Aluminum foil in grow room. bad or good?

Jesus · Post by **Jesus** » Mon Mar 21, 2005 5:08 pm

i've read lots of contradicting information about using aluminum foil as reflective material. has anyone had any good or bad experiences using aluminum foil? some say that it works just fine, whereas others have reported that it creates 'hotspots' and turn the leaves yellow. is reflective material even 100% neccesary?

Psyclone · Post by **Psyclone** » Mon Mar 21, 2005 7:10 pm

White paint is the most reflective. Second best choice would be Mylar. Third is aluminum foil.

If I'm wrong, correct me.

Damar · Post by **Damar** » Mon Mar 21, 2005 7:44 pm

What's the difference between white computer paper taped all around a closet grow, and white paint? Wouldn't the white paper reflect just as well?

HEAVYhitter · Post by **HEAVYhitter** » Mon Mar 21, 2005 8:56 pm

The paint is glossy and therefore reflects the light better.

Damar · Post by **Damar** » Tue Mar 22, 2005 4:38 am

True... For some reason I was getting the impression that glossiness doesn't help reflect, but makes it worse. Thats why mirrors and aluminum foil work worse. I also thought you're supposed to use dull white paint, not glossy, but maybe even 'dull' white paint has that glossiness to it :-/

What if I cover the white computer paper with clear scotch tape!

flynn · Post by **flynn** » Tue Mar 22, 2005 7:38 am

white paper does just as good a job

Jesus · Post by **Jesus** » Tue Mar 22, 2005 12:12 pm

I think if you do use white paper. get the kind that you use to print photos with. might be a bit more expensive, but im somewhat sure that it will reflect light more than just regular white paper.

Sammy · Post by **Sammy** » Tue Mar 22, 2005 1:09 pm

just paint the walls you lazy stoners

Damar · Post by **Damar** » Tue Mar 22, 2005 5:08 pm

weedguru flynn wrote:white paper does just as good a job

cool, it'll save me some cash

flynn · Post by **flynn** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 7:15 am

Weedguru Sammy wrote:just paint the walls you lazy stoners

believe me if i wasn't in a rental i would

treebranch926 · Post by **treebranch926** » Wed Apr 20, 2005 12:30 am

i used tinfoil and it works great

newbiecracka · Post by **newbiecracka** » Tue May 03, 2005 3:46 am

i got the impression that dull white works the best bacause it disperses the light evenly on the plants ... compared to aluminum foil which just reflects and absords light and does not disperse evenly

mr green · Post by **mr green** » Fri May 06, 2005 2:39 pm

my mates just strated using foil around the sides,seems good

Post by **Weedguru Higher** » Mon May 23, 2005 12:10 am

If you are really really rich, mirrors is absolutely the best thing to use.

After that in my opinion alumimun foil shiny side out is the next best. I never bothered with it though it is too time consuming to stick it all up. My rooms weren't small.

I was always lucky and had rooms that were already painted white. If I had windows to cover I got this thick plastic sheet that is black one side white other side. Black obviously facing out, works real good so light doesn't seep through and get the neighbours suspicious

Reflective is not necessary..my walls were dull white and the wickedest plants always grew.

Weedguru Gooster · Post by **Weedguru Gooster** » Wed Jun 15, 2005 12:57 pm

To quote George Van Patten's book "Gardening Indoors," "Aluminum foil is one of the WORST reflective surfaces possible.

He provides a chart of light tests performed with same equipment only difference is the reflective coating on the walls.
Flat White Paint: 85-93% reflected
Aluminum foil: 70-75% reflected

Foil comes in ahead of black paint, but everything else wins. Just paint the room white. 30% more reflective potential than foil.

Spend some $ and get Mylar. It rates 90-95%
Goo

www.weedguru.com

Aluminum foil in grow room. bad or good?

Aluminum foil in grow room. bad or good?

Aluminum Foil is crap for grow rooms

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