First and foremost Happy New Year! So here is my predicament. I grow with LED lights so after doing research I had painted my room a flat white 4 best reflective effects. I also just recently (coincidence) had to throw 2 plants in a tent - separate light cycle- with an LED. It seems like the mylar in the tent is helping my plants grow better. Since the reflective material versus the flat white paint doesn't add up with what people say is best for reflectivity I am confused. Please let me know what you all think I should do...since reflctive (silver) has seemed better. Any advice would help even if you are in support of the white. Thanks in advance!
Dr Who has the biggest testicle's here on the RIU if he says Flat White is best
I won't disagree with that or with Wiki either who claim matt flat white paint is about 87% reflective
in my own experience mold spores hide behind that plastic and can strike anytime
good luck
@Cold$moke
I don't find 7% to be much of an improvement over the cost and work needed to hang Orca. You can get paint with the same reflective value as Orca too!
Much cheaper!
Regular flat white
ceiling paint is 87% reflective. And that is diffuse reflection (spread out) Ceiling paint contains actual reflective materials - fine ground - to increase reflection, over wall paints.
Orca is diffuse and 94% reflective.
Behr 4650 Ultra Pure White latex paint is 94% reflective (diffuse)
the bold type is an embedded link
The only two things higher are:
Mylar
Radiant Guard (house wrap or attic wrap)
https://www.cycloptics.com/sites/default/files/RadiantGuard.pdf
These 2 are 96% reflective. These are also specular (or something) reflective. That means that the light reflects off at straight angles from where it hits.
This can be a minus in a way. You may inadvertently create a light "hot" spot and burn a part of your plant...
I use some mylar on portable coat racks - Kinda like a reflecting wall for between lights - one working, and one not. Helps keep the light back on the plant.
I have not ever "burnt" a plant with it's use. However, it is only secured to the top bar and floats in the breeze. You can "see" intense bars of light, move about. If non moving, they would light burn the plant in that spot.
Radiant guard will hold in heat. That can go each way. Be sure your cooling is sufficient. It's NOT CHEAP!
flat white paint is about 85% reflective. panda film/mylar is about 97% reflective. of course, you can get flat white paint with an antifungal additive for less than 20 bucks a gallon. panda film costs about 100 bucks a roll, and doesn't have any antifungal properties.
i'm not sure that when you get down to talking about the reflectivity of grow room walls, that 10 or 12 % is worth worrying about. if it bothers you, go with the pricier mylar, i'm happy with two coats of flat white antifungal killz
Roger brings up a huge point! Affixing films to walls, can Create area's of mold retention. Not a good thing. There are ways to combat that as seen in a later post here.
In the end. I say use the Behr paint - with an anti fungal (you ask them to add that when the paint is mixed, or simply to add it.).
It works perfectly and costs seriously less then attempting to hang sheeting (rolled) perfectly flat on anything bigger then it's supplied width.
Simply go with the paint!
Want to be fussy and spend a few more bucks - Go with the Behr paint!
Otherwise, simply use a commercial ceiling paint, cheap and effective.
Ed R suggests the paint too.
He wrote a book, and has smaller balls.....
@vostok Gee, thanks for the testis...
@Roger A. Shrubber Nice post!
