Grow Tent Orchids

[Shadeflower]

I have thought about the wall myself. I've used light hoods that reflect light down, I've used white light sheets and mylar. Have I noticed any difference?
I even did some lettuce comparison tests at one point.

In practice the difference is negligible.

Even if a wall reflects light at 95% vs 90% the light actually coming out of the light unit is what gets absorbed most, if you use a light hood it gets directed even more at the plants. Anything that hits the walls hits the walls, then hits the floor and gets refracted back up again.

But by the time the light that has travelled that distance and hits the underside of the orchid leaves it has lost so much energy whether it was reflected twice off a 90% surface or 95% surface is in practice truly negligible.

To think about it a bit more, the more a tent gets filled, the more mounts get hung up on the walls, the more the canopy fills the tent.... the less light hits the walls.

Most tents I have eventually seen are filled with orchids, every nook and cranny of it.

In a situation like that it makes even less difference whether the wall is white or silver since so little light is hitting that area - the orchids will be absorbing most of it.

Even with lettuce as long as most of the light is aimed directly at the lettuce I didn't notice a big difference, tbh the lettuce never grew very well in either situations lol.

I like thinking about these things - to me the light unit is the most important and the material used for the walls is 20% important compared to it? So overall it probably makes a 1% difference in 10 years growing orchids.

Whats 1% of 20 flowers? An attempted flower? So instead of getting 20 flowers I would predict with a better reflected wall one would achieve 20 flowers + an attempted flower.

[Dusty Ol' Man]

Originally Posted by Steve83

I think you'll enjoy growing in a tent. Here's an updated pic of my 4'x4'

Meet Google Drive – One place for all your files

With so many mounts, is your tent situated over a catch basin for watering? Nice setup.

[Steve83]

Originally Posted by Dusty Ol' Man

With so many mounts, is your tent situated over a catch basin for watering? Nice setup.

Yes, I believe it was listed as a hydroponic tray (normally used with a table growing setup). It is 3'L x 3'W x 8"H.

Here are pics of the tray and light bars for reference.

hydrotray.jpg - Google Drive

Sept 2021.jpg - Google Drive

[Ray]

Originally Posted by isurus79

Ray - I think you found your next new product for you website!

White paint?

[Shadeflower]

Originally Posted by Ray

White paint?

yes

Whitest paint ever reflects 98 per cent of light and could cool homes | New Scientist

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by Ray

White paint?

No, grow tents with the appropriately colored interior

[Dorchid]

With the lighting being used I’m guessing the difference is negligible. But I could be wrong. 🤷

[Steve83]

Many of the earlier white interior grow tents in the US suffered from degredation of the plasticizers, and ruined peoples' harvests.

The gain from silver to white is minimal in regard to the primary requirement of a grow tent, immediate portability.

That is why there isn't a push for white interior grow tents.

[isurus79]

Good to know!

[itzi]

Hey y'all, I'm considering getting a Mars Hydro grow tent, preferably one of the smaller ones. Could I have a full tent without splurging on the proprietary equipment from Mars Hydro, like the LED panel and fan setup? I have seen people use their tents for orchids and all the photos look to have beautiful and happy plants, but the whole thing costing ~200 dollars for a 2x2 tent is a bit much for me.