Window Tinting and Plants

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

Does anyone here have much experience growing plants in rooms where the windows are tinted with window film? My living room, where all my succulents (Euphorbia, Pachypodium, jades, etc) are has windows that are tinted to keep the temperature from getting too hot in the summer time. We live on a high floor with lots of Eastern exposure, so the sun can pretty much bake the room during the hot summer months. Just today I had to pull down some of the window film because it bubbled in a few places. The difference between the windows with the tinting and without is noticeable if not dramatic. My plants have always done well, but I imagine they'd do even better without the window film... We'd be relying more on our AC unit without the tinting, but maybe there's a particular kind of film that lets in light that's beneficial to the plants, but still keeps out at least some of the heat...

Perhaps someone here could offer some recommendations?

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tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

When you purchase tinted/ insulating windows that don't have a reflective pyrolitic coating, the tinted surface goes to the outside where it absorbs a % of light (depending on the tint and glass thickness) and turns it to heat, which is then lost to the outdoor atmosphere instead of heating up the couch to just under the boiling point. This loss of heat to the outdoor air significantly reduces passive solar gain. Tinted window films are usually applied on the 4th surface (from the outside) of insulating glass units, or the second surface of single pane (monolithic) glass, both of which would be the innermost surface of glass. This really isn't recommended if the film is applied to the inside lite of an insulating glass unit like Thermopane. The reason: Some light is absorbed in the 2 lites of glass light has to pass through before it reaches the tinted coating, which absorbs light and turns it into heat, which is then lost to the interior of the home. Not only that, but it heats the air between the lites of glass in the insulating glass units, causing it to expand and put undue pressure on the seals. Over time the expansion and contraction of the air in the units (the bellows effect) can cause seal failure. Additionally, the dehydrated dead air space between the lites of glass in insulating units is an excellent insulator, which means almost no heat can be lost to the outside atmosphere by any combination of convection, conduction, or radiation.

The most common colors of tinted glass are bronze (light brown) and gray. 1/4" bronze glass allows about 54% transmission of visible light and gray about 49%. 1/8" bronze glass allows about 60% light transmission if there are no reflective or low-e coatings on any glass surface.

When dealing with film coatings, there will be a number of films for each color, each having a different shading co-efficient (let different amounts of light in).

I just sold my glazing contracting business about 18 months ago. The offices and showroom were glazed with blue Ford glass insulating units with a low-e coating, which allowed only about 42% transmission of visible light ...... and it showed conspicuously in the plants I tended in the showroom.

As glazing contractors, we didn't get involved with the sale or application of films, but we often dealt with entities that applied films and provided referrals or subcontracted with them for various projects. I'm sure they would be able to give you more specific info, especially if you manage to find someone who is connected with 3M, the primary producer of window films.

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Comments (15)

KP Devlin
Original Author
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
I dropped 3M a line and here is what they had to say. I'll post in its entirety as it may be helpful for anyone else with the same questions I had:

"3M Prestige 70 would be our lightest to clearest film that allows roughly
70% of the natural light and reflects up to 97% of the suns IR while blocking
up to 99% of UV A.

3M(TM) Window Films can affect house plants in both positive and negative
ways. The effects will depend on which film is installed and which specific
plants you are concerned about. 3M Renewable Energy Division has no expertise
in house plants, so a non-3M expert will need to be consulted about your
specific plant varieties. Below is an excerpt from the 3M(TM) Window Film
Manual explaining the situation:

3M(TM) Window Film

REDUCED SOLAR RADIATION EFFECTS ON HOUSE PLANTS

Effects On House Plants With 3M(TM) Sun Control Window Film Applied On Glass

KNOWN FACTS:

1. Growth and development requirements vary with different plants
2. Growth and development depend upon light, temperature range, exposure,
humidity, CO2 levels, etc.
3. For sufficient growth, the wavelength of 400-700 nm is important for
photosynthesis (greening process)
4. 700-850 nm range is required for the photomorphogenic process (flowering
process)
5. Most greenhouses have artificial light to supplement natural light (day vs.
night, summer vs. winter, cloudy vs. sunny)
6. UV is damaging to most green plants
7. Extreme temperature variations are detrimental to plant growth
8. 3M Sun Control Window Film will help reduce solar heat gain, temperature
buildup and moisture loss
(Plants may require less water after film is installed, so care should be taken
not to drown plants from over watering.)

WHAT TO DO WHEN IN QUESTION?

Contact a local horticulturist, college or university extension office
• Provide type of plant(s)
• Provide percent reduction of visible light, UV and solar heat with specific
3M(TM) Sun Control Window Film applied to glass
• Consult your local Agricultural Extension agent

One of our certified installing dealers with extensive experience in window
film selection could assist you in deciding which films would work best for
your application. Please visit our website to find a local dealer near you.
They can help you with product selection, technical support, samples,
installation and pricing.
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KP Devlin
Original Author
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
So I'm thinking the Prestige 70 sounds like a good bet. I've installed window films before so I know the process. I couldn't find Prestige 70 for sale by that name, but I'm guessing this stuff is the same thing, just branded by the company selling it?

https://smile.amazon.com/NSN70-Window-Transparent-Ultra-Rejection/dp/B00X6JO2TW/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=3M%2BPrestige%2B70&qid=1619526849&sr=8-1&th=1
tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
5 years ago
I saw your reply in my email, but when I followed the link to the thread, I see nothing. Did you delete your reply? ...... or perhaps a 'Houzz thing'.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
5 years ago
My plants have always done well...

==>>> so.. you have no problem.. but you want to fix it??? .. thats usually not how its done ... and usually ends up creating actual problems ....

if you are going to pay hundreds of dollars for a/c... electric... to grow 50 bucks of plants.. there may be some wisdom missing there ... unless its all free in your monthly rent????

we cant see the whole setup .. but does the whole window need to be filmed .... could you some how do something artistically so meet in the middle with the two variables ...

is the film job going to be diy .. is not hard to do ...

https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffnt&q=window+films&iax=images&ia=images

though i have no knowledge of said application specifically for a/c reduction .... as al speaks of it ...

ken
KP Devlin
Original Author
5 years ago
Hey Al - must be a Houzz thing. I see my replies now. Try again?
KP Devlin
Original Author
5 years ago
Hey Ken - yes, it's a DIY job. I've done it before so know the routine. :-)
tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Nada ........ It'll likely show up next week just in the nick of time.

Al
KP Devlin
Original Author
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Bizarre.... Let me copy and paste:
- I dropped 3M a line and here is what they had to say. I'll post in its entirety as it may be helpful for anyone else with the same questions I had:"3M Prestige 70 would be our lightest to clearest film that allows roughly
  70% of the natural light and reflects up to 97% of the suns IR while blocking
  up to 99% of UV A.
  
  3M(TM) Window Films can affect house plants in both positive and negative
  ways. The effects will depend on which film is installed and which specific
  plants you are concerned about. 3M Renewable Energy Division has no expertise
  in house plants, so a non-3M expert will need to be consulted about your
  specific plant varieties. Below is an excerpt from the 3M(TM) Window Film
  Manual explaining the situation:
  
  3M(TM) Window Film
  
  REDUCED SOLAR RADIATION EFFECTS ON HOUSE PLANTS
  
  Effects On House Plants With 3M(TM) Sun Control Window Film Applied On Glass
  
  KNOWN FACTS:
  
  1. Growth and development requirements vary with different plants
  2. Growth and development depend upon light, temperature range, exposure,
  humidity, CO2 levels, etc.
  3. For sufficient growth, the wavelength of 400-700 nm is important for
  photosynthesis (greening process)
  4. 700-850 nm range is required for the photomorphogenic process (flowering
  process)
  5. Most greenhouses have artificial light to supplement natural light (day vs.
  night, summer vs. winter, cloudy vs. sunny)
  6. UV is damaging to most green plants
  7. Extreme temperature variations are detrimental to plant growth
  8. 3M Sun Control Window Film will help reduce solar heat gain, temperature
  buildup and moisture loss
  (Plants may require less water after film is installed, so care should be taken
  not to drown plants from over watering.)
  
  WHAT TO DO WHEN IN QUESTION?
  
  Contact a local horticulturist, college or university extension office
  • Provide type of plant(s)
  • Provide percent reduction of visible light, UV and solar heat with specific
  3M(TM) Sun Control Window Film applied to glass
  • Consult your local Agricultural Extension agent
  
  One of our certified installing dealers with extensive experience in window
  film selection could assist you in deciding which films would work best for
  your application. Please visit our website to find a local dealer near you.
  They can help you with product selection, technical support, samples,
  installation and pricing.Like
  Save
  Edit
  Delete
KP DevlinOriginal Author4 hours agolast modified: 4 hours ago
- So I'm thinking the Prestige 70 sounds like a good bet. I've installed window films before so I know the process. I couldn't find Prestige 70 for sale by that name, but I'm guessing this stuff is the same thing, just branded by the company selling it?https://smile.amazon.com/NSN70-Window-Transparent-Ultra-Rejection/dp/B00X6JO2TW/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=3M%2BPrestige%2B70&qid=1619526849&sr=8-1&th=1
KP Devlin
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
strange. It seems to get posts from my phone but not my laptop. I heard back from 3M. They attached a long explanation of the way their films affect plants. The end result that I got was that their Prestige 70 might work well. It’s their lightest, clearest film And blocks 99% of uv and reflects up to 97% of the sun’s ir.

My plants are all succulents like Euphorbia, Crassula and Pachypodium that like light. Blocking uv seems like it may be a good thing for the plants ( as well as my furniture).
tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
5 years ago
Sounds like you're in good hands. Do you have all you need to plot your course?

Al
KP Devlin thanked tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
KP Devlin
5 years ago
I believe so. Thanks, Al! 😁
KP Devlin
5 years ago
Oh I do have one more quick question. The licensed 3M dealer here in NYC quoted me just under $1200 for enough window film for the 7 windows in my living room. Ridiculous! that‘s just for the film! I can diy this. I found what looks like film with the same specs on Amazon for a fraction of the price. Should I avoid this or is it likely the exact same thing?
tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
5 years ago
Seems like a lot, but then I don't know the market there.

I don't have enough hands-on experience with the films to be comfortable providing any sort of guidance re your dilemma, but every time I've turned to Amazon to try to save money, I inevitably end up with something from China I wouldn't have purchased had I been able to look it over before committing. YMMV.

Al
KP Devlin
Original Author
5 years ago
That's what I was afraid of. I'll have to see if I can find another source for the 3M films...

Window Tinting and Plants

tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)

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KP Devlin
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