External shade

[Ray]

The late Joe Kunische, of Bloomfield orchids, automated his shade cloth. It was like a motorized roll-up window shade. He once told me he was planning to fully automate it, using photocells in the greenhouse to detect the light intensity, but as he had a full-time assistant on hand, he merely had to say so, and it was done.

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by Ray

The late Joe Kunische, of Bloomfield orchids, automated his shade cloth. It was like a motorized roll-up window shade. He once told me he was planning to fully automate it, using photocells in the greenhouse to detect the light intensity, but as he had a full-time assistant on hand, he merely had to say so, and it was done.

They have fully automated versions that retract when conditions are cloudy. I've seen it in action at a friend's greenhouse in Houston.