Greenhouse shading

[RJSquirrel]

I started out with 50 and rapidly as the temps started to rise realized 50 wasn't enough in texas with no tree cover. Im at 70% most of the year now cept winter months its full sun till it starts to heat up rapidly in the A.M hours. East and West exposure with very little western sun. I like to maximize the cooler hours of the mornings with as much friendly light as possible. The afternoon sun in texas is brutal hot. My plants grow well. I didnt say they bloom. I havnt got it figured out yet after 5 years. Dont know if there is such a thing anymore....

[mimigirl]

JDT in am in new orleans and thats what i was unsure about: will they still get enough light to bloom? And in S/E exposure from morn to early afternoon it gets confusing. I dont have a gh but and covering a larger shelf that i can move if i need some adjustment. Just dont know what amount of shade to start. Thinking maybe 50%

---------- Post added at 04:58 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:46 PM ----------

RJSquirrel your area is so similar to mine! Days are terribly hot here too in afternoons. But mine will not be in it since on east side of house. I am worried.....

[JDT]

Mimigirl;
I would say that 50% is ok but you might think of going up to 60% being in New Orleans. I recently purchased a new shade screen and asked for 60% but they made the shade with 70% which because of the South Florida sun I decided to keep. It really depends on what species of orchids you have, if you have low light requirement then you would need a higher percent cloth, using the 50%-60% is a happy medium for different light requirements.

[kg5]

Hi mimigirl

Our situation is sub tropical and have researched a fair now on my shade house/hothouse.

Our example of orchid growing is Dendrobium for the hot house & Cattleya for the shade house.

Looks like a 6 hrs min of good sunlight suits both. Because of some tree shade we have gone to 50% shade on both growing areas. If the tree shade was not present the cloth would of been 75% roof & 50% on the sides.

Hope this is helpful. kg5

[mimigirl]

JDT and kg5 thanks for your input. I dont know why i am so stressed with this since i can move the shelf into more sun or more shade! Duh! I am so ocd and scarey cat!