Use of solar films and plant growth

[Paphluvr]

Does anyone have experience with the use of solar films on the windows that they grow their plants at? The back of my condo faces SW and the heat load in the summer is +4-5°F in the afternoon. Unfortunately it's the only good exposure I have for growing my plants. Since the intended purpose of the film is to reduce the amount of UV how would installing it affect the growth of my plants?

[Dollythehun]

Have you thought about installing solar shades. They work quite well.

[Ray]

If all they do is block UV, I doubt you'd have any issues. However, are you sure that's all the film blocks?

[Paphluvr]

Originally Posted by Ray

If all they do is block UV, I doubt you'd have any issues. However, are you sure that's all the film blocks?

On almost all the sites I've looked at, the emphasis seems to be on blocking the UV, with numbers ranging from 95-98% UV blocking. I suppose if I investigate further with someone like 3M I should be able to find out what other part (or parts) of the spectrum are blocked. So am I safe in assuming that the orchids do not need any part of the invisi ble spectrum?

---------- Post added at 09:21 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:08 AM ----------

Originally Posted by Dollythehun

Have you thought about installing solar shades. They work quite well.

Solar shades would work at the two windows (I have pleated shades there now because they receive direct sun in the afternoon) but my primary concern is my doorwall. I presently have sheers hung there but it also opens to my dining area and kitchen area. The problem is compounded by cooking or baking in the kitchen.

[Dollythehun]

I have trouble picturing this. I ask because I think I have a slightly similar set up, thought, actually. So is it the heat or the brightness?

[Paphluvr]

Originally Posted by Dollythehun

I have trouble picturing this. I ask because I think I have a slightly similar set up, thought, actually. So is it the heat or the brightness?

The heat. The doorwall faces SW and is one of the 10' walls of a 8x10' dining space. This opens to my kitchen which would be the other 10' length. Unfortunately, other than the two windows in my living room, this is the only exposure I have for my plants. I keep part of my collection on a bakers rack in front of the non-movable portion of the doorwall. I have to draw the curtains or shades for about 4-5 hours in the afternoon on sunny days. Primarily, though, I'm looking at the solar film to reduce the amount of heat buildup in late afternoon in the summer.

[Dollythehun]

A quick search says it does reduce heat and the cost is reasonable. I have installed a lot of window film, not solar, decorative. It is fairly easy and if you hate it, it peels right off. My sunroom is kind of the same situation but, we run the air ( that room is not air conditioned) and have a ceiling fan running on high. So, even in the summer, it is tolerable...Of course, we have some large trees in the front yard, which help. I'd try it, if I were you.

[Arizona Jeanie]

I had my old, clear, single-pane windows replaced with the tinted, heat-blocking, double pane ones a few years ago. They work very well for blocking heat, but most of my house plants died. What did survive was the Phalaenopsis orchid, the first one that got me started on all this. I eventually added a plant light to give them a little boost through the winter, they're doing well and blooming right now. If I had it to do over, I think I'd keep that window clear. You have the luxury of giving it a try with the film, and removing it if it turns into a problem!

[estación seca]

Solar film on windows is used extensively here in Arizona. It greatly reduces light through the window. It is hard to grow any plants inside it.

It also greatly reduces infrared insolation, which is most of the heat.

They focus on the UV in marketing because that causes some of the sun damage through windows. However, glass windows already remove most of the UV even without a solar film. Have you noticed you cannot get a sunburn through a window? At old tuberculosis sanitariums they had special windows made of fused quartz, which did permit UV to pass. Sunning was considered helpful for treating tuberculosis before effective antibiotics were developed.

A lot of the fabric and wood damage through a window is caused by visible light. So any solar film that aims to reduce fabric damage will also reduce incoming visible light.

Is there any way you can put a sunscreen on the outside of this window? This is a common approach here, too, and it does permit plants to grow inside the window.

I don't endorse this company. It's just the first I found with a pretty good photo on the home page:
Sun Control & Security Products by Day Star Screens - Sun Screens Shade for Windows

[naoki]

These films typically block IR (and UV). UV can influence what kinds of chemical compounds are made for plants, but those are reduction of defense chemicals against cellular damages. So reduction of UV should be favorable (unless you are going to eat the plants).

IR can be more important in plant physiology, since it influences the major light sensor of plants (phytochrome). Under artificial light, IR:R ratio is quite different from sun, but we can grow orchids without problems.