SHINING A LIGHT ON REFLECTIVE MATERIALS
without burning them. This maximizes the intensity of
the light hitting plant leaves, and takes advantage of the
inverse square law, which for our purposes states that
light energy decreases the farther you move from the
source of illumination. When plants are small, there’s
no problem with this approach. Seedlings are bathed in
light, convert that light to food and grow big and strong,
with the topmost growth getting the most intense
energy. As those top leaves develop faster than the leaves
beneath them, they create a canopy that blocks light
from lower leaves and smaller plants.
The diffused light that pervades an outdoor garden
and provides energy to the undergrowth, resulting in
balanced plant development, is either absent in an
indoor growing environment, leading to spindly plants
and other growing problems, or is provided through
some other means. This can be accomplished using sidemounted lights, but using reflective materials instead
can reclaim light energy without the use of additional
expensive fixtures, their increased energy costs and at
least some of their fre ight of potential heat problems.
Using reflection to maximize light encourages many
indoor gardeners to invest in dedicated growrooms and
enclosures like grow tents that include light reflective
walls, ceilings and floors.
Light Reflective Materials
Many materials reflect light and can be used to
redirect light energy onto plants in a grow space or
growroom. Some are more effective than others, and
a few have been developed especially for horticultural
applications. For example, some embossed reflective
surfaces designed for indoor gardens bounce
light using faceted diamond, hammered or other
dimensional textures for more diffused coverage and
less risk of creating hot spots—inadvertently focused
light energy that can burn plants. This is distinct
from specular or flat reflective surfaces that need
“Many materials reflect light and can be
used to redirect light energy onto plants
in a grow space or growroom. Some
are more effective than others, and a
few have been developed especially for
horticultural applications.”
80
Maximum Yield USA | June 2016