In one room where the bulk of my plants will go for winter, which isn't used for anything else but to store stuff, I have prepared the room for the most possible light exposure by "wallpapering" the bright half of the room where the plants will be with foil. Also lined the shelf and table surfaces where plants will sit. Cost = About $7 for 2 rolls of cheap, thin foil & roll of tape.

There's 1 S and 1 W window. The rays are really bouncing around in there, it's really cool! Moving the plants in will put a damper on it somewhat, but it should still be noticeably brighter, and hopefully less leaning toward windows. I've done this in my little greenhouse before and it made a HUGE difference.

A smaller approach could be to cover a C-shaped piece of cardboard with foil to put around the back side of plants near a window. That would block a lot of light coming into the room, but if you're away all day anyway, might not make much difference, and might eliminate the need to close the blinds, depending on the height of it & your windows.

Sounds fun!
Pictures?

Obviously will depend on the plants.

LED light couldn't hurt just to add to what's getting bounced around, especially if you have anything that won't like lower levels of seasonal outdoor light.

I keep on meaning and failing to take photos of my work set-up with LED's, but have been very impressed.

My light shelves are in the basement, it really does help to add white or foil where light otherwise leaks into wasted corners.

It's so ugly, I didn't take pics but I can add some later today or tomorrow. For now, just imagine sheets of foil taped to cheap 60's/70's paneling and the sides of the windows. (My house was built in 1900...) Hopefully there won't be plants in there for 4-6 weeks, but whenever Jack Frost shows up, I'm ready. DH also chopped down a tree that was blocking a lot of the AM light so I'll be able to use some east windows that weren't worthwhile for plants until that tree came down.

They're the same old plants I've been dragging in & out for decades, and a few new crew members this year. They were OK without the foil for previous winters, but will hopefully be better able to stay looking more like they do when outside.

OK, this was a few minutes after dawn this morning. I warned you it was going to be ugly. But imagine how dark it was before, with the dark paneling. About a foot to the left of where the pic ends is a wall, it's a tiny room. Nobody but me goes in this room. When it's stuffed with plants, it will be debatable if I still fit. I'll try to leave enough room to shuffle through sideways. ; )


Why is the one thing missing a drawer?! IDK.

Beauty (or ugly) is in the eye of the beholder . I'd say it looks practical, and that's what matters.

Why not put a couple of small grow lights in there?

AllieCat said:Why not put a couple of small grow lights in there?

Took the words right out of my mouth.

That room looks awesome!

Not much light at all though, I agree some LEDs could help a lot.

And mirrors!

Yes, exactly what you just did with the foil, but if that windows gets any direct sun can you get mirrors on the opposite wall or that round table to bounce it around?

Humboldt said:And mirrors!

Yes, exactly what you just did with the foil, but if that windows gets any direct sun can you get mirrors on the opposite wall or that round table to bounce it around?

You mentioned mirrors so I tried this today with a $10 grow light stick. Do you think it'll make a difference? The mirror makes it look like I have twice as many plants there.

AllieCat said:
The mirror makes it look like I have twice as many plants there.

Right? It's awesome.

Not familiar with grow sticks, can't hurt.

Can you provide a product link?

AllieCat said:

I'm familiar with and love everything except the flowering plant in the upper left. What is that?

Very pretty.

Humboldt said:

Right? It's awesome.

Not familiar with grow sticks, can't hurt.

Can you provide a product link?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08T63T83J/

The windows face S & W, so for there to be that much light in there @ dawn is a noticeable increase. In the afternoon is when it is the most bright. TY for suggesting the lights, Allie! The plants have always been OK without them, or the foil, but they could be better if blooms don't getting so stretched out.

AllieCat said:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08T63T83J/

Interesting, thank you for the link.

It's inexpensiveness makes me hesitant to trust their marketing, but you can't go by cost alone.

Please keep us updated.

I'm redoing some end-cap shelving now for some plants, we sold 6 today!

We're already planning on pulling power down from the drop ceiling for some Jungle Dawn LED bars (very effective) but I'm super curious about this gizmo.

[quote="purpleinopp"TY for suggesting the lights, Allie! [/quote]

Hey! I suggested it first. :)

That little light is neat, I'll be looking into those.

If you do get some more powerful lights they could add a lot to that foil setup.

Humboldt said:

Interesting, thank you for the link.

It's inexpensiveness makes me hesitant to trust their marketing, but you can't go by cost alone.

Please keep us updated.

I'm redoing some end-cap shelving now for some plants, we sold 6 today!

We're already planning on pulling power down from the drop ceiling for some Jungle Dawn LED bars (very effective) but I'm super curious about this gizmo.

There's more expensive ones but I thought I would try a cheap one first to see if I could make it work. These are cuttings I got in the mail on Friday and immediately potted them and put them under the grow light. They're doing exceptionally well considering they were in the mail for a week. I think the light is making a lot of difference.

Sorry, Humboldt! Thought I scrolled back far enough. TY for the suggestion! : )

Humboldt said:

Interesting, thank you for the link.

It's inexpensiveness makes me hesitant to trust their marketing, but you can't go by cost alone.

Please keep us updated.

I'm redoing some end-cap shelving now for some plants, we sold 6 today!

We're already planning on pulling power down from the drop ceiling for some Jungle Dawn LED bars (very effective) but I'm super curious about this gizmo.

Look at how good these cuttings are in just two days under the grow light. When I planted them and put them under the light they were barely at the top of the rim of the pot.

I ordered the double one so it will cover more plants and I'll put this one in a different spot.



This is what they looked like when I first planted them before putting them under the light.

purpleinopp said:Sorry, Humboldt! Thought I scrolled back far enough. TY for the suggestion! : )

Of course. Just messing with you.