Mylar space blankets are $1, add in some cloths pins and you can build your own grow tent by wrapping a shelf in them.

One tip if you are using shop lights to start seeds is take the diffuser cover off if you can. It will increase the light output.

Talking about flat white paint reminds me of the Mythbusters episode where they tried light a "tomb" with a series of mirrors to bring in light from outside. At the end of all the Fancy testing, they had one mirror directing light into the room and Jamie stepped into the ray and his white button down shirt lit the whole room brighter and more evenly than all their other tests.

We used Mylar emergency blankets wrapped around entire shelving unit overlapped in front for a makeshift door in the middle. All light kept inside. They’re cheaper than most spray paint and easy to find. Amazon dollar store big box stores… it does make a huge difference! Thanks MiGardener! Love your videos.

I love this community and how the knowledge base keeps growing, and we all help each other. God bless you all. And again thank you Luke for always providing great information and helping us grow big, not only in our garden but in our minds, especially in these times. ❌⭕️♥️

I use the chrome bubble wrap insulation. It's cheap and easy to work with. Big box stores sell it.

The best cheapest option I have found is survival blankets you get at the dollar store. Super reflective and cheap, you can wrap it around s piece of cardboard if you need it to stand alone.

Lots of comments say aluminum foil. If you go that way I would suggest crimping/crinkling it up a bit first. Then straighten it back out. The uneven surface will give a much better diffusion/distribution of light and not create that spotlight effect. Terry

Just used a pure white dollar tree craft cardboard I had laying around , used some clothes pins to secure it on my shelf and wow , what a difference ! Thank you do much , great tipp ! I am a beginner and have just 2 Micro green, 1/4 trays .5 days old and I can see a huge difference

I wrap my whole seed starting rack in mylar film 😊 It completely eliminates the need for heat mats because the heat from the lights are so much warmer because of the film holding moisture, warmth and light!

I love your energy and enthusiasm. Bless you and this beautiful community.

I just setup a stainless steel shelf unit for starting seedlings for my raised beds. I bought a roll of reflective bubble wrap to reflect back as much light as possible. Really effective in bouncing back lost light placed leftover wrap under plants also! Best $10.00 spent! Btw using Spider farmer SF 1000 EVO 2024 Everything is thriving.

I've been starting plants for over 40 years and wondered about this. Thanks for this useful information! Great video.

This is very helpful! I just set up my lights and was wondering how to reflect the light back on my plants. I’m so glad you prevented me from experimenting with mirrors!

Thanks! I didn't realize the reflector made such a difference! I'll be hitting the dollar store to look for mylar blankets this weekend. Thanks Luke and everyone for the great information

I use the mylar emergency blankets you can get. They are cheap and work great

I've been using cardboard covered with aluminum foil ( that lasts forever). Gardener Scott made me think of it years ago. Never thought about other methods before. I'm always learning, ty 😊

I scored a 25 foot roll of the silver window film and a silver windshield shade at the thrift store today for $4. I used aluminum foil lined in a box for a couple years in a window before I had grow lights or a greenhouse and that alone took me from leggy tomato seedlings to lush healthy seedlings, you seriously couldn't tell they were started inside with no lights.

I use sheets hanging near to {but not onto} my grow lights. I initially began doing this because my seed starting station is near our back door when someone opens it up a draft comes inside & winters here are cold. I used light colored sheets to keep the draft off my seedlings and with the side benefit of bouncing & utilizing the reflected light😀👍.

Thank you so much for the reflector tip. My back wall is a dark brick wall that just absorbs light and I have always had trouble with getting enough light to my plants indoors. This might do the trick!

Another great learning video as always! Thank you Luke. Blessings on your day Kiddo!🥰🌻🐛💕

Straight to the point is the best video format. Lots of great info on KZfaq but im not staying around for a family update, a side quest, other silliness. Thank you for always keeping to the point. It's no small part of why I put "MIGardener" in my garden search terms every time. Youve probably covered the subject and there's no extra stuff to confuse me.

I wrap the shelves I start my seeds on in Mylar blankets. The frames for the shelves are metal so I can secure them in place with magnets. Can't wait to see how my plants do this year, I just bought eight new Barrina LED grow lights.

Luke - I did some extensive tests a few years back with a light meter (about $50 somewhere online.) Using same T5HO bulbs (Sun Systems?), at $0.12/kWh the 24/7 cost is about $37 per month. I measured points across the table on a grid, and then summed the readings across the table with and without white foam board walls (Elmer's project display type, at Walmart for about $3 per panel.) The increase in total light was about 30%, with the gain at the edges and corners. I don't think 75% is even remotely possible. Did you mention the inverse square rule? If you bring the lights 20% closer to the table, the intensity will increase by 50+%. (1/.8)^2 = 1.56. Both closer lights and the enclosing effect of the reflector will increase the heat on the plants significantly. A fan may be needed. Seedlings are susceptible to drying out; yet a humidity dome reduces the light. Indoor light is extremely expensive. Great for starters, but I don't think it is economical for anything other than micro's and medicinal herbs. Note that the herbs growers use reflectors to avoid drawing attention to the amount of light, and reducing power consumption also helps them keep a lower profile on their electric bill. Note that the full-scale micro green farmers do not use reflectors. A greenhouse is probably better, as the light is better, and the cost of heating is far less than the cost of light. (Basement = free heat, expensive light. Greenhouse = free light, expensive heat, but a lot of free heat when the sun is shining. Finally, I found the T5HO lamps to be expensive, with a replacement cost of about $100+ for an 8 bulb fixture. Also, the light output declines over time, so you get these awkward decision points - do I pay an extra $10 to replace a bulb, or do I have to live with a 20+% reduction in light output on an aging bulb? Given the better lumens/W efficiency of LEDs, the declining cost of LED bulbs, the fact that fluorescent bulbs are a breaking hazard (with mercury contamination!) and possibly a disposal fee, I don't know why anyone would start with anything other than LED's now. Ever solution brings a new problem.

Diamond pattern mylar is relatively inexpensive, you can get rolls of it online and make really effective reflectors. I've got five mature pepper plants, about a dozen cacti and a few house plants I'm plant sitting for relatives that are out of state in my basement currently. Also have a shelf surrounded with mylar with a few dozen succulents and bonsai too.

Always learning something! Thanks Luke!

Fantastic! Thank you! I saved the sheets of styrofoam that my fridge came wrapped up in. I had a feeling I might need them at some point! I bought a heat mat (to sprout the seeds) and some seed trays that have removable grow lights in the heightened lids which I'll turn on after the seeds have sprouted. I'll use the Styrofoam to build a box around the seed trays. You're just full of great ideas and I love watching your channel.

You remind me of all the things I have heard before but forgot. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and common sense.

I always learn something from your videos. Thank you for reminding me to persevere even when my cat digs up my seeds in the trays.

A lot of simple and cheap ideas to improve lighting and heat. Thanks again.

Thanks SO much. I learn so much from you. I had the wrong Kelvin rating & replaced my lights. I am in the process right now of moving my set-up to another area of my house and setting up my new lights. I'm excited about using reflectors. This is the first year I am really counting on my seedlings, and I'm getting a late start because of the wrong lights, but i am optimistic about this working much better. Thanks again!

Ty so much for this video! It's been the best video for indoor growing!!! I had no idea about the reflective lightening, but it makes SO much sense!! Something so small can make such the difference!

Thanks, Luke! This was very informative and I will definitely put this into practice.

I have used the thin, reflective insulation sheets behind my shelves ☺️

You're a great teacher Luke ❤️

Always learning so much from your channel, well done Luke. ❤

Excellent thank you from Ireland 🇮🇪

Thank you so much for that information on the reflective light. I had no idea and I'm so excited. Thank you.

Thanks Luke, as always you are so helpful. Peace ✌ ☮ 🕊 and Blessings. Trying to keep my plants 🪴 cool 😎 Sunny Florida and it's been mid.80 already.

Never thought about reflecting light. Thx for the info & tips! You're appreciated 😊

Loved the info. Thanks Luke

I have sun shields for a small car I used to have. They're matte silver, so not very shiny. Would they work?

Another white thing that you might have already are totes' lids which are white. So if you are already sitting on them, free reflectors right there. :)

That would explain why some of my plants in certain grow light locations aren’t doing as well as the ones against my white walls. Thanks for giving me a solution!!!

I like the painted cardboard because it's free solid and can easily be adjusted in size and direction. Thankyou so much.

I am setting up a new seed starting area in my heated garage and I am great ful for this tip. I have not considered using reflectors to capture the lost light. Thank you.

Fantastic info! Thank you!

I learned a lot, as always. Thanks Luke! This is the firat time I am starting seeds inside, I have 2 small grow lights, and will be running to the dollar tree to get some poster board.

Luke this also works in your solar generators also !!! I do this in in the Winter time GLOSSY is the best for the SOLAR panels !!! I have my generators redone in the winter time inside of the house from the window going through to the next door WHITE HOUSE next to me !!! This is how I also grow the broccoli cabbage tomato plants in the house in winter time !!!

Great video! Very helpful! Thanks!

Thank you for that tip. Such an easy thing to think of…but I never did😊

The plate really proved your tip

Really great tips. Thank you

Awesome vid and since I am gonna really try to start seeds inside this will really help!

Thanks for all the tips 😀

Great info; thanks for sharing! Blessings to all 🤗💕🇨🇦

An abundance of helpful advice!

Going to make some reflectors tomorrow. Probably going to use emergency blankets. I have used them in the past thinking about increasing heat a couple degrees. Never even thought about the light. Thanks.

Great information, Luke!

New gardener here Thanks so much for telling me about posterboard I’ll go to the dollar store and get some. It’s my first time trying to grow things starting indoors in Northeast Ohio.

Thank you for the info! I will use this.

I am using Styropor. It works great, you`re totally wright. Greets from Germany...

Tips are remarkable.

Great idea!

Thank you Luke! This is so helpful!

Very informative, thanks!

Thanks for the info! I am going to look into getting some grow lights! And I learned not to use mirrors! 😊

For just a couple bucks you can get a stack of mylar emergency blankets. I made a shower curtain out of them. Wow what a difference

What about silver Mylar type material? Would it work?

I hope one day you add feijoa (Acca sellowiana) and/or Chilean guava berry (ugni molinae) seeds to your tropical catalogue. They make great potted plants are delicious and cold hardy to -10 atleast. I suspect much colder in a few generations. I'd love to grow these outdoors in summer and as house plants during winter! The valdivian temperate rainforests are very similar to British colombia

OMG, that lettuce looks delicious! Great video!

Good info and I like the shorter videos. I am a busy woman and my time is limited so I love short informative videos!

Thank you! I'm going to look around for white materials I have on hand to help reflect light from my fluorescent grow lights onto my tomato seedlings.

Great information!

Luke thanks so much I am using a space where my house plants grow with the use of small plant lite. I'm adding Lettuce and starting a few herbs and using cardboard from dollar tree. Tyfs.

I start my plants on stand alone wire shelving. Wrapped in space blankets, with cardboard covered in aluminum foil on the shelves below the grow lights. Works well for me.

Mirrors can help too. Depends on the angle. Aluminum pie pans/foil under plants but on top of soil can reflect light upwards too. That method can help repel some insects too.

Thanks for teaching me about lighting. I have just moved a key lime and two lemon trees inside. Hey need lots of light and having a reflector will help.

Can I use foil? Or is that the same as using mirrors? I apologize if he touched on this already (I'm trying to watch this while comforting a baby who's extra grumpy this morning because of teething)

That does it. I'm cutting up some white poster board and adding it to my window box.

Thank you!

Would love to see some videos troubleshooting common indoor growing issues! I've been seeing what looks like burn on my lettuce despite not being super close to the lights!

Thank you I never thought of that.

For cheap you can painters tape aluminum foil to make a reflector. You may want to fold edge so fan doesn't blow it about.

Great cost saving, plant promting video! 😄

I have a white wall with silver car window frost/heat protection sheet taped onto my growlight armature which works perfect for this application👍.

Tents work great brother.

The Big Box hardware stores sell white tempered hardboard paneling for under $20 for a 4'X8' sheet. If you are using chrome steel shelving units, you can get 6 panels from each sheet. The cost for the lighting operation costs seem high. Compact florescent lamps typically only use 25 watts of power per bulb. Most of the grow lights you'll find today are LED which take less than 10 watts per light strip. If in doubt on energy consumption, get a P3 Kill-o-watt unit and plug your lights in. This will give actual use not a theoretical. I use a power strip with a timer. My lights go on the timed portion, the heat blankets run on the full time power side. Simple to have the lights turn themselves on and off without having to schedule a plant check. Now to just keep the cats out of their catnip seedlings until outdoor transplanting.

Thank you for the info, Luke! Your videos are always so helpful. I'm wondering if it would also be helpful to paint the shelves white to reflect the light back up to the lower leaves?

The front of the grow shelf is by far the most effective place to put a reflector - not behind as shown in the video, which had a white/pale green wall anyway.

What about aluminum foil? It seems that aluminum reflectors are pretty common.

OMG!!! Never thought about space blankets, I will be getting some. Any suggestions/guidelines on light height and type for seedlings? I have some T5 tube fixtures and an LED Spyder fixture with red and blue LED's. I will also be adding reflectors for the plants to sit on and reflect from the bottom up!

What is better? A grow tent with the foil like sides, or the white? Thank you for all of your information and wonderful content Luke!! 💕~Cheryl~💕

I put mine in front of a window with reflectors on the other 3 sides. I try to remember to close my white shade at night to create another reflector well I have the lights running.

I use mylar blankets too. I ended up having to raise my light's higher above my seedlings because it was too bright 🌞

Watched this video just as I was about to put aluminum foil up by my interior grow lights. Been thinking it over since the video dropped and have a question for you. I have spray matte varnish on hand, but not white paint, do you think spraying that over the foil will be alright, or am I better off picking up a can of white primer?

Just added white poster board to the sides of my inside greenhouse. 👍🤞

I use double bubble reflective insulation. Using vermiculite on top seeding trays. White tarps are cheap and reusable.

I bought a roll of Mylar sheeting from Amazon. Wrapped foam boards, but you could use cardboard too, and I have it on the 3 sides of my trays. Left the front open because I have a fan blowing on my starters.

Very cool. Great subject. Well done! Wondering about draping some white diffusion in front of the light. To soften it and make it weave its way down through the leaves a bit better. The light will spread doing this and these reflectors would be perfect to catch it and bounce it back in. Theatrical diffusion some call it. Rosco Gel sells it. I’m thinking 1/2, 216 which is one type.