Upward soil reflector dish

[Toaster D]

I noticed how reflective my tent was, including the floor, but it was easy for me to look at the soil and the lower portion of the plant, because no light was being reflected back. It's fairly young, so most, if not all of the plant is directly over the soil. My plant is in a 3 gallon container.

I got a paper plate and used reflective tape to make the plate completely reflective (I guess an aluminum pie pan would work too) I cut a 1/2" wide groove from the outside of the plate to just past the center. This allowed me to slide it under the lowest branches and around the stem, but it lays perfectly over my 3 gallon container. I was surprised at the amount of light it reflects actually. Far from perfect, but even if it adds 10% more light to the bottom branches and budding spots it might be worth it?

It was affordable enough anyway. Thoughts? Im sure this has been tried in the past, but didnt see anything recently.

 

[Connoisseurus Rex]

So it's reflecting into the underside of the leaves?

 

[ArcticOrange]

So it's reflecting into the underside of the leaves?

That was my first thought. It may give you a tiny benefit but honestly i cant see light hitting my floor when im doing things right.

 

[Connoisseurus Rex]

That was my first thought. It may give you a tiny benefit but honestly i cant see light hitting my floor when im doing things right.

My canopy usually shades the soil right out. I'm just thinking that it might burn younger leaves... Between the heat reflecting and lighting up both sides, light bleaching would be my first guess.

 

[Gary Goodson]

My canopy usually shades the soil right out. I'm just thinking that it might burn younger leaves... Between the heat reflecting and lighting up both sides, light bleaching would be my first guess.

It won't burn the young leaves or anything like that. It would just be more trouble than it's worth. As stated above, if you do things properly there won't be enough light hitting the soil to matter at all.

 

[Toaster D]

It really wasn't any trouble and it would be better suited for a micro grow or someone growing an auto or two. Agree a canopy of any size would make it useless

 

[az2000]

It really wasn't any trouble and it would be better suited for a micro grow or someone growing an auto or two. Agree a canopy of any size would make it useless

I do that with 3gal containers. I cut a circle out of white poster board (then a slot from the outer edge to the center. I use two overlapping to cover the slot.). I started doing this to control fungus gnat access to the soil. I also liked that it added some light to the interior of the plant. I don't know if it helps much. I do it more for gnats.

 

[KryptoBud]

I do that with 3gal containers. I cut a circle out of white poster board (then a slot from the outer edge to the center. I use two overlapping to cover the slot.). I started doing this to control fungus gnat access to the soil. I also liked that it added some light to the interior of the plant. I don't know if it helps much. I do it more for gnats.

Ever had any problems with air flow and soil staying soggy? May have been helping fungus gnats.

 

[az2000]

Ever had any problems with air flow and soil staying soggy? May have been helping fungus gnats.

No, the problem definitely improved after using the cut-out covers. All I had to do was spritz some Eco-Smart pungent spray around the drain holes after each watering. (I've heard some people put their containers in panty hose to prevent access to the drain holes.).

I'm in a very dry environment. And, my soil is very light and airy. So, that might make it more suitable for me. It actually helps the soil dry more evenly. I could still feel moisture in the top 1" when the container was dry enough to water.

 

[Resinhound]

Honestly I think its a bad idea for soil,unless your in something like fabric pots or something.Cannabis plants dont like soggy soil.For pest or alge prevention in rockwool or something I can see it kinda.But purely for the reflected light I dont think the positives out weigh the negatives.

 

[az2000]

Cannabis plants dont like soggy soil.

It would be interesting to hear the OP's experience, whether it causes the soil to take longer to dry.

I didn't notice any difference. I continued to water as frequently. The container became lightweight at the same frequency.

 

[ArcticOrange]

I watched my microbes destroy fungus gnats while I laugh maniacally

 

[Resinhound]

I just dont really see the benefit...I mean there are much better ways to deal with pests than sticking a plate on top of your soil.

 

[az2000]

I just dont really see the benefit...I mean there are much better ways to deal with pests than sticking a plate on top of your soil.

That wasn't my experience. It worked great.

 

[az2000]

I just dont really see the benefit...I mean there are much better ways to deal with pests than sticking a plate on top of your soil.

Sorry for the double reply. But, I remembered that I got the idea from @captainmorgan 's thread about growing with Cree lightbulbs. He had something like I described covering his container. I thought he did it to reflect the light (since he focuses on light efficiency). He said he did it to control gnats.

Since then, I've done it and it really works. I would have never thought to do it. I don't know if the reflective value of the white posterboard helps. But, it doesn't seem to hurt trying. In my case, it caused the soil to dry more evenly. (I think captain noted that too.).

I just wanted to note that I'm not the only person who's done it. And, the OP isn't too crazy in his theory because I thought that's what it was for the first time I saw someone doing it.