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All of the polythenes we sell carry a 5 season guarantee and are manufactured in the UK!
Lumitherm (previously known as Clear)
A thermic film developed to help keep the growing environment warmer by reducing the heat lost through long wavelength infra-red radiation. Higher overnight temperatures encourage plant growth, can reduce plant losses and allow savings to be made on heating.
Luminal (previously known as Politherm AF)
Thermic films that are further enhanced by long-lasting condensation control properties. When properly installed, water will condense uniformly on the film rather than as droplets. This, in turn, improves light transmission and reduces the risk of water falling on to the plants below, reducing the risk of damage and disease.
Luminance AF
This new generation film combines great thermic and light transmission properties. Its high diffusion characteristics make more light available for plant growth and can help to control peak temperatures and reduce plant scorching. Trials have demonstrated the production of high yields of excellent quality produce.
Opaque White
Reduces overall light transmission by about 20% compared to clear, for cool greenhouses where reduced growth rates are required or tolerated. Cuts down light evenly across the PAR spectrum so that plant growth is not distorted. Traditionally used for holding nursery stock, and the best choice for plants such as ferns and conifers which are at the most risk of scorching.
Glossary
Thermicity
A measure of how well a film stops long wavelength infra-red radiation, which is a major factor in heat losses from greenhouses. This indicates how good the greenhouse effect of the greenhouse is.
Anti-fog
This is also referred to as Anti-condensate but is more accurately described as ‘Anti-drip’. It means a film that has been formulated to spread out the water droplets that condense on the film so that water won’t fall onto the plants and you won’t see a ‘fog’ on the surface.
(Light) Diffusion
A diffusing film is one that deflects or scatters light as it passes through, like frosted glass. An alternative term is ‘haze’ which is often used as a measure of the light diffusion – the amount of haze or diffusion is the proportion of the light going through the film that is scattered outside a narrow direct beam.
Heat Control
Heat control films aim to restrict unfavourable rises in temperature by affecting the total solar energy entering the greenhouse, while maintaining an appropriate level of visible light for plant growth.
Light Spectrum
A term used in horticulture which refers either to photosynthetically active radiation (PAR light) or to encompass ultraviolet, PAR and infrared light (for definitions see below).
UV Light
Ultraviolet light (UV) light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength shorter than that of visible light. It can be broken down into two main types: UVB (280 -315nm) and UVA light (315-400nm).
UV transparent
Allows all the range of ultra-violet light through to the plants, including the short wavelengths that are absorbed by glass and most plastic films.
UV blocking
Removes most of the range of ultra-violet light from the plant’s environment, including most of the longer wavelength UV that glass and most plastic films let through.
PAR Light
Photosynthetically active radiation, often abbreviated to PAR, refers to the part of the spectral range from 400-700nm. It corresponds, in the most part, with the range of light visible to the human eye and is used in the process of photosynthesis.
Infrared Light
Or IR light is electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths longer than visible light (700nm to 1mm). It is commonly referred to as heat (or heat radiation). However, this is somewhat misleading as only about 52% of the heat we experience at the Earth’s surface comes from infrared light; the remainder being derived from visible light (45%) and UV light (3%).