabriel shared insights from his career across traditional agriculture, cannabis production, and commercial greenhouses, offering a grounded look at what truly drives plant performance in controlled environments.
From Field Farming to Controlled Environments
Gabriel’s early experience with tractor-based farming helped shape his understanding of plant systems, but greenhouse growing required a big shift in his way of thinking and working. Unlike open-field agriculture, controlled environment agriculture (CEA) places responsibility for every variable directly on the grower. Temperature, humidity, light intensity, and airflow must all be actively managed, and small changes can have large impacts on plant health and crop success.
One constant challenge of growing is constant change. Weather conditions, even when buffered by a structure, still influence plant response. Daily cloud cover, temperature swings, and seasonal transitions all affect growth patterns. Therefore, greenhouse operations must remain responsive rather than static. Comfort and routine can be misleading as conditions rarely stay the same for long.
Why Data Must be Intentional
Data collection is a useful tool in greenhouses today that can aid growers in responding quickly to changing conditions. But Gabriel cautions against collecting data without purpose. Numbers alone don’t improve plant health, interpretation does. Effective growers focus on:
- Data that reflects plant response
- Measurements tied to specific decisions
- Trends that inform future adjustments
When data leads to action, it becomes a powerful tool for improving yield, consistency, and resource efficiency. Among all these rapid technological advancements in horticulture, Gabriel emphasizes the importance of simplicity. Manual observations, visual plant cues, and fundamental growing principles remain irreplaceable. Technology works best when it supports, not replaces, fundamental plant science knowledge.
Final Thoughts
Healthy greenhouse plants are the results of continuous observation, adaptive management, and informed decision-making. Controlled environments offer powerful tools, but success ultimately depends on how well growers understand and respond to their plants.
