A cleaner greenhouse roof with ReduClean - even without coatings
For removing temporary coatings, such as ReduFuse, ReduHeat and ReduSol, ReduClean is the go-to cleaning agent. However, some growers also use it on uncoated greenhouse roofs. Alstroemeria grower Rick Tesselaar from Luttelgeest can attest to its effectiveness. “We noticed much less dirt and algae growth on the greenhouses where ReduClean was used. We now use it everywhere and it results in increased light and growth.”
Tesselaar Alstroemeria produces some 36 million stems annually, making it the largest alstroemeria grower in Europe. The growing area spans 10 hectares, divided across three modern greenhouses. According to entrepreneur couple Rick and Karolien Tesselaar, their business success stems from a consistent commitment to excellence and sustainability.
Rick and Karolien Tesselaar, Tesselaar Alstroemeria
Protecting young plants
“Top quality is only possible if the plants are not stressed and are uninhibited in their growth and development,” Rick says. “This means growing conditions have to be optimal at all times. Alstroemeria is a perennial crop and each spring some of the plants are replaced according to a schedule. The young plants are very sensitive and need extra protection in the first few months. Around mid-March, we coat the greenhouse roofs with ReduSol over the sections with young plants. The coating usually stays on for three months. In mid-June, we remove the coating and for this we have always used ReduClean.”
Less dirt and algae growth
With an average total cultivation period of seven years, three months of extra protection from high radiation might not sound like it would make a significant impact, but Tesselaar nevertheless considers it a crucial measure. Each year, an average of one-seventh of the greenhouse roof is routinely coated and thoroughly cleaned. “We noticed at one point that the sections cleaned with ReduClean stayed clean for much longer than the adjacent untreated sections,” he says. “This, in spite of the fact that we use roof cleaners to keep the roof clean to allow as much light to shine through as possible. Yet, there is still a visible difference. Particularly in the first year after cleaning with ReduClean, the roof seemed to stay clean longer and there was less algae growth on the bars and seals.”
Annual facelift
Since every additional percent of light yields better growth, in 2021 the entrepreneur also decided to give the sections with older plants an annual clean with ReduClean. Since there is no coating on the roof in these areas, they use a lower concentration. Tesselaar also carries out these cleanings at different times. If a greenhouse contains young plants, the entire greenhouse is cleaned in June. A greenhouse containing only older plants gets its facelift around August/September, when there is much less sunlight on average.
“We’re happy with the results,” says the entrepreneur. “An annual cleaning makes all the difference. I can’t say exactly how much extra light or yield is produced, but it’s affordable and we certainly don’t feel like we’re losing money. So, we’re going to keep doing it.”
AntiReflect
Last autumn, this flower grower tried something new to increase natural light in his greenhouse during the winter period. “In autumn, we treated one greenhouse with AntiReflect by Lumiforte,” he explains. “It’s a fairly new product that reduces light reflection and increases light transmission through the greenhouse roof. This is most beneficial in the winter half of the year, when the sun is low and more light is reflected by the roof than when the sun is high in the sky. It gives us some 3% more light, which makes it really worth it. On top of that, it remains effective for two to three years. I can't say much about the effect at this point, hopefully we’ll see the results during spring. Based on light measurements, we know how much light enters each greenhouse, so I’m curious to see the difference.”
Erik Poot: “It’s impressive that AntiReflect is so effective and yet invisible”
Contractor Poot Reiniging from Maasdijk handles the coating and cleaning at Tesselaar Alstroemeria. Owner Erik Poot, who also carries out coating and cleaning himself, is enthusiastic about the new formulation of AntiReflect, which he applied last year. "You can't see any difference between the windows that have been treated and the others,” he says. “With the old formulation, you could still see some thin streaks after drying, but not with this one. It’s impressive that AntiReflect is so effective and yet invisible.”
