Colored polycarbonate greenhouses are increasingly found in areas of domestic gardeners. Some vegetable growers decorate the site in this way. Others draw attention to scientific evidence regarding the effect of color on crops. About the advantages and disadvantages of colored polycarbonate and about which color of the material is better to use, read further in the article.
Why use colored polycarbonate for greenhouses
Colored polycarbonate mainly performs a decorative function. Greenhouses of different colors serve as a decoration of a garden plot. However, gardeners take into account the influence of a particular color on the development of the plant. Choosing which color of polycarbonate to use to cover the greenhouse, vegetable growers look at its physical characteristics.
Did you know? The first greenhouses in the history of mankind were equipped in ancient China. Greenhouse cultivation was also common in the Roman Empire.
An important factor in choosing a color is the light transmittance, on which the brightness of the light depends. According to agronomists, it is also worth paying attention to the length of electromagnetic waves that pass through the selected color. Properly selected coating color for the greenhouse can beneficially affect the plant and contribute to its development.
Differences between color and clear polycarbonate
For growing vegetables and fruit crops in polycarbonate greenhouses, it is customary to use honeycomb transparent material. This type of coating delays hard ultraviolet radiation, absorbing its rays.
Ultraviolet radiation with an active effect negatively affects plants, therefore, a measure using transparent polycarbonate greenhouses is justified. At the same time, a transparent coating transmits more than 80% of the light. This is important for maintaining photosynthesis.
Colored polycarbonate has a lower light transmission. The specific ratio depends on the color chosen. However, according to a number of professional gardeners, some colors positively affect the set of green mass, the development of rhizomes and the general development of crops. The multi-colored coating also performs a decorative function - bright greenhouses decorate the garden plot to some extent.
Pros and Cons of Colored Polycarbonate
- Colored polycarbonate has two advantages:
- decorative appearance;
- the right color helps plants grow.
The main disadvantage of this type of polycarbonate coating is its low transmittance. Plants get little light, photosynthesis slows down. Leaves, stems, and roots receive few nutrients converted from sunlight. Because of this, culture-demanding cultures die.
Important! When choosing crops for planting in colored polycarbonate greenhouses, pay attention to varieties that are undemanding to bright lighting.
How to choose the right polycarbonate color for the greenhouse
Plants actively develop if they receive the necessary amount of light. Lighting is needed for photosynthesis - the conversion of light energy into organic substances necessary for the growth of plantings. Polycarbonate of a certain color has its own transmittance.
| Polycarbonate color | Light transmittance |
| transparent | 83% |
| blue | 33% |
| green | 32% |
| lactic | 28% |
| bronze | 25% |
| turquoise | 25% |
| yellow | 72% |
| red | 25% |
| brown | 18% |
The amount of sunlight that plantings receive depends on the color of the greenhouse. For normal development, crops require about 80% of the transmitted light. From this point of view, in addition to transparent, the yellow color of the material is suitable.
The color of the coating for the greenhouse can be selected based on the reaction of the plant to the length of electromagnetic waves transmitted through certain shades in the spectrum. The wavelength is calculated in nanometers.
- So, the growth of plants is positively affected by:
- violet-blue shades (380-490 nanometers);
- orange (620–595 nanometers);
- red (720–600 nanometers).
For planting any crops, it is better not to choose greenhouse greenhouses. Under such conditions, plants wither and develop more slowly.
Important! If there are no options and you have to plant seedlings in a multi-colored greenhouse, you can use additional lighting in the form of phytolamps.
First of all, multi-colored polycarbonate coated for greenhouses performs a decorative function. Regarding its effect on plants, gardeners leave different reviews. When choosing a greenhouse, it is better to pay attention to all the nuances and advice of experienced agronomists. This is the only way to grow a healthy crop.
