Davis Weather Stations: Accurate Data for More Efficient Floriculture

In a crop as sensitive to environmental conditions as floriculture, reliable monitoring equipment is no longer a luxury—it is a management tool. Climameteoro, the official representative of Davis Instruments in Ecuador, provides climate-monitoring solutions designed to help growers turn weather conditions into actionable information.

The Vantage Pro2 GroWeather system combines temperature, humidity, rainfall, wind, and solar radiation sensors in a single platform, making it an ideal starting point for any flower farm. For operations that require more detailed monitoring across different production areas, the EnviroMonitor system allows growers to build a network of nodes—up to 32, with four sensors per node—transmitting real-time data from multiple points throughout the crop. These can include soil moisture, leaf wetness, and PAR light sensors.

This information has very practical applications in production. Temperature and humidity data can be used to calculate accumulated Growing Degree Days (GDD), an important reference for crop development and harvest planning. Soil moisture readings help guide irrigation and fertigation decisions, reducing unnecessary use of water and inputs. Solar radiation data can also help evaluate whether greenhouse plastic is providing the appropriate conditions for healthy flower development.

All of this information is available through the WeatherLink platform, where growers can access data online, configure customized alerts, and monitor crop conditions around the clock through either the mobile app or web platform.

From Data to Decisions: The Farm Experience

Beyond technical specifications, the real value of these systems becomes clear in the everyday decisions made by the people using them.

Dani Bonilla, from the maintenance team at Denmar Cotacachi, explains that wind-speed data helps determine greenhouse management and the right timing to begin irrigation, preventing the soil from drying out excessively. Rainfall measurements also help avoid unnecessary irrigation or fertilization schedules, while the PAR light sensor allows the team to establish plant-exposure ranges and reduce operating costs.

At Flormare / Hoja Verde, Esteban García uses temperature and humidity readings to calculate Vapor Pressure Deficit (VPD), a key indicator for determining the most appropriate timing for crop protection applications. He also relies on leaf-wetness sensors to anticipate conditions favorable to downy mildew and continuously tracks environmental conditions to help prevent powdery mildew.

Jorge Murillo, from Rosaprima, also highlights the importance of temperature and relative humidity inside each greenhouse block when determining agrochemical applications and curtain management.

“We identify the specific time window when humidity is highest and conditions are therefore most favorable for disease spore germination,” he explains.

These experiences show that the real transformation does not come from the equipment alone, but from the ability to convert climate data into timely, practical production decisions.

Investing in high-quality monitoring equipment is therefore more than a technical choice. It provides the foundation for data-driven decision-making, more efficient use of resources, and better protection of farm profitability in an increasingly variable climate.

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