Replace walkin greenhouse cover with 40-60 %shade clothe

[aparnamane]

Hi OB,

I have walk-in greenhouse from last couple of months and recently realized it's becoming so hot inside and my orchid leaves are burning, mostly Oncidium types, mostly because of the sun rays coming from door side and if I close the door then not getting enough air circulation.

I was thinking to replace entire greenhouse cove (kind of platic green cover) with 40-60% shade cloth, wondering if someone tried similar set up. Wondering if it is ok to replace with shade clothe only that means greenhouse won't have one extra layer which will increase air flow, but would that provide more intense light and burn orchid leaves?

Please let me know your thoughts.


Thanks.

[Roberta]

Choose your shadecloth percentage based on the conditions in your yard. My yard runs east-west, the center has no trees, in summer it toasts essentially all day. I use 60% pretty much everywhere. If you have some shading from trees or house, etc. in mid-day, then 50% might be better. Also, this time of year, the sun angle will continue to get lower so getting adequate light might be a consideration. Then in the spring you have to be alert to brightening - right around the vernal equinox, the sun may suddenly clear barriers (and orchids hate abrupt changes that don't let them adapt)- I have toasted more leaves in mid to late March than any other time.

Do you need to protect plants from cold? Those would benefit from the plastic (you might be even adding some heat in winter) There's not one set of conditions that works for everything... you might consider an area outside the greenhouse for the more cold-tolerant plants (and just provide some shade cloth as needed) and keep the greenhouse enclosed, at least through the colder months, for the things that need some protection.

[aparnamane]

Originally Posted by Roberta

Choose your shadecloth percentage based on the conditions in your yard. My yard runs east-west, the center has no trees, in summer it toasts essentially all day. I use 60% pretty much everywhere. If you have some shading from trees or house, etc. in mid-day, then 50% might be better. Also, this time of year, the sun angle will continue to get lower so getting adequate light might be a consideration. Then in the spring you have to be alert to brightening - right around the vernal equinox, the sun may suddenly clear barriers (and orchids hate abrupt changes that don't let them adapt)- I have toasted more leaves in mid to late March than any other time.

Do you need to protect plants from cold? Those would benefit from the plastic (you might be even adding some heat in winter) There's not one set of conditions that works for everything... you might consider an area outside the greenhouse for the more cold-tolerant plants (and just provide some shade cloth as needed) and keep the greenhouse enclosed, at least through the colder months, for the things that need some protection.

Hi Roberta,

Thank you so much.

Its very helpful. I would be able to move Oncidium types to my garage to east facing window where my phals are moved last week, as you suggested to move phales inside.

Just quick quetion does Tolumnias and Cats will do ok with only shade clothe or they need protection from cold or they are ok in the current setup for light as well as cold, without shade clothe? Please let me know what your experience is I understand it varies as per different types but will give me general idea.


Thanks.

[Roberta]

Tolumnias definitely need be warm. They won't do well with winter. Catts, it depends. Many Catt species (and their progeny) do fine through winter where we live. Warm growers like C. dowiana and lueddemanniana don't. A lot of Oncidium types do fine outside, some need warmer. So... again the answer on those, "It depends on which ones". There are some orchids where you can generalize about conditions based on genus, knowing that there are always exceptions... Phals and Tolumnias are pretty much warm growers. Cymbidiums (except for a few Asian ones like ensifolium and sinense) are pretty much cool growers. But for most genera, you have to dig down to the species level to know what they want... or what you can get away with, short of the ideal.

[aparnamane]

Originally Posted by Roberta

Tolumnias definitely need be warm. They won't do well with winter. Catts, it depends. Many Catt species (and their progeny) do fine through winter where we live. Warm growers like C. dowiana and lueddemanniana don't. A lot of Oncidium types do fine outside, some need warmer. So... again the answer on those, "It depends on which ones". There are some orchids where you can generalize about conditions based on genus, knowing that there are always exceptions... Phals and Tolumnias are pretty much warm growers. Cymbidiums (except for a few Asian ones like ensifolium and sinense) are pretty much cool growers. But for most genera, you have to dig down to the species level to know what they want.

Thanks Roberta.

It makes sense. This winter would be my learning experience, I will keep monitoring. Just do not want to loose any orchid .

Thanks.

[Roberta]

Do your research! You can learn about the parentage of hybrids from orchidroots.com and habitat data of species from IOSPE In the case of species, look at elevation and latitude... on the equator, elevations about about 1200 m do fine with winter, below about 800 m, probably need protection. At higher latitudes, those elevation guidelines move down... southern China or the Himalaya area, 500 m is usually pretty cool ion winter.

You can do trial and error, and likely lose quite a few, or do the work to learn about where they come from, and greatly improve your odds. Nobody bats 1.000,

[aparnamane]

Originally Posted by Roberta

Do your research! You can learn about the parentage of hybrids from orchidroots.com and habitat data of species from IOSPE In the case of species, look at elevation and latitude... on the equator, elevations about about 1200 m do fine with winter, below about 800 m, probably need protection. At higher latitudes, those elevation guidelines move down... southern China or the Himalaya area, 500 m is usually pretty cool ion winter.

You can do trial and error, and likely lose quite a few, or do the work to learn about where they come from, and greatly improve your odds. Nobody bats 1.000,

Thats really good idea, definitely would like to research, will see how much time I can spend on it.


Thanks.

[Roberta]

Unless you have hundreds, doesn't take all that much time. To be successful, there's no shortcut to learning about your orchids.

[aparnamane]

Originally Posted by Roberta

Unless you have hundreds, doesn't take all that much time. To be successful, there's no shortcut to learning about your orchids.

True Roberta.

I am totally agree with you, I have started searching / reading.

Thanks for the help.



Thank you.