Agreed I added one of those $3 mylar blankets you get in the camping section at Walmart to the front of my plant stand which also has a clear PVC tablecloths. My temperature almost went immediately from 72 degrees to 85. This kind of scared me
I can't remember where I read it. I heard it, but you can get some kind of a dust off that mylar that maybe it's not healthy to have around all the time as you're working with it.
We used Mylar emergency blankets wrapped around entire shelving unit overlapped in front for a makeshift door in the middle. All light kept inside. They’re cheaper than most spray paint and easy to find. Amazon dollar store big box stores… it does make a huge difference! Thanks MiGardener! Love your videos.
Talking about flat white paint reminds me of the Mythbusters episode where they tried light a "tomb" with a series of mirrors to bring in light from outside. At the end of all the Fancy testing, they had one mirror directing light into the room and Jamie stepped into the ray and his white button down shirt lit the whole room brighter and more evenly than all their other tests.
I love this community and how the knowledge base keeps growing, and we all help each other. God bless you all. And again thank you Luke for always providing great information and helping us grow big, not only in our garden but in our minds, especially in these times. ❌⭕️♥️
I wrap my whole seed starting rack in mylar film 😊 It completely eliminates the need for heat mats because the heat from the lights are so much warmer because of the film holding moisture, warmth and light!
Lots of comments say aluminum foil. If you go that way I would suggest crimping/crinkling it up a bit first. Then straighten it back out. The uneven surface will give a much better diffusion/distribution of light and not create that spotlight effect. Terry
Great advice.. especially if they're using high intensity lights like halogen, high pressure sodium or leds.. Weaker lights like fluorescent tubes don't put off enough light for hot spots to become an issue
I used alfoil, its the same thing, i found i got better results from the dull side rather than the shiny side, i think it might spread the light more evenly,
I just setup a stainless steel shelf unit for starting seedlings for my raised beds. I bought a roll of reflective bubble wrap to reflect back as much light as possible. Really effective in bouncing back lost light placed leftover wrap under plants also! Best $10.00 spent! Btw using Spider farmer SF 1000 EVO 2024 Everything is thriving.
The best cheapest option I have found is survival blankets you get at the dollar store. Super reflective and cheap, you can wrap it around s piece of cardboard if you need it to stand alone.
I scored a 25 foot roll of the silver window film and a silver windshield shade at the thrift store today for $4. I used aluminum foil lined in a box for a couple years in a window before I had grow lights or a greenhouse and that alone took me from leggy tomato seedlings to lush healthy seedlings, you seriously couldn't tell they were started inside with no lights.
I use sheets hanging near to {but not onto} my grow lights. I initially began doing this because my seed starting station is near our back door when someone opens it up a draft comes inside & winters here are cold. I used light colored sheets to keep the draft off my seedlings and with the side benefit of bouncing & utilizing the reflected light😀👍.
Just used a pure white dollar tree craft cardboard I had laying around , used some clothes pins to secure it on my shelf and wow , what a difference ! Thank you do much , great tipp ! I am a beginner and have just 2 Micro green, 1/4 trays .5 days old and I can see a huge difference
Luke - I did some extensive tests a few years back with a light meter (about $50 somewhere online.) Using same T5HO bulbs (Sun Systems?), at $0.12/kWh the 24/7 cost is about $37 per month. I measured points across the table on a grid, and then summed the readings across the table with and without white foam board walls (Elmer's project display type, at Walmart for about $3 per panel.) The increase in total light was about 30%, with the gain at the edges and corners. I don't think 75% is even remotely possible. Did you mention the inverse square rule? If you bring the lights 20% closer to the table, the intensity will increase by 50+%. (1/.8)^2 = 1.56. Both closer lights and the enclosing effect of the reflector will increase the heat on the plants significantly. A fan may be needed. Seedlings are susceptible to drying out; yet a humidity dome reduces the light. Indoor light is extremely expensive. Great for starters, but I don't think it is economical for anything other than micro's and medicinal herbs. Note that the herbs growers use reflectors to avoid drawing attention to the amount of light, and reducing power consumption also helps them keep a lower profile on their electric bill. Note that the full-scale micro green farmers do not use reflectors. A greenhouse is probably better, as the light is better, and the cost of heating is far less than the cost of light. (Basement = free heat, expensive light. Greenhouse = free light, expensive heat, but a lot of free heat when the sun is shining. Finally, I found the T5HO lamps to be expensive, with a replacement cost of about $100+ for an 8 bulb fixture. Also, the light output declines over time, so you get these awkward decision points - do I pay an extra $10 to replace a bulb, or do I have to live with a 20+% reduction in light output on an aging bulb? Given the better lumens/W efficiency of LEDs, the declining cost of LED bulbs, the fact that fluorescent bulbs are a breaking hazard (with mercury contamination!) and possibly a disposal fee, I don't know why anyone would start with anything other than LED's now. Ever solution brings a new problem.
I was wondering about LEDs myself. I have a 12×28 foot hoop house covered with a white tarp. My scheme is to make it into an indoor grow facility. NO! Not for Marijuana. I haven't done all the research yet but I'm hoping that LED lights will work. The inside will be foamed, and I'll have heater/Ac unit to regulate the temp. And everything will be grounded.
I've been using cardboard covered with aluminum foil ( that lasts forever). Gardener Scott made me think of it years ago. Never thought about other methods before. I'm always learning, ty 😊
@@assog5737I was thinking foil would work since it’s similar to the Mylar blanket. I have been using foil successfully but certainly no expert. I’d be curious to know why.
Going to make some reflectors tomorrow. Probably going to use emergency blankets. I have used them in the past thinking about increasing heat a couple degrees. Never even thought about the light. Thanks.
This is very helpful! I just set up my lights and was wondering how to reflect the light back on my plants. I’m so glad you prevented me from experimenting with mirrors!
That would explain why some of my plants in certain grow light locations aren’t doing as well as the ones against my white walls. Thanks for giving me a solution!!!
Thanks for teaching me about lighting. I have just moved a key lime and two lemon trees inside. Hey need lots of light and having a reflector will help.
Diamond pattern mylar is relatively inexpensive, you can get rolls of it online and make really effective reflectors. I've got five mature pepper plants, about a dozen cacti and a few house plants I'm plant sitting for relatives that are out of state in my basement currently. Also have a shelf surrounded with mylar with a few dozen succulents and bonsai too.
Mirrors can help too. Depends on the angle. Aluminum pie pans/foil under plants but on top of soil can reflect light upwards too. That method can help repel some insects too.
Thank you so much for the reflector tip. My back wall is a dark brick wall that just absorbs light and I have always had trouble with getting enough light to my plants indoors. This might do the trick!
Another white thing that you might have already are totes' lids which are white. So if you are already sitting on them, free reflectors right there. :)
Totally just recieved my MIgardner order confirmation half way through this awesome info packed episode!! I had never considered light loss before. Genius. That plate trick really opened my eyes!
Can I use foil? Or is that the same as using mirrors? I apologize if he touched on this already (I'm trying to watch this while comforting a baby who's extra grumpy this morning because of teething)
I put mine in front of a window with reflectors on the other 3 sides. I try to remember to close my white shade at night to create another reflector well I have the lights running.
Thanks! I didn't realize the reflector made such a difference! I'll be hitting the dollar store to look for mylar blankets this weekend. Thanks Luke and everyone for the great information
The Big Box hardware stores sell white tempered hardboard paneling for under $20 for a 4'X8' sheet. If you are using chrome steel shelving units, you can get 6 panels from each sheet. The cost for the lighting operation costs seem high. Compact florescent lamps typically only use 25 watts of power per bulb. Most of the grow lights you'll find today are LED which take less than 10 watts per light strip. If in doubt on energy consumption, get a P3 Kill-o-watt unit and plug your lights in. This will give actual use not a theoretical. I use a power strip with a timer. My lights go on the timed portion, the heat blankets run on the full time power side. Simple to have the lights turn themselves on and off without having to schedule a plant check. Now to just keep the cats out of their catnip seedlings until outdoor transplanting.
I hope one day you add feijoa (Acca sellowiana) and/or Chilean guava berry (ugni molinae) seeds to your tropical catalogue. They make great potted plants are delicious and cold hardy to -10 atleast. I suspect much colder in a few generations. I'd love to grow these outdoors in summer and as house plants during winter! The valdivian temperate rainforests are very similar to British colombia
I wrap the shelves I start my seeds on in Mylar blankets. The frames for the shelves are metal so I can secure them in place with magnets. Can't wait to see how my plants do this year, I just bought eight new Barrina LED grow lights.
Fantastic! Thank you! I saved the sheets of styrofoam that my fridge came wrapped up in. I had a feeling I might need them at some point! I bought a heat mat (to sprout the seeds) and some seed trays that have removable grow lights in the heightened lids which I'll turn on after the seeds have sprouted. I'll use the Styrofoam to build a box around the seed trays. You're just full of great ideas and I love watching your channel.
Pretty sure you're illustrating the benefits of a grow box where lights go all the way around the plants, and above. These setups work exceptionally well, and until LEDs fans were placed in the top to vent the excess heat from fluorescent fixtures. I use white sheets over cardboard to surround my fixtures, works well.
the inside of dog food bags is often silver and can be taped to a solid cardboard. If you can get some restaurant heavy aluminum foil is wider and tougher.
Thanks SO much. I learn so much from you. I had the wrong Kelvin rating & replaced my lights. I am in the process right now of moving my set-up to another area of my house and setting up my new lights. I'm excited about using reflectors. This is the first year I am really counting on my seedlings, and I'm getting a late start because of the wrong lights, but i am optimistic about this working much better. Thanks again!
OMG!!! Never thought about space blankets, I will be getting some. Any suggestions/guidelines on light height and type for seedlings? I have some T5 tube fixtures and an LED Spyder fixture with red and blue LED's. I will also be adding reflectors for the plants to sit on and reflect from the bottom up!
I have Styrofoam sheets, and I'm not afraid to use them! 😄Thanks for the tips, Luke. For the lighting cycle you eluded to, should I try to match the natural light schedule, or just a 12h on and 12h off?
Hey Luke…we are going on vacay for a week. I am trying to germinate some seeds. Is it okay to leave the lights on them the entire time we are gone? I did attempt to use some timers, but for some reason they WILL turn off the lights, but they won’t turn them back on 🤔🤨 thanks
No. Mirrors are too much, you want a surface with diffusion to disperse the light and avoid hotspots. Flat paint is the best with up to 85% reflectivity w/o hotspots, but I tend to choose a semi-gloss for a good balance of diffusion and cleanability.
I learned a lot, as always. Thanks Luke! This is the firat time I am starting seeds inside, I have 2 small grow lights, and will be running to the dollar tree to get some poster board.
Ty so much for this video! It's been the best video for indoor growing!!! I had no idea about the reflective lightening, but it makes SO much sense!! Something so small can make such the difference!
Luke thanks so much I am using a space where my house plants grow with the use of small plant lite. I'm adding Lettuce and starting a few herbs and using cardboard from dollar tree. Tyfs.
I've also been using an emergency space blanket (Mylar) but given the comment about mirrors now wondering if I should switch to flat white....comments?
Luke this also works in your solar generators also !!! I do this in in the Winter time GLOSSY is the best for the SOLAR panels !!! I have my generators redone in the winter time inside of the house from the window going through to the next door WHITE HOUSE next to me !!! This is how I also grow the broccoli cabbage tomato plants in the house in winter time !!!
I bought A grow light 4'From GE It was for flowers And fruit Did not see that on it. Bought another 1 It said Seeds and green Will the 1 that had flowers and fruit work for starting seeds ? I noticed The light spectrums is different In the one for Seeds and Green.
What about dual lighting? I've been keeping my plants in a south facing window with an LED grow light over them. Do I need both or should the grow light be off during the day? How would the combo affect the hardening off process?
I leave mine on during the day even with a southern glass door shelving area. You will still need to harden them off for the strength of unfiltered (by glass) real sunshine.
I am setting up a new seed starting area in my heated garage and I am great ful for this tip. I have not considered using reflectors to capture the lost light. Thank you.
Hoping that you can help me with my grow light height(s). Seedling and beyond. My grow light is a (4) bulb (2’ x 4’) T-5, 54 watt, 5,000 lumens per bulb set-up. Thank you!
Would love to see some videos troubleshooting common indoor growing issues! I've been seeing what looks like burn on my lettuce despite not being super close to the lights!
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Mylar space blankets are $1, add in some cloths pins and you can build your own grow tent by wrapping a shelf in them.
That's what I did but I built a frame using PVC pipe I had laying around and wrapped it in the mylar blankets
Agreed I added one of those $3 mylar blankets you get in the camping section at Walmart to the front of my plant stand which also has a clear PVC tablecloths. My temperature almost went immediately from 72 degrees to 85. This kind of scared me
I can't remember where I read it. I heard it, but you can get some kind of a dust off that mylar that maybe it's not healthy to have around all the time as you're working with it.
That is what I did as well mylar is great. I just made a tent over my grow light
That's better than my idea. I took cardboard and covered one side with aluminum foil.
I use the chrome bubble wrap insulation. It's cheap and easy to work with. Big box stores sell it.
We used Mylar emergency blankets wrapped around entire shelving unit overlapped in front for a makeshift door in the middle. All light kept inside. They’re cheaper than most spray paint and easy to find. Amazon dollar store big box stores… it does make a huge difference! Thanks MiGardener! Love your videos.
I did the same. I have them hanging on the back wall and even that much helps a lot!
Same. I have been using them for years and have never started a fire😉. They also hold in the warmth for seeds that require it.
I do this as well. only 3 bucks on Amazon and lasts at least a couple seasons
I just noticed I made the same observation not noticing you had already done so! So it's time to give you a thumbs up! 😊 👍
I 've used the Mylar emergency blankets as well as the light colored sheets.
Talking about flat white paint reminds me of the Mythbusters episode where they tried light a "tomb" with a series of mirrors to bring in light from outside. At the end of all the Fancy testing, they had one mirror directing light into the room and Jamie stepped into the ray and his white button down shirt lit the whole room brighter and more evenly than all their other tests.
I love this community and how the knowledge base keeps growing, and we all help each other. God bless you all. And again thank you Luke for always providing great information and helping us grow big, not only in our garden but in our minds, especially in these times. ❌⭕️♥️
I wrap my whole seed starting rack in mylar film 😊
It completely eliminates the need for heat mats because the heat from the lights are so much warmer because of the film holding moisture, warmth and light!
Two layers of mylar film keeps the room dark since I keep my grow lights on at night when we're home.
I highly recommend Mylar film. ❤️
How do you deal with mold growth is what I wonder!
@@G-boi A fan, a mixture of baking soda and water, you can use vermiculite/perlite to put on top of the soil or most importantly not to over water.
th-cam.com/video/LhGuq6Bt1Xo/w-d-xo.html
One tip if you are using shop lights to start seeds is take the diffuser cover off if you can. It will increase the light output.
Lots of comments say aluminum foil. If you go that way I would suggest crimping/crinkling it up a bit first. Then straighten it back out. The uneven surface will give a much better diffusion/distribution of light and not create that spotlight effect.
Terry
Great advice.. especially if they're using high intensity lights like halogen, high pressure sodium or leds..
Weaker lights like fluorescent tubes don't put off enough light for hot spots to become an issue
I used alfoil, its the same thing, i found i got better results from the dull side rather than the shiny side, i think it might spread the light more evenly,
I just setup a stainless steel shelf unit for starting seedlings for my raised beds. I bought a roll of reflective bubble wrap to reflect back as much light as possible. Really effective in bouncing back lost light placed leftover wrap under plants also! Best $10.00 spent! Btw using Spider farmer SF 1000 EVO 2024
Everything is thriving.
The best cheapest option I have found is survival blankets you get at the dollar store. Super reflective and cheap, you can wrap it around s piece of cardboard if you need it to stand alone.
I use the mylar emergency blankets you can get. They are cheap and work great
Same! 10 large blankets for under $10 on Amazon.. 2 wrap my entire metal bakers rack.
i am using LED shoplights.
I scored a 25 foot roll of the silver window film and a silver windshield shade at the thrift store today for $4. I used aluminum foil lined in a box for a couple years in a window before I had grow lights or a greenhouse and that alone took me from leggy tomato seedlings to lush healthy seedlings, you seriously couldn't tell they were started inside with no lights.
I use sheets hanging near to {but not onto} my grow lights. I initially began doing this because my seed starting station is near our back door when someone opens it up a draft comes inside & winters here are cold. I used light colored sheets to keep the draft off my seedlings and with the side benefit of bouncing & utilizing the reflected light😀👍.
Just used a pure white dollar tree craft cardboard I had laying around , used some clothes pins to secure it on my shelf and wow , what a difference ! Thank you do much , great tipp ! I am a beginner and have just 2 Micro green, 1/4 trays .5 days old and I can see a huge difference
I didn't know they carries such crafting materials as white cardboard.
I have sun shields for a small car I used to have. They're matte silver, so not very shiny. Would they work?
I like the painted cardboard because it's free solid and can easily be adjusted in size and direction. Thankyou so much.
Luke - I did some extensive tests a few years back with a light meter (about $50 somewhere online.) Using same T5HO bulbs (Sun Systems?), at $0.12/kWh the 24/7 cost is about $37 per month. I measured points across the table on a grid, and then summed the readings across the table with and without white foam board walls (Elmer's project display type, at Walmart for about $3 per panel.) The increase in total light was about 30%, with the gain at the edges and corners. I don't think 75% is even remotely possible.
Did you mention the inverse square rule? If you bring the lights 20% closer to the table, the intensity will increase by 50+%. (1/.8)^2 = 1.56. Both closer lights and the enclosing effect of the reflector will increase the heat on the plants significantly. A fan may be needed. Seedlings are susceptible to drying out; yet a humidity dome reduces the light.
Indoor light is extremely expensive. Great for starters, but I don't think it is economical for anything other than micro's and medicinal herbs. Note that the herbs growers use reflectors to avoid drawing attention to the amount of light, and reducing power consumption also helps them keep a lower profile on their electric bill.
Note that the full-scale micro green farmers do not use reflectors.
A greenhouse is probably better, as the light is better, and the cost of heating is far less than the cost of light. (Basement = free heat, expensive light. Greenhouse = free light, expensive heat, but a lot of free heat when the sun is shining.
Finally, I found the T5HO lamps to be expensive, with a replacement cost of about $100+ for an 8 bulb fixture. Also, the light output declines over time, so you get these awkward decision points - do I pay an extra $10 to replace a bulb, or do I have to live with a 20+% reduction in light output on an aging bulb? Given the better lumens/W efficiency of LEDs, the declining cost of LED bulbs, the fact that fluorescent bulbs are a breaking hazard (with mercury contamination!) and possibly a disposal fee, I don't know why anyone would start with anything other than LED's now.
Ever solution brings a new problem.
I was wondering about LEDs myself.
I have a 12×28 foot hoop house covered with a white tarp. My scheme is to make it into an indoor grow facility. NO! Not for Marijuana. I haven't done all the research yet but I'm hoping that LED lights will work. The inside will be foamed, and I'll have heater/Ac unit to regulate the temp.
And everything will be grounded.
White foam boards? I bet the 75% he's talking about was mylar foil.
I've been using cardboard covered with aluminum foil ( that lasts forever). Gardener Scott made me think of it years ago. Never thought about other methods before. I'm always learning, ty 😊
I do the same and it works well…
Foil is not a good idea.
Think of a magnifying glass.
@@assog5737I was thinking foil would work since it’s similar to the Mylar blanket. I have been using foil successfully but certainly no expert. I’d be curious to know why.
Going to make some reflectors tomorrow. Probably going to use emergency blankets. I have used them in the past thinking about increasing heat a couple degrees. Never even thought about the light. Thanks.
This is very helpful! I just set up my lights and was wondering how to reflect the light back on my plants. I’m so glad you prevented me from experimenting with mirrors!
Always learning so much from your channel, well done Luke. ❤
That would explain why some of my plants in certain grow light locations aren’t doing as well as the ones against my white walls. Thanks for giving me a solution!!!
An abundance of helpful advice!
Thanks Luke, as always you are so helpful. Peace ✌ ☮ 🕊 and Blessings. Trying to keep my plants 🪴 cool 😎 Sunny Florida and it's been mid.80 already.
Never thought about reflecting light. Thx for the info & tips! You're appreciated 😊
Thanks for teaching me about lighting. I have just moved a key lime and two lemon trees inside. Hey need lots of light and having a reflector will help.
Diamond pattern mylar is relatively inexpensive, you can get rolls of it online and make really effective reflectors.
I've got five mature pepper plants, about a dozen cacti and a few house plants I'm plant sitting for relatives that are out of state in my basement currently. Also have a shelf surrounded with mylar with a few dozen succulents and bonsai too.
Mirrors can help too. Depends on the angle.
Aluminum pie pans/foil under plants but on top of soil can reflect light upwards too. That method can help repel some insects too.
What about aluminum foil? It seems that aluminum reflectors are pretty common.
Yes I use cardboard wrapped with aluminum foil works out perfectly. Make once & reuse for many years! Happy growing
Better than nothing but it'll need backing otherwise it'd tear
What about silver Mylar type material? Would it work?
Thank you so much for the reflector tip. My back wall is a dark brick wall that just absorbs light and I have always had trouble with getting enough light to my plants indoors. This might do the trick!
Another white thing that you might have already are totes' lids which are white. So if you are already sitting on them, free reflectors right there. :)
Thanks. Great idea!
@@Nancy-zk9dj Aww, you are so much always welcome. :)
Thank you so much for that information on the reflective light. I had no idea and I'm so excited. Thank you.
Thank you! I'm going to look around for white materials I have on hand to help reflect light from my fluorescent grow lights onto my tomato seedlings.
For cheap you can painters tape aluminum foil to make a reflector. You may want to fold edge so fan doesn't blow it about.
Totally just recieved my MIgardner order confirmation half way through this awesome info packed episode!! I had never considered light loss before. Genius. That plate trick really opened my eyes!
Can I use foil? Or is that the same as using mirrors? I apologize if he touched on this already (I'm trying to watch this while comforting a baby who's extra grumpy this morning because of teething)
Tents work great brother.
I put mine in front of a window with reflectors on the other 3 sides. I try to remember to close my white shade at night to create another reflector well I have the lights running.
Thanks! I didn't realize the reflector made such a difference! I'll be hitting the dollar store to look for mylar blankets this weekend. Thanks Luke and everyone for the great information
THX
Loved the info. Thanks Luke
Tips are remarkable.
Just added white poster board to the sides of my inside greenhouse. 👍🤞
The Big Box hardware stores sell white tempered hardboard paneling for under $20 for a 4'X8' sheet. If you are using chrome steel shelving units, you can get 6 panels from each sheet.
The cost for the lighting operation costs seem high. Compact florescent lamps typically only use 25 watts of power per bulb.
Most of the grow lights you'll find today are LED which take less than 10 watts per light strip. If in doubt on energy consumption, get a P3 Kill-o-watt unit and plug your lights in. This will give actual use not a theoretical.
I use a power strip with a timer. My lights go on the timed portion, the heat blankets run on the full time power side. Simple to have the lights turn themselves on and off without having to schedule a plant check. Now to just keep the cats out of their catnip seedlings until outdoor transplanting.
I hope one day you add feijoa (Acca sellowiana) and/or Chilean guava berry (ugni molinae) seeds to your tropical catalogue. They make great potted plants are delicious and cold hardy to -10 atleast. I suspect much colder in a few generations. I'd love to grow these outdoors in summer and as house plants during winter! The valdivian temperate rainforests are very similar to British colombia
What is better? A grow tent with the foil like sides, or the white? Thank you for all of your information and wonderful content Luke!!
💕~Cheryl~💕
A grow tent. The white cardboard is the cheaper alternative to legit grow tents.
@@clintonross1649 thank you
I can't hear any sound from this video but your other videos are working just fine Edit: restarted phone and this video worked perfectly.
I got good sound. Make sure the TH-cam app or the browser isn't muted.
I can hear you well.
I was having that problem with TH-cam yesterday but I restarted my phone and then it worked fine.
I love your energy and enthusiasm. Bless you and this beautiful community.
Good idea. My plant look WEAK under the grow lights. I bring them outside for the warm part of the day.
Put a reflecting surface under the plants! That's how you can also discourage any pests that like to hide on the underside of leaves.
I wrap the shelves I start my seeds on in Mylar blankets. The frames for the shelves are metal so I can secure them in place with magnets. Can't wait to see how my plants do this year, I just bought eight new Barrina LED grow lights.
Fantastic! Thank you! I saved the sheets of styrofoam that my fridge came wrapped up in. I had a feeling I might need them at some point! I bought a heat mat (to sprout the seeds) and some seed trays that have removable grow lights in the heightened lids which I'll turn on after the seeds have sprouted. I'll use the Styrofoam to build a box around the seed trays. You're just full of great ideas and I love watching your channel.
I have used the thin, reflective insulation sheets behind my shelves ☺️
What about aluminum foil? I put that around my shelving and lights.
The plate really proved your tip
Pretty sure you're illustrating the benefits of a grow box where lights go all the way around the plants, and above. These setups work exceptionally well, and until LEDs fans were placed in the top to vent the excess heat from fluorescent fixtures.
I use white sheets over cardboard to surround my fixtures, works well.
the inside of dog food bags is often silver and can be taped to a solid cardboard. If you can get some restaurant heavy aluminum foil is wider and tougher.
You’re so darn smart & handsome 😅 Love the content. -TOgardener
Poster board is cheaper than spray paint- and less work!
That's probably your best option indeed.
Bright white is drastically more reflective than mylar blankets or foil bubble wrap insulation.
Can I ask what grow lights these are? I am looking for some new grow lights, I'd love suggestion on what you are using.
I've got some reflective foam-filled foil sheeting. Would that work?
Another great learning video as always! Thank you Luke. Blessings on your day Kiddo!🥰🌻🐛💕
Thanks SO much. I learn so much from you. I had the wrong Kelvin rating & replaced my lights. I am in the process right now of moving my set-up to another area of my house and setting up my new lights. I'm excited about using reflectors. This is the first year I am really counting on my seedlings, and I'm getting a late start because of the wrong lights, but i am optimistic about this working much better. Thanks again!
For just a couple bucks you can get a stack of mylar emergency blankets. I made a shower curtain out of them. Wow what a difference
OMG!!! Never thought about space blankets, I will be getting some. Any suggestions/guidelines on light height and type for seedlings? I have some T5 tube fixtures and an LED Spyder fixture with red and blue LED's. I will also be adding reflectors for the plants to sit on and reflect from the bottom up!
I've been starting plants for over 40 years and wondered about this. Thanks for this useful information! Great video.
I learned that I won't be using my big mirror anymore! Thanks.
How about gluing a "Space Blanket" to your cardboard backing to use as a reflector? They are super cheap and incredibly reflective!
I think I will try regular Reynolds aluminum foil. It should work.
I have Styrofoam sheets, and I'm not afraid to use them! 😄Thanks for the tips, Luke. For the lighting cycle you eluded to, should I try to match the natural light schedule, or just a 12h on and 12h off?
The meat I buy from the farm comes in cardboard boxes with (foil backed cardboard) inserts. I keep all of them and reuse them for my grow lights
Thanks, Luke! This was very informative and I will definitely put this into practice.
Hey Luke…we are going on vacay for a week. I am trying to germinate some seeds. Is it okay to leave the lights on them the entire time we are gone? I did attempt to use some timers, but for some reason they WILL turn off the lights, but they won’t turn them back on 🤔🤨 thanks
I use mylar blankets too. I ended up having to raise my light's higher above my seedlings because it was too bright 🌞
Could a person use mirrors instead of the white cardboard? And would it work as well or better?
No. Mirrors are too much, you want a surface with diffusion to disperse the light and avoid hotspots. Flat paint is the best with up to 85% reflectivity w/o hotspots, but I tend to choose a semi-gloss for a good balance of diffusion and cleanability.
Answer at 10:44
@@iReturnToFreedom Thank you.
@@superiorbuds Thank you.
I learned a lot, as always. Thanks Luke! This is the firat time I am starting seeds inside, I have 2 small grow lights, and will be running to the dollar tree to get some poster board.
Ty so much for this video! It's been the best video for indoor growing!!! I had no idea about the reflective lightening, but it makes SO much sense!! Something so small can make such the difference!
I always learn something from your videos. Thank you for reminding me to persevere even when my cat digs up my seeds in the trays.
Luke thanks so much I am using a space where my house plants grow with the use of small plant lite. I'm adding Lettuce and starting a few herbs and using cardboard from dollar tree. Tyfs.
@migardener5759 Hi Luke, getting inside going this week then outside to enclose area to keep dog out. Tfs so info & encouragement!
I've also been using an emergency space blanket (Mylar) but given the comment about mirrors now wondering if I should switch to flat white....comments?
This makes me wonder why the containers we grow the plants in are not white as well?
Increase by 200% if you just lowered them and put a fan on.
Good info and I like the shorter videos. I am a busy woman and my time is limited so I love short informative videos!
Or buy led light more energy savings less light leek an hot spot or you can buy a grow tent
Luke this also works in your solar generators also !!! I do this in in the Winter time GLOSSY is the best for the SOLAR panels !!! I have my generators redone in the winter time inside of the house from the window going through to the next door WHITE HOUSE next to me !!! This is how I also grow the broccoli cabbage tomato plants in the house in winter time !!!
I bought A grow light 4'From GE It was for flowers And fruit Did not see that on it. Bought another 1 It said Seeds and green Will the 1 that had flowers and fruit work for starting seeds ? I noticed The light spectrums is different In the one for Seeds and Green.
What about dual lighting? I've been keeping my plants in a south facing window with an LED grow light over them. Do I need both or should the grow light be off during the day? How would the combo affect the hardening off process?
I leave mine on during the day even with a southern glass door shelving area. You will still need to harden them off for the strength of unfiltered (by glass) real sunshine.
But what about the air flow?
What about aluminum foil wrapped around the cardboard?
That does it. I'm cutting up some white poster board and adding it to my window box.
Spray cardboard with 3m adhesive and apply aluminum foil or potato chip bags/Mylar
How about aluminium foil as a light reflector?
I have a white wall with silver car window frost/heat protection sheet taped onto my growlight armature which works perfect for this application👍.
Is it Ok to use aluminum foil?
I am setting up a new seed starting area in my heated garage and I am great ful for this tip. I have not considered using reflectors to capture the lost light. Thank you.
Hoping that you can help me with my grow light height(s). Seedling and beyond. My grow light is a (4) bulb (2’ x 4’) T-5, 54 watt, 5,000 lumens per bulb set-up.
Thank you!
What about alumin foil? Foam boards, Dollartree.
Would love to see some videos troubleshooting common indoor growing issues! I've been seeing what looks like burn on my lettuce despite not being super close to the lights!