FIBERGLASS: Selection Is Crucial

Culture Orchid Doctor

by Robert M. [Bert] Hamilton (Compiler)

Originally published in The Orchid Doctor in 1980 and 1988

Posted by Sys Admin over 6 years ago.

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Most consumer-grade fiberglas is colored, either white or greenish, but it should be clear for a greenhouse; it deteriorates quickly in strong sunlight so light is cut out; buy only greenhouse quality; old fiberglass can be improved by washing with strong detergent. F87-155
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Fiberglass Comments
FIBERGLASS: Acrylic Modified Materials These have increased the longevity over the fiberglass mat embedded in polyester resin; have added three to five years of weathering. OD67-268 0
FIBERGLASS: Advantages of Clear Over White Clear passes more light which is important in fall and winter in many places. A70-1099 0
FIBERGLASS: Cleaning Roofs of Greenhouses Use one ounce of High Test Hypochlorite (such as Clorox) in a gallon of water and use as an algicidal, fungicidal and bactericidal scrub or spray; rinse with water. A70-589+ 0
FIBERGLASS: Clear Panels on West Side and Green-blue on East Use only clear throughout, or nearly clear white; the green-blue will heat the greenhouse too much in summer and add to coolness in winter; it will also filter out too much of the red light. A72-55 0
FIBERGLASS: Compared with Glass Orchids grow as well under fiberglass as under glass; in Ohio glass is preferred because of lower winter light. A75-876 0
FIBERGLASS: Diffuses Light Almost Completely There are no direct beams aimed at leaves; overall greater light intensity can be tolerated under fiberglass without burn; the greenhouse is less of a heat trap under fiberglass; leaf temperatures do not rise as high; light intensity and temperature rises less limiting to growth. A64-284 0
FIBERGLASS: Green Do not use it for greenhouses unless you want a green house; parts of the light spectrum used by green plants are the red and blue ends and when the pigments are mixed the resulting colour is the one absorbed by neither; refer to AU83-105; but pale green roofing fiberglass is reported to produce prize-winning dendrobiums, so some testing seems to be called for. AU83-275 0
FIBERGLASS: Green Color as Cover Clear should have been used, with white shading; green tends to give a hot temperature; they will pass enough orange-red for good growth; worth trying for a year. A74-1062Emerald green shade in a sunny area did not seem to inhibit growing; paphiopedilums and other shade-loving plants seemed to thrive. A79-473No comparable data available as to advantages or disadvantages as compared to white or clear glass. A62-220 0
FIBERGLASS: Polyester Type, Cleaning Clean with trisodium phosphate solution and a scrub brush; then . remove loose fibers with coarse steel wool; clean thoroughly with water; dry; recoat with acrylated refinisher by brush; treatment increases solar radiation by 16.8 percent; refinished section transmitted 98.5 percent as much as new acrylic; yellowish color disappeared. OD67-268 0
FIBERGLASS: Suitable for Greenhouse Clear is preferred; in Florida a white that transmits 60% of light could be used for roof; for the sides use clear. A76-611 0

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