Shade cloth Percentage

[Zozzl]

I came up with a roll of 90% shade cloth, mainly because it was such a good price. Has anyone used this for orchids or seedlings? It would provide very dense shade. I know I can do something with it but I was wondering if anyone finds it useful?

[Halloamey]

Pat, it depends it depends on the light intensity you have. Since my greenhouse is on my terrace and I have unobstructed sun for 8 hours a day all my orchids are grown under a 90% shade, so if you have a full sun location in Florida summer you can use it there.

[Zozzl]

Amey, interesting. I use about 70% in Florida and that seems to do well. I could put some of it up and see how much sun is coming through. It really looks pretty dense to me.

[Brutal_Dreamer]

We use 55 percent shade cloth on the top of the Greenhouse here in Arkansas, but inside, over where I have seedling paphs, I have added an additional piece to help filter more of the light. We get plenty of light through the 55% to grow and bloom vandas, dendrobiums and light loving cattleya orchids. And we use 70% on the west side of the Greenhouse.

cheers,
BD

[Halloamey]

Pat a lot depends on the colour of the shadenet. A 90% green shadenet will produce different light than a white 90% shadenet. I always use white which is neutral, if it is green even though it allows 10% light the same as with white, the shade will appear more dense. The green shadenet will absorb all the red and blue spectrum from the light and allow the greenlight through along with 10% of natural light. Whereas the white shadenet will all wavelengths from the spectrum to some extent and allow them through with the remaining 10% natural light. Thus creating different lighting conditions. I never use green shadenet, it is more appealing to the human eyes but not very good for the plants which are sensitive to the blue and the red end of the spectrum.

Amey, interesting. I use about 70% in Florida and that seems to do well. I could put some of it up and see how much sun is coming through. It really looks pretty dense to me.

[panam]

Great info - and I love how Amey backs it up with sound reasoning.