Red Mylar

[dubwise]

Hello folks. I was recently at the local shop and the woman working there asked if I had used the red mylar yet. I had not even heard about the red mylar....so she explained that it would increase the yield by 20% if used in bloom. Could this be true? and if so, does anyone want to share any information about how good this stuff is? Thanks!

 

[johnny butt]

It seems like any color you see, aside from a flat white or a reflective, isn't going to do any good.

I would think the red coloring on the mylar would be absorbing other spectrums, even just a little, but nonetheless, decreasing your total output...

Just a theory though...

 

[dtfsux]

Hello folks. I was recently at the local shop and the woman working there asked if I had used the red mylar yet. I had not even heard about the red mylar....so she explained that it would increase the yield by 20% if used in bloom. Could this be true? and if so, does anyone want to share any information about how good this stuff is? Thanks!

I would have asked her for some proof. Like a side by side test. I bet that red mylar has a 200% markup and the only increased yields are in her pockets

 

[Bobby Bains]

It seems like any color you see, aside from a flat white or a reflective, isn't going to do any good.

I would think the red coloring on the mylar would be absorbing other spectrums, even just a little, but nonetheless, decreasing your total output...

I bet that red mylar has a 200% markup and the only increased yields are in her pockets

I agree.

But if it worked, does this mean that in a dual-purpose (veg + flower) room, you could possibly get leggier vegging if you don't tear this red film down in between cycles?

I have a feeling the red material on the Mylar acting as a filter and that this is more snake oil based on inconclusive studies done that shared a small common denominator for some completely different reason, but I'd love to hear more.

 

[Lazyman]

It's true for tomatoes, Google tomatoes red row covers and you will find some good studies.

 

[Bobby Bains]

http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/wtrsow/con0311311926432.html

Quick skim seems to indicate it's inconclusive and rather more based on soil temperatures than than intended purpose of reflecting certain spectrums of light.

 

[Dislexus]

http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/wtrsow/con0311311926432.html

Quick skim seems to indicate it's inconclusive and rather more based on soil temperatures than than intended purpose of reflecting certain spectrums of light.

Thank you for your diligent research goodman Bains! Much appreciated!

 

[Bobby Bains]

Wasn't my research. Google'd it for a few minutes after Lazyman posted about red row covers for tomatoes.

 

[Dislexus]

Thank you for your able googling!

 

[blancorasta]

i know tomatoes benfit from some midday diffusion and or filtration, but i dont know that cutting out the spectrum will help increase your yields especially on your reflective material cause these arent efficient in the first place they're just better than nothing at all.

peace

 

[Bobby Bains]

If a manufacturer feels strongly enough about this product and wants to send me enough to cover a room, I'll do a room-by-room thread & promote their product for 'em.

But I doubt it is more than snake oil based on irrelevant data.

 

[Lazyman]

Still digging, but here's some citations:

From http://www.robertmarvel.com/whyplasticmulch.html

There are plenty of colors to choose from: black, white, silver, red, blue, brown IRT (infrared thermal). Green IRT, clear and yellow.

In an article on the Center for Plasticulture Web site, director Orzolek and associate director William J. Lamont Jr. summarize the state of knowledge about choosing the color of a plastic film, based on their years of field research at the Horticulture Research Farm in Rock Springs, PA.

Some generalities that can be made regarding color are 1) silver repels aphids,
2) Blue attracts thrips but has been very effective in greenhouse tomato production and
3) Yellow attracts insects. There also appears to be some reduction in disease pressure with crops grown on specific colors.

They recommend the following colors for specific crops: Tomatoes responded to red mulch compared to black, with an average 12 percent increase in marketable fruit yield and fruit size over a three-year study. There appeared to be a reduction in early blight in plants grown on red.

Peppers responded more to silver mulch compared to black, with an average 20 percent increase in marketable fruit yield and fruit size over a three-year study. Lowest yield or marketable peppers were harvested from plants grown on either white or light blue mulch. In more southern climates, below North Carolina, pepper plants grown on green IRT had similar marketable fruit yields compared to plants grown on black.

Eggplant appeared to respond more to red mulch compared to black with an average 12 percent increase in marketable fruit yield over two years. Greatest response occurred when plants were growing under temperature and water stress conditions. There may be a varietal response of eggplant to the use of plastic mulch, they said.

Cantaloupe responded more to green IRT or dark blue mulch compared to black, with an average 35 percent increase in marketable fruit yield over three years. Lowest yield of marketable cantaloupe were harvested from plants grown on either white or black mulch at this location. In more southern climates, below North Carolina, cantaloupe response to white or black mulch would be entirely different, they said.

Cucumbers and summer squash seemed to responded more to dark blue mulch compared to black, with an average 30 percent increase over three years in marketable fruit yield for cucumbers and 20 percent for zucchini. Lowest yield were harvested from plants grown on yellow mulch at the Pennsylvania farm, but, they said, in more southern climates-below North Carolina – these crops’ response to yellow mulch might be entirely different.

Onions and potatoes responded to several mulch colors including red, metalized silver and black compared to no plastic mulch, with an average 24 percent yield increase in marketable bulb or tuber yield. There was a significant difference in yield response between specific onion varieties.

Potatoes grown on the metalized silver mulch showed the highest marketable tuber yields, the coolest soil temperature and the least number of Colorado potato beetle adults. However, they said, the metalized silver mulch can be difficult to lay in the field and obtain a tight fit over a raised bed. In cool years the metalized silver mulch may also cause poor plant emergence. There was a significant difference in yield response between specific potato varieties and mulch color. Use of black or possibly red plastic mulch will reduce the highest yield of quality potatoes, they said.

Also check out http://www.plasticulture.org/ResearchPapers/_vti_bin/shtml.exe/search.htm and type "red" for the search term, many papers come available.

 

[dubwise]

Lazy-great stuff. Thanks! This is way more then what I was hoping for.

I beginning to think that the woman who runs the grow store knows less about what she's selling then how much she knew when I first began.

 

[Lazyman]

Most people have a very basic knowledge of growing. To test people I mention more and more complex ideas until I see their eyes glaze over and they space out. That's the limitation of their knowledge. Most times it only takes about ten seconds.

I did read recently that some botany professor was quoted as saying that indoor marijuana cultivators are probably the best botanists in the world, far beyond the realm of any other type of farmer. Made me feel GOOD!

 

[MrDuck]

Another vote for snake oil.

Anything with a tint will absorb the opposite color and reflect it's own. In this case the mylar is reflecting all the red but absorbing all the cyan (blue + green). It isn't "coloring" the light red, it is eating all the stuff that isn't red and turning it into heat. While it might have some other applications the bottom line is it reflects less lumens.

 

[Bobby Bains]

Good luck with your complicated ways of growing, results show.

 

[Lazyman]

Yesterdays complicated growers are the reason you can do so easily now. Today we're developing the methods and technology for tomorrow. You're welcome.

 

[dubwise]

Yesterdays complicated growers are the reason you can do so easily now. Today we're developing the methods and technology for tomorrow. You're welcome.

I agree 100%. It is because of all the attempts and failures that we are able to do things we are able to do today.
The couple of things that I noticed at the grow shop, and that I questioned, were 1) why don't they sell blue mylar too....one would think if the red helped out in 20% or so yield in bloom, wouldn't it you think that the blue would help out 20% or so in vegetative growth? 2) I had not seen one thing here on ICM about it....and this site is incredible for showing new products and methods.

 

[OrganicOzarks]

Maybe they make the red for Christmas lovers. I think that the lady was probably just out of the green. That's why the red did not make since.

 

[B.C.]

Most people have a very basic knowledge of growing. To test people I mention more and more complex ideas until I see their eyes glaze over and they space out. That's the limitation of their knowledge. Most times it only takes about ten seconds.

lol... That's too funny! reminds me of every trip to the grow store! LOL!!!

I reckon we'll have ta wait an see about the red mylar. BC