Greenhouse Solutions: Shading
Apr 21, 2008 12:22:37 GMT -10
Post by srduggins on Apr 21, 2008 12:22:37 GMT -10
A friend of mine keeps suggesting I put lights in my greenhouse. My response - no way, they get plenty of light, its called sunlight.
The problem with sunlight is it may be too intense and can create too much heat, even for lowlanders that love the steamy jungle. I've seen the commercial greenhouses use a white paint on their glass panes to limit the direct sunlight, but what are we hobbyists to do if we want to limit the light coming into our greenhouses.
My second greenhouse came with dual-wall polycarbonate glazing and had the choice between clear or white. The clear transmits 95% of the light, while the white transmits 70% and diffuses the light to eliminate shadows. The white polycarbonate seems ideal for Nepenthes culture. I had a wider variety in pitcher coloration with luminescent greens, flaming oranges, bold reds and deep purples. Plus the diffused light really seemed to aid in the health of the plant. I didn't seem to get any burning on the leaves when I got new plants or moved them from the shade into the greenhouse. The polycarbonate is also coated to eliminate the UV light. I don't really understand this as I thought the plants needed the UV light to grow, but they've never seemed happier.
So your greenhouse is already built and you think its getting too much light. The simple solution is to put shade cloth over it. The problem with most shade cloth is it provides too much shade.
One grower swears by aluminet shadecloth, and is the only thing they will use. It is much more durable and available in grades from 30% and up. 30% shade matches what the white polycarbonate gives, so that is the type I will try using in the summer here when it gets warmer and the days get longer. I really don't think I need any during the winter and spring.
So what type and % of shade cloth do other growers use? How do you mount the shade cloth? How do you keep it from blowing away in the wind?
Please post any other problems or solutions you have encountered with greenhouse shading in thise thread.
The problem with sunlight is it may be too intense and can create too much heat, even for lowlanders that love the steamy jungle. I've seen the commercial greenhouses use a white paint on their glass panes to limit the direct sunlight, but what are we hobbyists to do if we want to limit the light coming into our greenhouses.
My second greenhouse came with dual-wall polycarbonate glazing and had the choice between clear or white. The clear transmits 95% of the light, while the white transmits 70% and diffuses the light to eliminate shadows. The white polycarbonate seems ideal for Nepenthes culture. I had a wider variety in pitcher coloration with luminescent greens, flaming oranges, bold reds and deep purples. Plus the diffused light really seemed to aid in the health of the plant. I didn't seem to get any burning on the leaves when I got new plants or moved them from the shade into the greenhouse. The polycarbonate is also coated to eliminate the UV light. I don't really understand this as I thought the plants needed the UV light to grow, but they've never seemed happier.
So your greenhouse is already built and you think its getting too much light. The simple solution is to put shade cloth over it. The problem with most shade cloth is it provides too much shade.
One grower swears by aluminet shadecloth, and is the only thing they will use. It is much more durable and available in grades from 30% and up. 30% shade matches what the white polycarbonate gives, so that is the type I will try using in the summer here when it gets warmer and the days get longer. I really don't think I need any during the winter and spring.
So what type and % of shade cloth do other growers use? How do you mount the shade cloth? How do you keep it from blowing away in the wind?
Please post any other problems or solutions you have encountered with greenhouse shading in thise thread.