What is reflective foil and which one should you choose?

Light in the growing area should definitely not fall anywhere other than on the plants so they can grow and bloom intensively. Reflective films are therefore one of the most important tools for indoor growers to achieve a massive harvest in the shortest possible time. Which film is the best? You will find out in the following article.

You might think that a good reflector is sufficient for perfect light reflection in the grow space. Yes, a reflector will help direct the light flow as needed, and so you can't do without a quality reflector hood, but besides the direction of the light you also need to address the intensity with which it reaches your plants.

Walls, floor and ceiling – the light in the grow room is reflected off all these surfaces by the reflector. Each bounce off these surfaces inevitably brings losses in light intensity. And of course we don't want that. That's why these surfaces are covered with reflective films.

Let's summarize what a reflective film is good for:

• You will make maximum use of the light source in the grow space.
• Thanks to reflective film more light reaches the plants and its rays also reach shaded spots where larger or smaller parts of plants usually suffer from lack of light, which is why supplemental lighting with additional lamps is used.
• Reflective film also protects plants from tip burn.

Diamantová reflexní fólie ECO is offered in our range at an unbeatable price.

Now let's look at how the individual reflective films differ based on manufacturing materials and their properties:

• Black-and-white PE film represents the basic type of reflective film and as the name suggests it consists of two layers, with the white layer reflecting light (reflectivity approx. 90 %) into harder-to-reach places while the black layer absorbs it. This clearly dictates the placement on the grow room wall, with the white side facing inward and the black side outward. The advantage of this type of film is the low price and decent light reflection. The disadvantage is a lower ability to scatter light evenly compared to more advanced film types.
• Silver films reflect light about half better than the black-and-white film mentioned above, so your plants will use about 50% more light. Silver film is easy to work with, but again has a lower ability to evenly scatter light. It is a durable material resistant to creasing and wear, low maintenance and completely non-toxic, whether you choose the REFLECT-A-GRO, MYLAR or ECO variant.
• Diamond films are available in two versions in our range. The better service is of course provided by the A-GRO variant, but you won't go wrong with the cheaper version, the diamond ECO film. What is the difference compared to silver films? It is the ability to scatter light evenly. By using diamond film you will therefore not only make better use of the light emitted from the discharge lamp, but the illumination will also be even, which is an added value that will certainly show in the final yield. A possible disadvantage is maintenance, as the film needs to be washed and polished with a dry cloth.
• ORCA films are Canadian-made with a unique surface topography formed by high-density fibers of specialized reflective plastic. The white color of the film provides a high level in terms of both factors we mentioned above — reflectivity and uniform light diffusion. ORCA films are also much easier to clean than diamond films. Just wipe with a damp cloth and that's it. The main advantage is the Canadian manufacturer's promise that by using ORCA film you will noticeably reduce cultivation costs, because you can afford to use a discharge lamp of lower power for the designated grow area.

We recommend these products:

• ORCA Grow Film ™ - reflective film - TOP film on the market, nothing more needs to be said.
• Diamantová fólie REFLECT-A-GRO - unbeatable price-to-performance ratio and the best-selling reflective film in our range. A great choice for everyone!
• Diamantová reflexní fólie ECO - again an excellent price-to-performance ratio. The cheaper version of the diamond film still offers 99.9 % light reflection and is easy to wash. Plus, it's available on our e-shop with an exclusive price!
• Silver film REFLECT-A-GRO - the luxurious non-flammable film offers 50 % better light reflection than ordinary black-and-white film and approximately 22 % better reflection than MYLAR.

Now you know why reflective film is important and perhaps which film to choose. Also consider whether it is more cost-effective for you to pay the price per meter or to purchase the entire roll. If you still hesitate, we will be happy to advise you on light reflection at the usual address info@higarden.cz.

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