FlyTrapCare Forums

Today i have cut a T8 brown cardboard package as a way to reflect the light and not hurt my eyes. The cardoarb has small holes which i may cover.
Below are two curtains (from the pst year) made from a black garbage plastic bag.
1) I observed a rise in temperature and sometimes i open the black curtains. I know that black absorbes light and gives heat. Is a mistake to think that white reflects light and give more heat than black ?

Have you thought about trying to make some sort of reflector for your tubes. This would angle the light downwards and reduce the glare from the lights. There are reflectors available for tube lighting but I think most are 2,4,6,8 tube fittings. A reflector would maximise the light by concentrating it onto your plants as I think the cardboard and plastic bags are simply absorbing and wasting light. If your fairly handy with the tools you could build one from polished alu sheet or a cheaper option use something like thin fibreboard and line the inside with Mylar.

Something like this. It is for t5 tubes but I'm sure you could get it for t8.

I agree with using the reflectors! And to answer your other questions, yes white does not hold heat like black does. But any plastic hanging there is going to hold in heat.

One of my best plant-related purchases was a 4-pack of little temp/humidity meters. Cheap and very useful for watching your conditions.