Wild Question

[Farhan Ahmed]

Sometimes we want to grow sun plants but all we have is a shaded spot. I was thinking is it possible to use reflecting mirror to deflect sunlight to such shaded spots especially if its a small place such as a terrace. Keeping aside the practicability of placing a large mirror, would the deflected Sunlight good enough for the plant and provide it with requisite exposure? Views please

[M Farooq]

Sometimes we want to grow sun plants but all we have is a shaded spot. I was thinking is it possible to use reflecting mirror to deflect sunlight to such shaded spots especially if its a small place such as a terrace. Keeping aside the practicability of placing a large mirror, would the deflected Sunlight good enough for the plant and provide it with requisite exposure? Views please

I don't think it is a wild idea but rather a creative one and certainly the reflected light will behave like sunlight. The only problem I can think of is the very short time the sun will be in proper position to reflect light at the desired location if the mirror is static - of course to due Earth's rotation. But then scientists use heliostats, sort of sun tracking mirrors to reflect sunlight at a static position, not for gardening per se. Search more about heliostats/ gardening and let us know if someone has experimented with such an idea.

Regards,
Farooq

[Farhan Ahmed]

@ Farooq sb. Thanks...as usual right on spot......this leaves us with the problem of changing sun position. Even if we don't have heliostats, one can work with plain mirrors and adjust them roughly half an hour to lighten the desired spot.

@khabbab......how about trying petunias in mirror light

[Izhar]

Not at all a wild question and it is practical... i used to live in an apartment, which was east facing, the pots which i placed by the boundary of my balcony were in the shade of boundary wall and no direct sunlight was available to them, but the sun loving annuals grew well (though slightly stretched) there.. and it was due to our door and wall made of partially reflective glass.. they (glass door & wall) received direct sunlight and reflect it on the pots in front of them...

[Muhammad Arif Khan]

GOOD LUCK

[khabbab]

@khabbab......how about trying petunias in mirror light

Petunias are in soil bed outside my home. So mirror will be gone in 5 minutes