A fan-and-pad based greenhouse is used to provide a controlled growing environment for growing speciality crops and plants. This greenhouse is provided with special-purpose fans to draw air into the greenhouse through high-efficiency cooling pads made from high surface area ribbons of cellulose fibre. Humidity is controlled by an elaborate system of foggers. Fertigation is implemented by an efficient drip-irrigation system.

Typically, exotic plants and crops meant for the export market or as import-substitutes are grown in such greenhouses. The temperature and humidity can be controlled to provide the exact growing environment required for plants that grow in temperate regions.

Plants that are commonly grown in these greenhouses are carnation, gerbera, rose, coloured capsicum, cucumber, cherry tomato, and so on.

This type of greenhouse is ideal for growing nursery plants. Plants grown for nursery propagation have to be provided with a very specific environment. Nursery plants are very valuable and need extreme care during the early stages of their development.