Places that sell orchid supplies will have it.

Our walmart had some on clearance a while back. I can check tomorrow. It was for patio shade not the black nursery stuff.

The cheapest I found - I needed to cover 10' x 20' orchid house:
http://www.igcusa.com/

The shadecloth I bought from them is looking great almost three years later

Olya what percentage shade cloth do you use for your orchids?
Besides the orchids I was wondering if using shade cloth over the summer would allow me to grow vegetables longer since it keeps the temps lower. What % shade cloth would you recommend for the veggies?

Thanks for the great link Olya. Did you buy white? I'm think the 40% white will work best for orchids since it reflects the heat. I want to cover my new orchid habitat.

I bought :
50% White Knitted Shade Cloth

You can see it in the image below:

I grow a lot of cattleyas and orchids with high light requierments, so 50% worked well. Part of the shadehouse is shaded by the oak tree - so my low light orchids (phals) go there.
The other side of the shadehouse is in full sun. Laelias, vandas and other high light orchids love it.

The green stuff is my husband's idea - it is a plastic mesh you can by (in a roll) at Lowes or HD - it is great for attaching small pots or mounts!

Thanks Olya. I was thinking the 50% white would do the trick. A dear friend built me something very similiar to the Shady Breeze Orchid Habitat by Adkins Orchids. Adkins sells 40% premade for $75 per panel. YIKES!!

Here is a link that might be useful: Adkins orchids

Hi
Are you making a shadehouse?? i quit using shadecloth several years ago because it collected dust grew algae and generally a pain in the butt. I went back to using Vinyl lattice and grow vines over the top .
I'm of the school "Give orchids as much light as they will tolerate ",lol
gary

Msmarion , you are welcome! Sounds like you will have a lovely setup

Gary, how fast do you see algae starting to grow? I have had my current shade cloth for three years and every winter I cover it with plastic. I have sown the shadecloth to the shape of the shadehouse frame (10' x 20' x 12'). I do not have any algae problems and love the even sunlight it lets through
I started with vinyl lattice but in full sun some orchids would burn up and the lighting was not even...4-5 years later, lattice is still around - sitting area by the pond. It has gotten brittle in places

I too give orchids as much as they can tolerate. I grow Laelias, a lot of Brazilian species (Laelia purpuratas!) and all want plenty of light - so the rest of my orchids get almost as much. I found that 50% shade cloth is perfect for that, if the shadehouse is in full sun

Olya
wouldn't argue with you !!! lol. That was just my personl experience I grow so much stuff in my SH that there is usually way too much shade I also grow two trees through the roof which I use to attach the plants I just found the lattice was the best all around answer for me
Over the years I've experimentsd with all kind of roof coverings . Was never able to keep shdeclorth over a year for many reasons but mostly windstorms I water from above via a sprinkler and also rain comes through found it rotted over the supports. The algae was mostly over the pond. over time it became way too dark if it lasted.
I use the vinyl lattice which has not lasted either ,mostly thants to Wilma and Frances lol.
I just move the plants around if I experience burn. Getting way too much light right now due to the frosts main vines defoliated.
The vinyl was the first system I used when I first converted it from a screenroom. has worked the best for me . Keep in mind that I also keep free flight birds in there also. The cats need something to walk on or will wreck the roof in a week lol.
I would say nothing is foolproof?? lol If it works for you go for it!!! gary

Thanks, Gary - I was just curious about your set up and the problems. My lattice got brittle and grew algae but it is right next to the pond and in the full sun - so high humidity could be the reason.

Whenever I read about your backyard, I envision quite a jungle! That is great!

Olya
A very messy jungle right now !!lol My two largest trees completely defololiated but are returning.
I am so far behind on the upkeep. I'm ashamed lol. Know where I can get some new leg and arm joints?? These old ones are wearing out .lol Oh to be 10 years younger!! Okay 20 would be better lol gary