High quality surfaces and textures can give the same coverage as a large hood but with the desired uniformity. A smaller oval shaped reflector causes the light to travel a very short distance before being reflected down maximizing the light output.
A reflector has to give you a consistent uniformity over the entire crop canopy.
That is not giving you the uniformity or light level your crop needs. If you measure the light directly under the large hood at the crop, you will see – as we see in many grows – that the output may be for example 800µmol/m 2.s 1 ( micromoles per meter squared per second), but when you go to the perimeter of that grow light reflector, that light level can drop down to 400 µmol/m 2.s 1 or less. The further light travels out before it reflects down, the more it diminishes, and that’s not what you want for your crop. So, you may see very large footprint reflectors that appear to be covering a huge area – and they are. But in this case with reflectors, it’s true. I’m going to say bigger is not always better, and that’s not something you often hear. PL Light Distribution Curve Different Shapes… A dirty grow light reflector will not reflect to its optimal capability. Keeping your grow light reflector clean is another topic we will address in an upcoming maintenance blog. It also provides a corrosion resistant surface and a low sensitivity to pollution. PL’s grow light reflector has a highly reflective finish which provides diffusion. So, when you are looking at a grow light reflector, ensure that you are getting maximum reflectivity from a shiny, curved and dimple textured surface. a smooth surface will also diffuse the light and provide more coverage. White is a reflective medium, but it is not as reflective as a shiny aluminum type surface. Basic Physics….Flat surfaces do not reflect as efficiently as a curved surface in a reflector. Reflector patterns, materials and shapes really affect the dispersion of light and how it is distributed out of the grow light reflector. This will have an impact on your crop and your pocketbook. The lower lit areas will also have a lower rate of photosynthesis due to the lower light intensity creating less growth. Alternatively, an unevenly lit crop will have darker areas that will be over watered and over fertilized if you are meeting the higher lit crop areas’ needs.
How can uniformity affect the health of your crop and yield? Simply, an evenly lit crop will consume all inputs such as nutrients, water, CO2 etc. Maximize your uniformity and reduce the number of light fixtures you require to achieve your light levels and crop quality. The right grow light reflector will increase your light output. Uniformity is critical for the health of your crop and to generate consistent growth and yield. When we are looking at High Intensity Discharge (HID) lighting like HPS, the purpose of a grow light reflector is to efficiently get that light down into your crop-while spreading that light evenly or uniformly over the crop. Human eye can not see IR very clearly, but you can wear sunglasses to check.Let’s discuss the importance of your often forgotten and yes, sometimes neglected (luminaire) grow light reflector. Light may be too strong, please wear your sunglasses when looking at it. The light is not water-proof, so do not use it under water environment. You may add more calcium and magnesium than normally needed. The perfect temperature and humidity for your plants are found between 75°-85☏ and 50% - 70% humidity, with plenty of airflow to replenish CO2. The rate of photosynthesis and transpiration are directly affected by temperature, humidity and airflow. Bloom stage, turn Growth and Bloom switches on. Seedling stage: 20''~28‘’ Veg Stage: 16''~20‘’ Flowering Stage: 10''~16‘’Ĥ.Here are more tips for grow under our light: Using multiple lights allows you to better distribute the intense light in more areas of the grow space instead of having all of the higher intensity light concentrated in only one area while the outer edges never receive intense light.ģ.Recommended Hanging Distance Above Plants You should be able to get decent results with 30-50 actual watts of power per square foot.Ģ.For larger areas should I go with a single large panel or multiple medium to small lights? Multiply the length times the width and this will give you the square footage.