Light, sheer curtain colors and Dracenas! THE ANSWER! - Ask Extension
An online science experiment designed for little kids gave me the answer: yes, colored sheer or semi-transparent curtains would absorb certain wavelen...
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Light, sheer curtain colors and Dracenas! THE ANSWER! #602771
Asked October 16, 2019, 12:49 PM EDT
An online science experiment designed for little kids gave me the answer: yes, colored sheer or semi-transparent curtains would absorb certain wavelengths from the light spectrum. Plants require full spectrum light to accomplish their little plant tasks efficiently. A blue sheer curtain will absorb all but blue wavelengths, only allowing blue wavelengths through. Thus, what you SEE is a blue curtain! Cool, right? Ok. A black sheer would absorb all wavelengths, and I put 2+2 together and figured that this would be disastrous for any plant let alone my Dracenas.
Now, I admit that I took a leap: the 4th graders used colored cellophane and I am talking semi transparent or sheer curtains. But I figure the principles are the same: colors influence the availability of certain light wavelengths, plants need full spectrum light, so, the color of sheer curtains matters. Did I do right, Doug? Someday, you will let me know.
PS. Doug G. was supposed to answer my question initially, so that explains my "Doug" inclusion.
Now, I admit that I took a leap: the 4th graders used colored cellophane and I am talking semi transparent or sheer curtains. But I figure the principles are the same: colors influence the availability of certain light wavelengths, plants need full spectrum light, so, the color of sheer curtains matters. Did I do right, Doug? Someday, you will let me know.
PS. Doug G. was supposed to answer my question initially, so that explains my "Doug" inclusion.
Cook County Illinois
Expert Response
Sorry I was out of the office for the past three weeks. Films and fabrics differ in their light filtering. Films filter all the light passing through them as you have indicated, whereas fabrics block only the light striking the cloth fibers. The color of the fabric will have little to no effect spectrum of light that passes through the holes in the fabric. The density of the sheer as to density of its thread count will determine the amount of light that ultimately passes through to the plant. A general rule of thumb is that a sheer curtain will reduce the incoming light intensity by 20-25% as compared to a window without any window treatment.
Hi Doug G.! Thanks so much for your reply! Color vs. Density of filter/Light Intensity! What a concept! I'm still mortified to hurt the Dracenas if I order the black or the deep indigo sheers, but I'm twirling the idea around anyway because the sheers are so gorgeous. Bottom line: I'll do what's best for Thing One and Thing Two.
The curtains I have filter light Intensity beautifully, and the black and indigo versions would do just as well, I reckon. They filter so well that on a sunny day I semi-squint while I'm sitting at the desk the Dracenas are on! (Dracenas are getting excellent quality light but are protected from direct sun.) I think you may have made my day, Doug; I might get those curtains after all! I appreciate you for answering, anyway, Sincerely, Rose and her 2 Dracenas.
The curtains I have filter light Intensity beautifully, and the black and indigo versions would do just as well, I reckon. They filter so well that on a sunny day I semi-squint while I'm sitting at the desk the Dracenas are on! (Dracenas are getting excellent quality light but are protected from direct sun.) I think you may have made my day, Doug; I might get those curtains after all! I appreciate you for answering, anyway, Sincerely, Rose and her 2 Dracenas.
I am sorry for the delay and enjoy your new sheers.
