Bounce Light to outdoor shaded plants

 This might be a silly idea, but is there a way to bounce more natural
sun light onto plants that are in the shade part of the day?   I read
that tin foil won't work because it takes out the blue-green light
that plants need.  What about a white reflective card, or a mirror.
Would any of these work ?

I don't want to use grow lights.

thanks

 wrote:


Plant a white clapboard house nearby?    I'm at about the same
latitude as Albany, NY.       I should not have much growth on the
north side of my house.   But there is a house about 50 feet north of
me and I am able to grow shade tolerant plants right up to my
foundation.  [both houses are oriented so the south side gets maximum
sun and the north gets squat---   the neighbor had a forest to his
north and can get nothing to grow on his north side]

Dock, ferns & Angelica thrive--   but I've had good luck with wild
thyme, Bee Balm [Monarda didyma] and chives to within 3 feet of the
north side of my house where no direct sun ever shines.   [clay soil
is a bigger problem there than low light]     I've got some Iris about
10' from the house & it does OK--    probably gets an hour or two of
sun mid-summer.

OTOH- There are some very interesting shade lovers out there if you're
trying to dress up a shady area.    Check out the Hosta's & ferns at
the Hosta Farm-
http://www.hostafarm.com/plants-blue.html

Usually it is easier to plant what will grow someplace than to alter
the environment.

Jim

 wrote:


Not silly at all.  They do it all the time on movie/TV sets, whether
on stages or on the street.  You may have seen those silver-colored
reflectors that are used to regulate the lighting.  I guess you could
either buy one of those ($$$???) or make your own with a frame and
rolls of aluminum foil.

I assume  you have found that the plants NEED more sunlight?

Persephone

[...snippage...]