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Comparing Light Deprivation Greenhouse Covers

Comparing Light Deprivation Greenhouse Covers

30 Jul Posted in Greenhouse Covers, Light Deprivation by

Light deprivation gives you control over the growth and flowering process.  Using the right light dep cover for your greenhouse can mean the difference between a high-quality harvest and a crop full of seeds.   So, we are going to compare the four main types of blackout light deprivation covers currently on the market for manual and automatic greenhouses: Panda, Woven, Breathable, and BOLD:

Light Deprivation Samples

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.

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