Greenhouse shade cloth %?

[teddytn]

Definitely going to have my greenhouse up and going this year before winter. Plan on keeping most plants in pots in the greenhouse year-round. I’m not so concerned about winter, I’ve got a plan for that, more concerned about continuous 90f+ days and blazing overhead sun in the summer. I’ve been in quite a few greenhouses during summer with literally oppressive heat inside. Planning on getting 40% shade cloth. Any one have experience using shade cloth and or have any recommendations with ornamentals (palms, cactus, yucca, agave)? 

[Silas_Sancona]

1 hour ago, teddytn said:

Definitely going to have my greenhouse up and going this year before winter. Plan on keeping most plants in pots in the greenhouse year-round. I’m not so concerned about winter, I’ve got a plan for that, more concerned about continuous 90f+ days and blazing overhead sun in the summer. I’ve been in quite a few greenhouses during summer with literally oppressive heat inside. Planning on getting 40% shade cloth. Any one have experience using shade cloth and or have any recommendations with ornamentals (palms, cactus, yucca, agave)? 

Unless you're talking about really tender-leaved things, I'd think 40% should be good where you're at. Remember, the higher the humidity level, the more protection there is from U.V. damage. Several months of 85-100F, plus your humidity -more often than not-  thru the summer, is a much nicer animal than 103-120F / 0-20% humidity / 10-30deg Dew points, plus a U.V. index pegged at 11 ( maybe higher ) -every day ..until -at least-  the start of October.  That's how you cook -everything-

Position your Greenhouse where it might be shaded from tall trees in the afternoon and you may not need all that dense of shade cloth.. Many cacti need that bright light to grow well / not be " too tender /  green " /  stretched out / extra susceptible to cold damage in the winter, ...or flower well.

[teddytn]

50 minutes ago, Silas_Sancona said:

Unless you're talking about really tender-leaved things, I'd think 40% should be good where you're at. Remember, the higher the humidity level, the more protection there is from U.V. damage. Several months of 85-100F, plus your humidity -more often than not-  thru the summer, is a much nicer animal than 103-120F / 0-20% humidity / 10-30deg Dew points, plus a U.V. index pegged at 11 ( maybe higher ) -every day ..until -at least-  the start of October.  That's how you cook -everything-

Position your Greenhouse where it might be shaded from tall trees in the afternoon and you may not need all that dense of shade cloth.. Many cacti need that bright light to grow well / not be " too tender /  green " /  stretched out / extra susceptible to cold damage in the winter, ...or flower well.

That’s about the scenario actually. Sited with southern exposure across the widest portion of it. There’s an oak tree to the southwest that will help in the spring/ fall.  High summer here the sun rises northeast, sets northwest and is directly overhead in the middle of the day. That 2 month or so span is what I’m planning for. Definitely need to have ventilation on point, going gravel floor and try and water/ mist daily to keep humidity up like you said. 
 

Not that we won’t grow some vegetables and experiment with other stuff. Main purpose is to grow cold hardy palms, cactus, yucca, agave. 
 

I’ve watched some videos of people out in your parts growing purely outside no greenhouse, but under a shade structure with fairly dense aluminet cloth. Seems like for a greenhouse to work when you go what 115f would need AC to keep everything alive? 

[Silas_Sancona]

5 minutes ago, teddytn said:

That’s about the scenario actually. Sited with southern exposure across the widest portion of it. There’s an oak tree to the southwest that will help in the spring/ fall.  High summer here the sun rises northeast, sets northwest and is directly overhead in the middle of the day. That 2 month or so span is what I’m planning for. Definitely need to have ventilation on point, going gravel floor and try and water/ mist daily to keep humidity up like you said. 
 

Not that we won’t grow some vegetables and experiment with other stuff. Main purpose is to grow cold hardy palms, cactus, yucca, agave. 
 

I’ve watched some videos of people out in your parts growing purely outside no greenhouse, but under a shade structure with fairly dense aluminet cloth. Seems like for a greenhouse to work when you go what 115f would need AC to keep everything alive? 

Some use Ac, ...or a Swamp Cooler  w/ doors left open just a bit ( where i'd worked ) I know others who don't use - anything- except a vent and fans.. Don't think Aridlands uses am AC for their houses. Other nurseries that just have hoop houses set up. I'd be using Aluminet -at least- Or situating between / where trees would shade it from say 11Am - sundown this time of year.

As long as built up heat can escape, you should be fine, esp. if using fan(s) to keep the air moving. Plants / wet soil will release plenty of extra moisture ..so little worry that plants inside would dry out, esp. there.  Too much moisture when it is hot will kill certain cacti / succulent stuff too, so, it's a balancing act.

[Silas_Sancona]

2 hours ago, Silas_Sancona said:

Some use Ac, ...or a Swamp Cooler  w/ doors left open just a bit ( where i'd worked ) I know others who don't use - anything- except a vent and fans.. Don't think Aridlands uses am AC for their houses. Other nurseries that just have hoop houses set up. I'd be using Aluminet -at least- Or situating between / where trees would shade it from say 11Am - sundown this time of year.

As long as built up heat can escape, you should be fine, esp. if using fan(s) to keep the air moving. Plants / wet soil will release plenty of extra moisture ..so little worry that plants inside would dry out, esp. there.  Too much moisture when it is hot will kill certain cacti / succulent stuff too, so, it's a balancing act.

🤦‍♂️🤪 Duhh, LOL ..I completely forgot that i'd lived in Cincinnati and had similar summer WX conditions to what you experience ( though maybe a touch cooler ..Maybe, haha ) ..  I don't recall many -or any- of the nurseries w/ greenhouses there doing much -if anything-  to shade everything, except shade loving plants  during the summers there.  Winters were of course the more important " Protect things " factor.