Better greenhouse climates all year round with ReduSol and ReduFuse IR

Houseplants flourish under ReduSol and ReduFuse IR

On hot days the temperature in the Bridge Farm Group’s greenhouses can rise to as much as 40°C without any intervention. There isn’t a plant able to withstand such temperatures without a negative effect on growth.ReduSol and ReduFuse IR helps to lower the temperature sufficiently to prevent future problems.

Bridge Farm Group is one of the UK’s leading producers of flowers, herbs, indoor and outdoor plants. As we all know, the great British weather is very changeable, and it is not uncommon to experience warm sunny days interspersed with overcast spells and dropped temperatures.

“We have previously used a mobile energy screen to protect our plants against excessive radiation. However, due to needing a gap for air circulation, the screens cannot be completely closed. With ReduSol we achieve better uniform protection and greenhouse climate.” says Antonio Rodrigues, Crop Manager

Problem solved
"Without intervention, excessive radiation will cause plant stress. An example is seen on cyclamen leaves which can be scorched or disfigured, leading to flowering problems. In addition to this, you run the risk of weak plants, leaving them vulnerable to insect attack. Unfortunately, that was a big problem for us." Explains Antonio.

"For stronger plant varieties such as chrysanthemums, temperatures can be overpowering, and using a blackout screen in the high temperatures of summer can cause a delay in a flowering” He adds. “This was the case in the first year after the greenhouse was built because the glass was so clear. Now that we are using ReduSol, things have improved significantly. We are no longer experiencing these problems.”

Poinsettias, particularly in the early weeks after planting, require extra protection in the summer. While poinsettias are strong plants, in the hottest months the young plants are vulnerable. This means you really need to be able to take early action against the radiation.

Also consider applying a layer of ReduSol to sections housing herbs including basil, parsley, coriander etc.

Sunspots
Bridge Farm Group still experiences difficulty with sunlight directly hitting the plants via the open roof vents. "We don’t always have the option of choosing whether to open the vents on the wind side or the lee side. When the radiation through the vent windows becomes unavoidable, we make adjustments using the screen" says Rodrigues.

Since Bridge Farm Group started using Redusol coatings, they have been able to reduce their use of the screens. In summer the screens are closed during the middle of the day, but the controls are set at a much higher radiation level than before.

ReduFuse IR
Britain regularly experiences overcast days in summer. When this happens, ReduSol actually reduces the light. "It was recommended we try out ReduFuse IR for poinsettias and herbs. Which allowed us to keep sufficient light while reducing the overall temperature. This has been beneficial, as you can really feel the difference on a sunny day.”

This also gave the team the idea of applying ReduFuse IR to the greenhouse cover above the processing areas where nothing is grown. "We are still debating the best solution. But for the employees, reducing the heat in the summer months is a very attractive option.”

Removal
In the first year they did not remove the coating manually, instead opting to let the rain wash it away. "Last December we acquired our own roof washer with coating equipment. Now we can decide for ourselves exactly when to apply and remove each coating. We are primarily focusing on using ReduFuse IR for the next season,” Rodrigues concludes.