REFLECTIVE MATERIAL
Closet cultivators have found that
electrically generated light is precious so
any generated is best conserved. Efficient
indoor gardens must reflect back the light
straying out of the perimeter. Growers
cover walls which cannot be painted with
flat white paint, with aluminum foil, Astrolon
or mylar. This is extremely important. Any
light which hits a dark surface is absorbed
and converted into heat, rather than being
used in the garden. Reflective material is
easily hung using staples tacks or tape.
There are several ways growers make
walls very reflective:
White reflective paint. Flat white paint
diffracts the light so that it is distributed
more evenly through the garden. Off-whites
absorb a considerable amount of light so
they are avoided. The best paint for indoor
gardens is greenhouse white which is
formulated for maximum reflectivity.
Aluminum foil is used to line the walls. It
is highly reflective and very inexpensive. Its
down sides are that it is noisy when it
moves with a breeze and has little tensile
strength, so that it tears easily when not
attached to a surface. It is usually not used
where it will be moved around or used for a
curtain or doorway because it crinkles and
tears easily. When the dull side out is used
the reflection is defused rather than just
reflecting hot spots. Eighteen inch wide
heavy duty rolls are the easiest to work
with. In places where heat must be
conserved fiberglass insulation with
aluminum reflective surface is often used to