Protecting Your Plants from Sun Damage

Everyone knows that plants need light in order to grow. But many plants can become damaged when overexposed to sunlight. Sunlight is a very powerful form of energy. Plants transform the light directly into energy using cellular organelles called chloroplasts. This energy is then used to drive the metabolism of a plant, which results in vegetative growth and flowering. However, when too much sunlight blasts a plant, the strong energies present can destroy the plant tissue. This is a double threat in a greenhouse, where the materials that make up the walls and roof of the greenhouse are designed to trap in heat from solar warming. On very bright days, the plant may overheat and become overexposed to sunlight, severely damaging it. Shade Nets must be draped over a greenhouse in order to protect plants on very hot days. This can save a crop from becoming completely ruined by the sun.