In this article, we will discuss if plants are like mirrors. Nowadays, mirrors are used both indoors and outdoors. Homeowners beautify and brighten their gardens by installing mirrors. Moreover, mirrors are installed in the shady areas of the garden to reflect sunlight and help plants grow. But do plants like mirrors? We will find out the answer below.
Do plants like mirrors? Plants like mirrors because it provides them with the reflection of sunlight to help them grow. Mirrors have a positive effect on plants because it increases the amount of sunlight that is essential for the growth of plants. You can place mirrors to reflect light into the shady areas of the garden or indoors.
How to use mirrors to increase lights for indoor plants? What are the different types of mirrors for plants? How are mirrors beneficial for plants? Does the shape of the mirror affect plant growth? These are some of the questions that we will discuss. If you want to learn more about the benefits of using mirrors for plants, read the rest of the article below.
How are Mirrors Beneficial for Plants?
Mirrors are beneficial for plants because they increase light through reflection and redirection. This helps plants to grow healthy. If you have indoor plants and are worried that they are not getting enough light to help them grow, you can use a mirror to reflect more light into the plants. Strategically place the mirror across or near the window so that it can brighten the room and redirect sunlight to the plants.
How to Use Mirrors to Increase Lights for Indoor Plants
Strategizing and getting creative are some of the ways to use mirrors to increase lights for indoor plants. Mirrors can reflect light which is a great way to make sure that your indoor plants stay healthy. Let us learn more about this below.
You Need to Strategize
One way to increase lights for indoor plants is by strategizing. While you can always place plants inside your house, you need to carefully plant their location. A plant at the foot of the stairs looks good, but can light reach that area? By redirecting light from one area of the room to another, you can make sure that your indoor plants get enough sunlight.
If the layout of the room is rectangular and the window is only in one corner, you need to place the pants on the wall across the window so that it receives sunlight. You can also place a mirror across the window to help redirect sunlight into the different areas of the room.
You Need to Get Creative
You can also get creative with the mirrors that you are using so that they are placed in locations where they can redirect sunlight. For instance, if your windows do not receive full sun, because of the trees that surround your house, taking care of indoor plants can be a challenge because you need to make sure that they get enough sunlight daily.
You can get creative by using mirrors. If you have houseplants that are placed against the window, hang a mirror next to the plant so that it reflects light into it. You can also check out this article that discusses if mirrors can be used outdoors. We have shared an in-depth discussion about the topic.
You Need to Double Up
By doubling up, you can provide your indoor plants with the right amount of sunlight that it needs. You can do this by doubling up on mirrors to redirect light into the room. Hang mirrors in strategic angles so that they can reflect light into each other. For instance, the light will bounce from the window to the first mirror, into the next mirror, and into your plants. The only downside to this is that light will decrease with each bounce.
✅ Video – Increasing Light for Plants with Reflective Mylar
Black Rabbit Homestead shared the video below on YouTube. It shows how to increase light for plants using a reflective Mylar. If you are looking for ways to add light for the benefit of your indoor plants, watch the video below for more information.
Different Types of Mirrors for Plants
The different types of mirrors for plants include flat mirrors, concave mirrors, and convex mirrors. Each mirror has its pros and cons. Let us find out more about these types of mirrors below.
Flat Mirrors
One type of mirror that you can use for plants is a flat mirror. These mirrors can reflect light at the same angle where the light hits it. To get the most benefits for your plants, you need to angle the flat mirror correctly so that it can reflect light to the plants.
For instance, if you have a plant on the sofa table and your sofa is located in a west-facing window, you need to install a flat mirror on the wall that is opposite the window. By doing this, the plant on the table will receive the reflected light.
Concave Mirrors
Another type of mirror that you can use to provide additional light for indoor plants is the concave mirror. This mirror has a surface like the inside of a bowl. A concave mirror is ideal for indoor plants that need concentrated and intense sunlight.
Convex Mirrors
As compared to concave mirrors, convex mirrors are shaped like the outside of a bowl. This mirror is usually used as a security mirror. The good thing about a convex mirror is that light that is reflected from it can spread out to a wide space. You can use this type of mirror to reflect light to plants that have less light requirements or those that are spread in a large area. We have also shared this article titled, are mirrors safe for birds? You can check out the article for more tips and information.
Does the Shape of the Mirror Affect Plant Growth?
No research confirms the theory that the shape of the mirror affects the growth of plants. On the other hand, there are instances wherein the shape of the mirror affects the amount of light that it reflects. If you have a long and thin mirror, it is not as beneficial to plants as compared to the larger mirrors because it cannot provide much light. Aside from that, long and thin mirrors also produce glare that is bad for the plants.
Can You Use Mirrors in a Greenhouse?
You can use a mirror in a greenhouse. On the other hand, you need to research the different types of plants that you have and how they will react to the light that is provided by the mirror. If you have plants that have broad leaves, they can benefit from the positive impact that it receives from the mirror. This is because these types of plants can absorb more light. Bear in mind that aside from sunlight, other factors influence the plants to grow. For instance, soil with more nitrates produces healthier plants. These plants will less likely suffer from the negative impact of light that is reflected from the mirrors.
What to Consider When Placing a Garden Mirror?
One of the things that you need to consider when placing a mirror in your garden is the movement of the sun. Throughout the day the sun moves across the sky. Because of this, you might need to reposition the mirrors so that the plants will continue to receive enough light no matter what time of day it is. During the summer, reflected sunlight can be intense and can burn the plants. We have also shared this article titled, are garden mirrors a good idea? You can check out the article for more tips and information.
How to Use Mirrors for Plants?
There are different ways to use mirrors for plants. You first need to consider how much light the plant receives throughout the day and how much light the plants need. This is an important thing to do before you set up the mirror in the garden. Depending on the amount of light that the plants receive, you might need to adjust the position of the mirror. If you have plants in the shady area of the garden, you might need to use many mirrors.
You first need to prepare the mirrors so that they can withstand the different climates outdoors. It is also best that you seal the mirror to prevent water from seeping into them which can damage the silvering. You also need to consider various things like wind, rain, and birds.
How to Determine if Your Plants Need More Sunlight?
One way to determine if your plants need more sunlight is if it is yellowing and the leaves start to drop. A common sign also includes stunted leaf growth, dull-green color, and elongated stems. On the other hand, if the plant is being exposed to too much sunlight, it can also be bad for the plants. The sign which tells that the plants are exposed to too much sun is if the leaves will have burned patches, singed tips, and the leaves starts to fall off. You can also read this article that discusses what garden mirrors are made of. We have shared helpful information that you can refer to.
Conclusion
You have reached the end of this article that discusses if plants are like mirrors. We have found out that plant does like mirrors because it provides them with the sunlight that they need to grow. On the other hand, too much sunlight can also cause damage to the sun. We have also discussed how to use mirrors to increase sunlight for plants. Thank you for reading!