Comparing Light Deprivation Greenhouse Covers
What should you consider when buying a light deprivation tarp or cover for your greenhouse, and what are your available options?
There are four main types of blackout light deprivation covers currently on the market for manual and automatic greenhouses: Panda, Woven, Breathable, and BOLD:
Comparing the Four Main Solutions for Greenhouse Light Deprivation Covers
Category
Panda
Woven
Breathable
BOLD
Category
Pros
Panda
Typically inexpensive and Lightweight
Woven
Flexible and lightweight, Cost effective, and Durable
Breathable
Breathable fabric allows air flow to plants, may reduce excessive heat and humidity buildup
BOLD
Totally light blocking, UV resistant and heat reflective, withstands both heat and cold (-70° to 180°F operating temperature), and made in the USA
Category
Cons
Panda
Not 100% light deprivation, tears easily and requires ventilation
Woven
Meant for temporary use, material tends to rub off and fray and requires ventilation
Breathable
Made from layers of combined fabrics, moisture gets trapped and mold quickly accumulates, most expensive, and not designed for outdoor use
BOLD
Requires ventilation
Category
Most Common Uses
Panda
Not 100% light deprivation, tears easily and requires ventilation
Woven
Meant for temporary use, material tends to rub off and fray and requires ventilation
Breathable
Made from layers of combined fabrics, moisture gets trapped and mold quickly accumulates, most expensive, and not designed for outdoor use
BOLD
Requires ventilation
Category
Common Characteristics
Panda
Black on one side and a 90% reflective white on the other side allowing light tobe reflected back onto your plants
Woven
Woven ribbons of highdensity polyethylene give it superior tear resistance but most woven coated poly covers contain pinholes that allow light to enter
Breathable
Thick, layered fabric and woven/sewn in a way that does notallow light to penetrate, but allows thefabric to breathe
BOLD
No pinholes/no perforations and scrim reinforced for excellent tear strength
Category
Material Properties
Panda
Polyethylene
Woven
Made with lightweight interwoven poly strips, flexible, durable, reusable, and easy to handle, ideal for weather protection, abatement,containment, scaffold enclosures, and much more
Breathable
3-5 layers of horticulture-grade textiles
BOLD
Mix of virgin polyethylene resinsand polyester, Heavy diamond scrim reinforcement, Outer white layer contains UV inhibitors and thermal stabilizers, Black outer layer contains carbon black to enhance outdoor life and ensure total light deprivation
Category
Avg. Thickness
Panda
4.0-6.0 mil
Woven
9.0-12.0 mil
Breathable
6.0-30.0 mil
BOLD
8.0 mil
Category
Avg. Lifespan (Full Exp.)
Panda
About 1 year
Woven
Less than 2 years
Breathable
Cannot be used outdoors (material will rot)
BOLD
Over 2.5 years
With so many market options, it’s difficult to choose the best cover for your needs. Americover offers a wide-range of products that fit a variety of applications. And we have nearly a quarter century of plastic cover know-how behind those products. Our experts can help you choose the right cover. Call us if you’d like some advice or if you have questions at 833.261.6501.