C H Whitehouse Greenhouses – Shading & Heating

Keeping out the heat

New Greenhouse Shading Panels

We have developed to help with the problem of shading the roof of the greenhouse. This will work on shaped roof panels of hexagonal and octagonal greenhouse as well as on the oblong panels of the traditional ridge greenhouse..
External blinds both expensive and can be very difficult to fit especially on a shaped roof but external shading is the most efficient way to block heat. We have been reviewing literature on the methods that the Victorians used to shade their greenhouses and in particular the growers of collections of Auriculas.
For a time Victorian gardeners built special Auricula Houses with removable panels in the roof so that in the summer the glazed lights could be replaced with special “Shade Panels”. Auriculas were special requiring extra care, but the problem today is to keep the greenhouse cool for all the plants. We have produced a shade panel to fit the roof of a Hexalight, as shown in the pictures below. This is simply placed over the roof glazing and fixed by turnbuttons. A similar method is used on the ridged greenhouses. Panels are available in a range of sizes.

Exterior View

Chain lath blinds rolled down

Interior View

Traditional Boarded Greenhouse

Greenhouse Blinds

Accurate temperature control is a constant problem in the greenhouse. The need to control over heating is as important as protection from the cold. This problem is particularly difficult in the amateur greenhouse where the volume of air enclosed is small. The larger volumes of air in big greenhouses act as a buffer to temperature changes. A very small greenhouse does not give satisfactory growing conditions unless it is very well ventilated and additional sun protection provided.
In large greenhouses the volume of air enclosed helps to even out temperature changes but even here care is required to prevent overheating. To avoid the temperature rising too high adequate ventilation, preferably automatically controlled, and a plentiful supply of water are both important,. Introducing water into the air helps to keep the greenhouse cool and providing the plants with adequate water helps the plants transpire and cool themselves but some means to restrict the in-coming sunlight is also required.
The traditional way to restrict the sun’s solar input is to paint lime onto the outside glass each spring. Removable or adjustable blinds cope better with the vagaries of the weather in the British Isles. They can be raised or lowered to meet changing weather conditions. Shading on the outside of the glass stops the heat before it gets into the greenhouse. Inside blinds will provide shade by reducing light level but they do not stop the heat. We are able to offer a choice of shading for your greenhouse with both inside and outside blinds.

Information…

Ventilators

Blinds can be made to fit round roof ventilators or to lift up with a roof vent as it is opened. Ramps enable the ventilator to open under the blind.

Folashade Blinds
Roller Blinds with polyester fabric as a sun screening fabric that cuts down on the light level in a greenhouse by over 50%. When not required blinds are simple to roll up out of the way. The blinds are made on a spring roller for the roof and a friction roller for the vertical sides. “Folashade” blinds are also very effective as a thermal screen. The fabric helps insulate a greenhouse and reduces energy consumption significantly during cold weather. The amount of energy saved depends on many factors but in especially severe weather can significantly reduce running costs. The polyester fabric will normally last for several growing seasons. The total wear life depends on the particular conditions of use. The fabric can be replaced and the roller reused.

“Folashade” blinds blocking the sun

“Folashde” blinds to side and roof

Chain Lath Blinds
Cedar Wood slats joined by copper clips into a screen to provide shading from the outside of the greenhouse. The blinds can be made to roll down the roof operated by cords over a system of pulleys or to roll along the roof on a suitable track. This is the system that can be seen on Victorian Greenhouses, it might be an old system but it is very efficient.
When fitted to the outside of the greenhouse Chain Lath blinds block the sun’s heat before the heat gets into the greenhouse. The narrow gaps between the slats provide minimal lighting which travels across the plant as the sun moves across the sky. For extra special situations the blinds can be set above the glass on ramps producing an air gap which stops conduction of heat through the slats onto the glass.
Considered by many to be the ideal shading method for greenhouses and highly recommended for Orchid growers. Specialist growers find that the dappled shade provides the growing conditions necessary for the healthy growth of their plants. We are able to construct Chain Lath blinds to meet individual needs.

Chain lath blinds rolled up

Chain lath blinds rolled down

Chain Lath Blinds for the smaller greenhouse
We can make Chain Lath roller blinds to shade the roof of any small ridged greenhouse. The blind can include a cut out for the roof ventilators but a ventilator plus a blind may be too heavy to be lifted by an autovent.

Chain lath blinds rolled down

Information…

Materials

The slats are of seasoned straight grain Western Red Cedar. The clips & rings are stamped from solid copper for maximum strength.