I've read that CFL lights lose light penetration (and therefor effectiveness) unless they are within a couple inches of the plant. Considering this, how can mylar be useful in a growbox if the material is like 6 inches away from the plant at a minimum? Does the reflected light at that distance maintain its function? Or is it kind of irrelevant?
Well for starters every light source losses light penetration .
and if you get a good cfl like a 125watter with 12000 lumens .
with them you can keep it like 1 foot away with the same effectiveness
Envirolites are becoming a more and more popular alternative to HID lighting. They are effective, energy saving, reliable
Like a 30w clf has 2000 Lumen intensity (so it cant penetrate the bud deep enough thats why you get reli small buds)
125w Envirolite cfl 12000 Lumen intensity (Envirolites can penetrate bud ok still not great but still with more light it will)
a 400w hps has around 55000 Lumen intensity (hps will penetrate bud great up to 10 ft away)
But thats the REASON it grow fast in veg but not in FLOWERING