The Exhibition Greenhouses

Decked out in white for summer

In spring, a special lime-based paint is applied to the greenhouse glass to reflect some of the sun's rays and help lower temperatures inside. The product is removed in fall with a gentle, environmentally friendly acid.

Lighting – free from the sun

The lighting in the exhibition greenhouses is natural year round. Only a few lights are turned on late in the day to allow visitors to admire the plants "in a new light."

Irrigation – artificial rain

Most of the watering in the exhibition greenhouses is done by hand, to meet the needs of the different plants. The horticulturists also have to take account of each greenhouse's orientation, since the soil on the south side dries out faster than that on the north side and has to be watered more frequently. Humidity levels are also controlled in this way. For instance, the Tropical Rainforest Greenhouse is sometimes watered three or four times a day. The Ferns, Tropical Food Plants and Molson Hospitality greenhouses are all equipped with an automatic irrigation system.

Pest control

The Jardin botanique de Montréal has an integrated pest management system to control harmful pests and reduce its ecological footprint. The system has produced excellent results in the exhibition greenhouses.