Indoor gardening under fluorescent lighting

 I have an indoor garden under fluorescent lights operated with a
timer.  I heard that using white gloss paint or aluminum foil
surrounding the plants helps, but that glass in mirrors absorb light
to benefit.  Anyone hear this?  I've always used aluminum foil but I
could get some inexpensive (free) mirrors.  TIA

 
"absorb light to benefit" - I don't understand. Did you mean to say
"reflects light"? If not, please explain.

 On Tue, 20 Nov 2007 19:05:38 GMT, "JoeSpareBedroom"


Eliminate "to benefit."  My mis-type and fault.  Perhaps this is more
of a physics question.  But to those who do indoor gardening under
lights, what do you use to maximize lumens while keeping heat and
costs down?    I have found that fluorescent lights with large
reflectors are much better (at least in making African violets bloom)
than using lights without reflectors.

 Phisherman wrote:

Your question about mirrors still doesn't make sense. Glass doesn't
absorb light. If it did, windows would block the sun and we would get no
reflected image from mirrors.

Fluorescent light works very well with plants indoors. Use reflectors.
Light colors on the walls and ceiling can help to reflect light back
into the room. Mirrors will reflect light harshly, and your plants will
admire themselves in them constantly which can be quite annoying.

 Pennyaline wrote:

Glass does block a certain amount of light that passes through it..

Don't use mirrors... Use stark white sheets.. You can get white shower
liner sheets at Lowes cheap.. It's just flat plastic and will reflect
and diffuse a heck of alot more than mirrors.