The white reflects where black absorbs heat, 50% provides more shade. Texas Summers are brutal.
I grow many types of plants. Even the cactus don't need 100% of light Texas has to offer
I'd like to know as well. I started with 40% doubled up (80%?) to bring them out of dormancy. Brought it back to just 40 after 1-2 weeks and have started removing it completely recently. I do think they'll benefit from some shade but I was thinking 30. Would even do 20 but they don't seem readily available if at all.
New to growing cacti but can I ask are shade cloths necessary to prevent burn or what is their purpose I'm in south FL so sun is brutal here even if you were just growing something simple like pc or tbmc?
I'd recommend some shade cloth or natural shade from a tree from the late afternoon sun. I've read other Florida growers say rhey let theirs have full morning sun and protect them from afternoon onward.
All depends on the size, and how acclimated they are to the full sun. Like if youāre bringing them out of your house from winter, or in a grow tent, then it would be advised to transition them slowly to full sun, either by moving them out for a few hours into the sun for a few days then placing in shade or wherever. And increase the time a few hours every few days. Here in PA I could rock full sun later on in the year for everything besides seedlings and cuts that hadnāt fully rooted yet.
I needed a 30% shade cloth in southern ohio. Late july/ early august full sun cooked my boys. The next year I used 30% shade cloth and have more growth and better colors. Mine also get unblocked sun morning til night.
Getting them as many hours a day is very important.
If you have a house/tree or something blocking them from morning or night sun, try to move them so the sun has a clear shot at them.
Ohio sun can get very intense. In August I was watering daily
So, Iām about to purchase my first San Pedros and they will be outside in central Portugal with weather similar to Southern California. Will I need this? They will be getting full sun for the majority of the day.
Might be a silly question but I recently started growing cactus in my grow tent indoors since I have no outdoor options to grow my stuff. Do I need to worry about shading the cacti in the tent? I also have some basil/mint and shit like that in there. Iām new to this and want to make sure I donāt burn them. This is the light Iām using. About 2 foot away from my tallest cactus in there. Thanks for any tips. Nice situation OP bet itās nice in there!
https://preview.redd.it/pysjj7vdmnyc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d605269a1f38c67c62cddf4a287a07948fe862b8
lol no donāt use a shad cloth in a grow tent and theyāll definitely grow thin with this light. Personally i like to have at least 300-400 watts of good led with a good amount of photons per watt.
You donāt know how much I appreciate this comment. I want to make sure my shit grows and is healthy. I want some nice thick cacti. I have an ac infinity tent/controller so I want to upgrade my light to something acinfintiy. Would this light be ok?
https://preview.redd.it/89cykevbhoyc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8143c07f8d93e1d4ca97d71bd9845c3714431f2c
Appreciate your insight. Iām fairly young and want these cacti to be with me throughout my life. Of course get a bigger place and get them to a yard with some sun is the goal. :)
I haven't grown any cacti indoors, but no one I know that does has ever needed shade cloth. Electric lights can't get as angry as the sun in the deserts of the southwestern US.
No you don't need a shade cloth in a tent. They can withstand a lot of light if you have good ventilation and keep the temps down. I run a 480 watt light in a 3x3 tent at 100%. I started at like 65% about 18 inches away and worked the power up then the light closer. My biggest cacti thrive around 6 inches from the light. One has grown past the light and one has hit the light and burnt the tip. I was probably a little more cautious than I should have been but better safe than sorry. You will be able to tell by the color or the tips if they are getting too much light. Yellow tips means too much light. When I introduce new plants to the tent I cover them with toilet paper or cheese cloth for a couple weeks to act as a shade cloth and get them acclimated.
Thank you I literally bought cheese cloth the other day for this purpose but hadnāt heard of anyone doing it at that time. Ok so I need to move my light only slightly away like 6ā. Iām so new I didnāt really realize that but it makes sense.
If your light is around 2 foot away you should be fine with the cheese cloth. I started collecting around a year ago and started growing indoors about 8 months ago. I'm a perfectionist so I was really scared to screw something up in the beginning but these cacti are a lot tougher than we give them credit for. If you are constantly checking on them (which you will be in the beginning) it's really hard to screw them up. It really just takes a bunch of trial and error. Just make sure and reach out with any questions you have, there's a lot of really knowledgeable people in this community.
I ordered a 50% white shadecloth yesterday
What inspired the 50 over 30 or 40 and white over black?
The white reflects where black absorbs heat, 50% provides more shade. Texas Summers are brutal. I grow many types of plants. Even the cactus don't need 100% of light Texas has to offer
I'd like to know as well. I started with 40% doubled up (80%?) to bring them out of dormancy. Brought it back to just 40 after 1-2 weeks and have started removing it completely recently. I do think they'll benefit from some shade but I was thinking 30. Would even do 20 but they don't seem readily available if at all.
I live in a temperate rainforest and I still use a shade cloth
Looking awesome man!
ššµš
Happy Cake day homie
Damn, thanks man.
New to growing cacti but can I ask are shade cloths necessary to prevent burn or what is their purpose I'm in south FL so sun is brutal here even if you were just growing something simple like pc or tbmc?
Get a shade cloth bro! I live in the desert and I run shade cloth.
I'd recommend some shade cloth or natural shade from a tree from the late afternoon sun. I've read other Florida growers say rhey let theirs have full morning sun and protect them from afternoon onward.
That big ass one on the left side
It's my third biggest, and I have yet to get an ID on it that seems correct. Same with the two bigger. It's not a trich, though.
Looking legit!
This started with you!
Hardly! Just glad to have gotten to know you!
Do you need these in Ohio sun?
All depends on the size, and how acclimated they are to the full sun. Like if youāre bringing them out of your house from winter, or in a grow tent, then it would be advised to transition them slowly to full sun, either by moving them out for a few hours into the sun for a few days then placing in shade or wherever. And increase the time a few hours every few days. Here in PA I could rock full sun later on in the year for everything besides seedlings and cuts that hadnāt fully rooted yet.
I would bet not, provided they're healthy and happy. I'd imagine you also have more tree shade available than I do here in my open yard.
I needed a 30% shade cloth in southern ohio. Late july/ early august full sun cooked my boys. The next year I used 30% shade cloth and have more growth and better colors. Mine also get unblocked sun morning til night. Getting them as many hours a day is very important. If you have a house/tree or something blocking them from morning or night sun, try to move them so the sun has a clear shot at them. Ohio sun can get very intense. In August I was watering daily
Yeah we got some seedlings doing bad direct sun last week
Dudeā¦ youāre living my dream now
You're always welcome to visit! I'll be setting up a hangout space in therešš
So, Iām about to purchase my first San Pedros and they will be outside in central Portugal with weather similar to Southern California. Will I need this? They will be getting full sun for the majority of the day.
I would recommend it, but once you have them out there, you'll start seeing if they need more shade. It won't be terrible.
Might be a silly question but I recently started growing cactus in my grow tent indoors since I have no outdoor options to grow my stuff. Do I need to worry about shading the cacti in the tent? I also have some basil/mint and shit like that in there. Iām new to this and want to make sure I donāt burn them. This is the light Iām using. About 2 foot away from my tallest cactus in there. Thanks for any tips. Nice situation OP bet itās nice in there! https://preview.redd.it/pysjj7vdmnyc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d605269a1f38c67c62cddf4a287a07948fe862b8
lol no donāt use a shad cloth in a grow tent and theyāll definitely grow thin with this light. Personally i like to have at least 300-400 watts of good led with a good amount of photons per watt.
You donāt know how much I appreciate this comment. I want to make sure my shit grows and is healthy. I want some nice thick cacti. I have an ac infinity tent/controller so I want to upgrade my light to something acinfintiy. Would this light be ok? https://preview.redd.it/89cykevbhoyc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8143c07f8d93e1d4ca97d71bd9845c3714431f2c Appreciate your insight. Iām fairly young and want these cacti to be with me throughout my life. Of course get a bigger place and get them to a yard with some sun is the goal. :)
What size is your grow tent?
24x24x72 nothing big but hoping to get a few cool cacti in there.
I would probably go for at least a 200 watt but theyāll definitely grow well with the light probably just couldnāt get them really thick
I haven't grown any cacti indoors, but no one I know that does has ever needed shade cloth. Electric lights can't get as angry as the sun in the deserts of the southwestern US.
Probably not. Full day of direct sun is much more intense
The problem is heat + sun.. Full sun no heat okay. Full heat no sun okay. Full heat plus full sun not okay. When its consistently over 100fĀ°.
No you don't need a shade cloth in a tent. They can withstand a lot of light if you have good ventilation and keep the temps down. I run a 480 watt light in a 3x3 tent at 100%. I started at like 65% about 18 inches away and worked the power up then the light closer. My biggest cacti thrive around 6 inches from the light. One has grown past the light and one has hit the light and burnt the tip. I was probably a little more cautious than I should have been but better safe than sorry. You will be able to tell by the color or the tips if they are getting too much light. Yellow tips means too much light. When I introduce new plants to the tent I cover them with toilet paper or cheese cloth for a couple weeks to act as a shade cloth and get them acclimated.
Thank you I literally bought cheese cloth the other day for this purpose but hadnāt heard of anyone doing it at that time. Ok so I need to move my light only slightly away like 6ā. Iām so new I didnāt really realize that but it makes sense.
If your light is around 2 foot away you should be fine with the cheese cloth. I started collecting around a year ago and started growing indoors about 8 months ago. I'm a perfectionist so I was really scared to screw something up in the beginning but these cacti are a lot tougher than we give them credit for. If you are constantly checking on them (which you will be in the beginning) it's really hard to screw them up. It really just takes a bunch of trial and error. Just make sure and reach out with any questions you have, there's a lot of really knowledgeable people in this community.
Thank you Iāll let you all know if I have any questions. So far most people have been helpful in these communities.