Windowsill Gardening / Net curtains  Solved

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Auceye
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Windowsill Gardening / Net curtains  Solved

Post by Auceye »

Hi everyone, wishing you a fulfilling cactus growing season ahead! Just looking for advice for the coming summer - do you think my plants would be okay growing behind some net curtains in the summer months?

I have about 50 small cacti (Gymno, Mamm, Echinopsis, Rebutia, Copiapoa) on single-glazed windowsills facing southeast and south. To my horror, in the last few weeks the soil surface temperature has already exceeded 100 F (38 C) several times during periods of direct sunlight. Although nothing seems to have cooked yet, some of the Echinopsis and Rebutia buds have begun to desiccate. And this is before the middle of April!

Ventilation is very bad as I am not around in the daytime to open the sash windows. The net curtains can't be helping the situation, and living on a busy road they have to stay up!

So, how does the windowsill grower cope with this? Move the plants to the shady side of the nets on sunny days? It is still quite bright when the sun is out, but significantly cooler. Keep the plants in front of the nets and blast with a fan? Perhaps get a greenhouse / move house ? :wink:
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BryanW
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Re: Windowsill Gardening / Net curtains

Post by BryanW »

I transfer my young plants to an upstairs SSE windows-sill, room side of the net curtains as far away from the glass as the sill will allow. I open a top window vent and the room door so a larger air flow is created. I also have the added bonus of half latched windows, which are closed securely but allow air flow.
I find the room upstairs will be warmer but the sunlight isn't as direct as it is downstairs due to the roof overhang shading the room.
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rodsmith
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Re: Windowsill Gardening / Net curtains

Post by rodsmith »

There's no problem in growing cacti & succulents at sunny windows with net curtains but the plants should be on the room side of the curtains. If, as in your case, they are between the nets and the window there will be no movement of air and they will cook. I'm not surprised the buds have begun to desiccate. Don't worry too much about the temperature of the soil at the surface. Temperature is correctly taken in the shade (these are the temps you customarily see on the news) and in full sunlight the temperature will be much hotter than the shade. However, in your case the combination of heat and trapped hot air could be lethal and I would bring your plants out from behind the nets pronto.
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Chris L
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Re: Windowsill Gardening / Net curtains

Post by Chris L »

My bedroom windowsill (where I grow my seedlings) is upstairs at the front of the house and has a small blind for privacy at the bottom of the window frame.

The roller blind comes down from the top near the glass and the privacy blind is fixed on a pole on the inside edge of the frame and is about 15 inches high. The plants enjoy the sunshine without the need for a net curtain for privacy.

People outside can't see in, and when the top blind is down at night to about a foot from the bottom the lower blind completes the job of blocking out the streetlights.

Something like that may work, even if it looks a little odd. I can take a picture if you need to see it.
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anders
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Re: Windowsill Gardening / Net curtains

Post by anders »

I have used a fan in similar situations, it helps.
Auceye
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Re: Windowsill Gardening / Net curtains

Post by Auceye »

The plants have been re-positioned safely behind the nets, with more shade and ventilation. I think I've realized the danger just in time to avoid catastrophic damage - thank you all for the advice!
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Re: Windowsill Gardening / Net curtains

Post by rodsmith »

:grin: Glad it's working out.
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