What Should You Use to Reflect Light in Your Grow Room?

Mylar

• One choice for covering the walls of the grow room is to use bright white Mylar. This is a relatively inexpensive way to cover walls and ceilings with a sturdy, waterproof reflective surface. The shiny white color is ideal for reflecting light from grow lights back to the plants in the grow room, increasing the intensity of available light for a reasonable cost. One consideration when using Mylar is that, even though it is waterproof, the walls behind it may get damp and cause mold or mildew problems.

Aluminum Foil

• Some indoor gardeners prefer to use aluminum foil as a wall covering in the grow room. If applied correctly it is highly reflective, creating a room that is quite bright. One benefit of aluminum foil is that it is available almost anywhere and thus is easy to get. It doesn't all have to be purchased at once, it is lightweight and is unlikely to cause damage to the walls. As with Mylar, moisture may get behind aluminum foil and cause problems with the wall. It does not reflect as well as white surfaces and can be hard to apply smoothly, but it is good for growers with a small budget.

Paint

• For those able to paint the grow room, white latex paint is an easy way to create reflective surfaces in the room. Paint works well because it covers everything completely, it is quick to apply and it can be used on the entire room: walls, ceiling and floor. It is easy to keep clean and moisture can't build up behind it, since there is no space between the paint and the surfaces it covers.

Specialty Coverings

• There are some specialty coverings available from some hydroponics suppliers that are made specifically to reflect light in a grow room. These tend to be more expensive than the other solutions, and a bit harder to find, but offer the best possible light reflection in the grow room. One such covering is a textured foil that reflects light in multiple directions, increasing the amount of light available to the plants. Another covering is also a type of foil made in such a way that it actually enhances the light as it is reflected, offering additional benefits to the plants.