hi all, my 5 40w 3000k seem to give the light better to the plant w/o the soda can reflectors , my box is painted white inside, or do they just seem to put out better light w/o the can? they are on the sides of my plants mostly vertical
also whats the highest watt cfl that can plug right into a standard light socket?

so out of the 91` people in here none of you can answer my question?

2 things - CFLs are self ballasted..... so can get plugged in all wattages.

And maybe its less bright because more light is being shone onto the plant? Its deffo good to have them it will send the light farther into the plant probably. Nothing to loose unless the lights are near the white painted sides then theres no point really.

Small cfl's don't put out strong enough light for a reflector to be of any value at all. All a reflector does is reflect more heat and block light from going in all directions. You all would be better off taking off all reflectors on all small cfl's.

By increasing the operating temperature of a CFL, you are reducing it's overall light output significantly.

Nobody ever listens, but a cfl grow in a flat white painted box with no reflectors is by far the best.

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