[IBC] Colored Shade Cloth

Billy M. Rhodes

This note is being cross posted to a number of plant groups.
Every year I attend the Florida Nurseryman's and Allied Trades Show
(FNATS) at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL as a result I get
on a lot of mailing lists.
Some are a bother but many are helping and interesting. One interesting
one is "Greenhouse Grower" magazine. Since it is free it is very advertising
focused but remembering that it is still interesting.
The April 2004 issue has an article of the possible effects of colored
shade cloth on plant growth.
1. As one might expect, Aluminet, which is a shiny, foil like material
had a cooling effect in the summer, however, there are also reports of a
warming effect in winter, to the extent that one Central Florida grower removed
the heaters from his greenhouse.
2. Blue shade cloth is reported to "encourage dwarfing and flowering
delay."
3. "Red sets up growth." One Central Florida rose grower reports
longer stems under red. A desirable feature on cut roses.
4. "Gray promotes enhanced branching."

The blue, red, gray product is made by an Israeli company called
"Polysack" and marketed in the US by Signature Supply. Signature Supply also sells
the Aluminet.
A University of Florida researcher has been working with the
different colors also but is not ready to publish his results.

Billy on the Florida Space Coast
BSF Annual Convention May 28 - 31, 2004 Radisson Hotel, Cape Canaveral,
Florida
Sponsored by The Bonsai Society of Brevard and the Treasure Coast Bonsai
Society
http://www.bonsaisocietyofbrevard.org/2004/2004.html

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