Algae

[Colin Miles]

I have been cleaning algae off the inside and outside of my greenhouse - with Jeyes fluid. Still not finished but amazing how much extra light there is! But how does everyone else manage, especially those with polytunnels? Or is it just the wet Welsh weather that creates such a problem!

[Geoff]

I have a greenhouse made with the traditional small panels with overlapping joints that get very messy. I make up a hot solution of Jeyes Fluid in a garden sprayer and spray all the glass forcing it into the joints. I leave it for about a week which kills the algae then wash it out with the jet from a hosepipe then wipe down with a cloth regularly rinsed out. You can only use this method if the greenhouse is completely empty otherwise you have to wipe over with Jeyes Fluid then a clean cloth.

[sally wright]

Dear All,
I would consider it a bad idea to use J/F on plastic greenhouses and polytunnels as it may degrade the plastic and damage any UV coatings, use washing up detergent instead. Also be careful what you use to scrub with as the plastic is easily scratched and the UV coatings damaged.
Regards Sally Wright.

[Flanjamin]

How to clean the outside of a polytunnel:

Ingredients:
Hose pipe connected to mains
Long length of shade netting, bean netting or similar
2 people

Method:

Use the hose to wet the plastic, then sling the netting over the tunnel and use see-sawing action to remove the worst of the crud. Use hose to wash off residue.

I never cleaned inside - it never seemed to get too furred up as I am a big fan of ventilation....