Salt Lake Window Replacement: The Effect Of Low-E Glass On Houseplants
Many people take the growing of their houseplants very seriously: they must know if their houseplants will get enough sunlight through Salt Lake window replacement Low-E (emissivity) glass, before they convert. There have been numerous tests on what effect Low-E glass has on houseplants. After I discuss a few of the complexities involved in the answer, I’ll tell you those results.
Many variables affect the health of plants that flourish behind glass: how well is the light getting through the window (are there dirt, buildings, awnings, or trees blocking the light); which way is the window facing (in the northern hemisphere-south gives most intensity of light, east and west gives 2/3 the intensity of south-facing, and north gives 1/5 the intensity of south-facing); how distant are the houseplants from the glass; are there light-colored walls reflecting light onto the plants; how much light do the plants require-total sun, high, medium, low, or full shade; are there any special lighting needs such as long/short day or increasing/decreasing days of light; are there any variegated leaves (demanding more light) or dark green ones (demanding less light); and what is the season?
Ordinary glass allows transmission of 81% of all visible light; Low-E glass allows transmission of 62-76% (it varies by manufacturer). The majority of studies have determined that this negligible reduction in visible light transmission doesn’t appear to adversely affect plant growth, and that Low-E glass: affords nearby plants as much light as they need; gives more intensity of light than a grow lamp does; and has been used in greenhouses for more than a decade without negative impact. Many studies, in fact, have ascertained that Low-E glass typically optimizes and enhances growth for numerous varieties of plants (from orchids to tomatoes) because the temperature fluctuations around the plants are reduced. However, other studies hold that all of the above assessments only apply with neutral-colored and non-tinted Low-E products and that color-tinted Low-E products could reduce the photosynthetically active blue and red light too much for some types of houseplants. As well, some studies have shown that even neutral Low-E glass can reduce photosynthetic blue and red light more than what some varieties of plants can tolerate.
There are different ways to determine light requirements and availability. Prior to converting to Low-E glass, houseplants can be moved to a slightly lower-lighted position for a few days of assessment. Also, the light requirements of various plant species can be discovered from nursery staff, plant instruction tags, and the Internet. Light meters for cameras can show light availability. Also, a household test can show light availability: holding your hand one foot or so above a piece of paper shows if there is high light (a definite shadow), medium light (a fuzzy shadow), and low light (no shadow).
Low-E glass seems to work just fine for varieties of houseplants that are able to thrive in conditions of low-to-medium light, which most houseplants can. Salt Lake window replacements using Low-E glass work well, then, for many houseplant enthusiasts.
Want to find out more about Salt Lake window replacement, then visit Advanced Windows USA site to choose the best Utah window replacement company for your needs.
Tags: Gardening, replacement windows Utah, Salt Lake window replacement, Utah bay window, Utah window
