Advise needed for greenhouse.

[Forever-mango]

Im in the process in making my greenhouse. I got the frame up, now i need the shade cloth. I was recommended by a paph grower to use 50% on the top and 70% on the sides. Once the shade cloth is up, im going to add the clear UV protected plastic top to prevent the rain.

But the big problem is the shade cloth, what do you recommend for the top? and the side? I only got one recommendation, and would like others too.

Im keeping a variety of orchids from Dendrobiums (hard and softcanes), Paphs, Phals, Cymbs, Vandas and Oncidiums. So a mixture.

Can someone help me out, so i can go purchase the shade cloth tomorrow.

Thanks in advance.
Mango

[tansyflower]

I would be interested in the answer to this as well. I have a greenhouse I bought and am waiting to set up. I had tentatively decided to put the heavier protection shade on the top, to protect the plants from the stronger midday sun. Do I have it the wrong way around, and the heavier shadecloth should go on the sides?

I have a similar mixture of orchids to Mango (mainly dens), but am further north In Australia (so probably get a little hotter at times, and not as cold).

[kmarch]

I would be inclined to do just the opposite and do like tansyflower has thought to do., put the heavier cloth on top and the lighter on the sides.

Here in Melbourne I use 70% over everything along with some tree shading. My greenhouse also has 70% (both top and sides) except for one end where I have doubled 70%. That's the end I keep my mottle leaf paphs. Then I keep my higher-light paphs, cattleya alliance plants and a few dendrobiums at the brighter end of the house.

What kind of paphs do you have?

[fred]

gee I think you will get a few different answers with this one

I will say to you what I have my cym house has 50% ( Bone colored ) shade cloth on the roof covered with laser light ( clear ) west facing side is fully enclosed east and north facing sides 70% shade cloth ( green ) the front of that house faces south no covering at all because its right at the back of our house.

my second house has 70% shade cloth on the top with laser light north side fully enclosed ( back wall ) now here is where this gets interesting east wall fully enclosed with laser light and 50% ( bone colored ) shade cloth ( morning sun ) west fully enclosed with laser light and 70% ( green ) shade cloth ( afternoon sun ) front faces south fully enclosed with that light green fiberglass sheets with the door

my third house has east wall fully enclosed with the same green fiberglass sheets with 12 inches openings have 70% green shade cloth to allow for air movement at the top
the roof is the same fiberglass sheets west wall fully enclosed south wall fully enclosed because of a shed with a door for entry the north wall is a fence with 70% Green shade cloth covering the fence
the roof will have 50% shade cloth on for summer only

I hope this helps you and is not to confusing

[Forever-mango]

In the morning i get very little sun, but towards midday i get heavy sun. But the shadow of the house cuts half the sunlight out at around 3pm. The other day when sydney was 32*C, my cymbs got major sunburn. So would you recommend 70% all over?

Kmarch, i got different ones...mainly patterned leaves, but got a few with normal green leaves and lots of the ones with multiple flowers. Will have to get the names tomorrow when the sun is up. I got mine mainly from Nicky.

[Ron]

Hi Mango.
It is a difficult thing to give info on shade cloth for multi use,
70% Would suit most orchids

Dendrobiums (hard and softcanes), Cymbs, Vandas

These would require as much sunlight as possible, 30 % would be nice.
Paphs, Phals, Mine are under 70% biscuit with the pollyflute Wall/roof at about 15% would give a reading of about 80% At times in mid summer this seems too bright!

My Cymbidium house is 30% and plants just love the extra light and never get sunburned

The other day when sydney was 32*C, my cymbs got major sunburn. So would you recommend 70% all over?

The plants would not burn at this Temp unless grown in heavy shade and then moved to a brighter position. Very strange.
As Fred suggested, maybe need to have several shade houses purpose built.
Under 50% green shade cloth my cymbidiums hardly flowerd & under 30% they flower their heads off
Not the answer you are looking for but in my oppionon part of the difficulty of growing a mixed collection.
Best of luck
Ron

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by Forever-mango

Kmarch, i got different ones...mainly patterned leaves, but got a few with normal green leaves and lots of the ones with multiple flowers. Will have to get the names tomorrow when the sun is up. I got mine mainly from Nicky.

Thanks for the additional info. You don't need to give all the specific names, the info is enough for me to tell how much light they need. You will want to give the mottle-leaf paphs (which btw is a normal leaf patter also) more shade than the green-leaved ones. The ones with multiple flowers are called "multi-floral."

I keep my multiflorals (and other green-leaved paphs) at the brighter endof the shade house where there's just the one layer of 70% and I keep my mottle-leaved paphs at the other end which is shaded and under 2 layers of 70% shade cloth.

[Forever-mango]

Kmarch, my parents ended up buying 70% shade cloth

They rather build the shadehouse for the paphs than for any other orchid.

I got quite a large collection of Dendrobiums now, and another side of the house to play with.

If I place the Dendrobiums under 70% what will happen?

Because they are in 100% morning sun at the moment, and they are loving it!