Would mirrors help indoors?

[Hack Yeah!]

As winter is approaching I'll be setting up my indoor tropical area. I have several large mirrors sitting around and wondered in they may reflect enough light to be worth placing around my plants? I understand it would be minimal, just wondering others thoughts or possible experience?

 

[Warpig]

First, what reflects the light, whether it is uv, visible or IR wavelength, is the metal coating on the mirror. ... However, if the aluminum is on the Back Side of a piece of glass, the glass will absorb most of the uv light and therefore, No, a back-face mirror will not reflect much of the uv light.

 

[AZbonsai]

If you look at hydroponic grow tents the inside material is all reflective so the idea does have merit, however, with just a couple of mirrors you might have gaps created that would cause uneven growth?

 

[Warpig]

If you look at hydroponic grow tents the inside material is all reflective so the idea does have merit, however, with just a couple of mirrors you might have gaps created that would cause uneven growth?

The reason these work tho is because theres no glass. The idea is sound but will have to use something other then a standard mirror.

 

[Eckhoffw]

Very interesting.
Seems like creating a reflective surround
Would be of some help.
May also keep some humidity in.
- grabbed this from the internets:

UV rays can be reflected off of open water, grass, sand, snow, concrete and painted walls. ... Coarse and soft surfaces like grass are basically bounced less UV radiation than hard or smooth surfaces like concret. Less reflective colours could also be used to minimize exposure to UV rays.

 

[Warpig]

The problem is in order to reflect UV light the surface has to be vary smooth and refined. We are taking smoother then glass and heavily polished. Im sure you can find something that is made for it but you might be paying for it.

 

[Eckhoffw]

How about making a lower hanging shower curtain using a white or silver tarp?
Hmmm....

 

[Eckhoffw]

How about making a lower hanging shower curtain using a white or silver tarp?
Hmmm....

I suppose at that point, you just buy a small grow tent.

 

[penumbra]

No, a back-face mirror will not reflect much of the uv light.

Which shouldn't be a large concern, after all the glass in a greenhouse filters out UV as well as do glass windows. Large mirrors can be used to effect to bring more light into darker areas.

 

[Warpig]

Which shouldn't be a large concern, after all the glass in a greenhouse filters out UV as well as do glass windows. Large mirrors can be used to effect to bring more light into darker areas.

Yes, does it mean more growth? Im assuming the OP isnt asking to light up the tree.

 

[Warpig]

Its the same reason having a flashlight fixed on a tree will do nothing.

 

[Hack Yeah!]

I figured the biggest downfall would be the distance the light travels after reflecting.

 

[Oleg]

Try aluminum foil, did this in homemade grow tent seemed very good.

 

[Oleg]

Distance is a factor, light increases and decreases exponentially, that is you must half the distance to double the light or double the distance half the light.

 

[Shima]

Sure it would help. Sun worshipers use aluminium reflectors for an even tan. I haven't gotten past thinking about it on the lower branch of this pyracantha. It's getting weaker every year. But I do turn it through the day so sun is always on it. Current pic coming up soon.

 

[Warpig]

Im not against it. Just saying you might have better luck with something like https://robertscamera.com/bright-si...xmlsDzMSFQ7-Ump-bqjTY91w4ppbhW8waAmqoEALw_wcB

 

[Shima]

Im not against it. Just saying you might have better luck with something like https://robertscamera.com/bright-si...xmlsDzMSFQ7-Ump-bqjTY91w4ppbhW8waAmqoEALw_wcB

Exactly!

 

[penumbra]

In one of my growing areas where I have 3 x 200 watt LED grow lamps, I am using the type of insulation that is shiny aluminum on both sides plus a thin layer of foam between. It is the material that is used for insulating air ducts. I wrapped some air conditioning ducts where I was working and had some left over. This area is 6 x 2 feet and I have this insulation on the back wall and I have a drop down roll of it at the front of the bench as well. It worked great last winter for vegatative plants and this year it will be for my BRT s. I am mentioning this because I have found first hand, like in my grow tent also, that reflected light works great and helps prevent legginess on bottom of plants that have overhead lights. You really can't have too much light and it helps to trap as much light as you can. In my grow room the walls are all painted brilliant white.

 

[amatbrewer]

I haven't gotten past thinking about it on the lower branch of this pyracantha. It's getting weaker every year.

In the fruit orchards around me the farmers put Mylar (some of them are beginning to use white plastic ) sheets on the ground below the trees to reflect light back up in order to help the fruit ripen evenly. As I understand it (could be total BS) the white plastic does a better job at defusing the light so the fruit gets more even lighting. I am not sure how well, or even if, that can be translated to Bonsai scale.

 

[Forsoothe!]

As was stated earlier, UV does not pass through glass, just infrared does. Plastic windows do not filter out UV. I use former back-of-door dressing mirrors on the back wall behind my racks (6 feet away from my windows) in my small greenhouse, which has glass windows. I can't swear it helps, but it makes me feel better!