3 Ways to Increase Light In Your Home for Houseplants - Ep 165

[@riawhetstone3725]

I’m saving up to bust a hole through my living room ceiling😅

[@theuniboober]

We live in the woods and our limited windows face the WORST directions so we basically live in a cave. 🙄 We have vaulted ceilings though so I'm dreaming of installing massive skylights whenever I publish my first book or hit the lottery! 😆

[@jenniferfahr4705]

We recently had a tree fall on our house taking out a portion of our roof. I suggested making it a skylight, no one found me funny. ;)

[@roxyroxieroxann]

Hahaha you made me laugh

[@okman3170]

Do it , do it , do it , do it , do it

[@alexemily8956]

I never thought of adding mirrors to increase light - that's genius!

[@DannySullivanMusic]

^^^

[@Omgiamsotriggered]

Yeah, I have one tiny roof window, and during winter theres barely any light. I wrapped kitchen aluminium foil on walls around it and suddenly whole room is shining cuz its blasting light in 360. A good little tip you can also do if u dont have a mirror is to take a cardboard cut out and tape aluminium foil or grow foils on it, and put it in a corner/place where u notice that light is mostly breaking during the day.

[@zaydenl.1449]

I’m a high schooler right now pursuing a scholarship at a top botany school and I cannot explain the impact you have had on my life! My love for plants has always been strong, but to see someone that is living my dream was like a major bomb! I really hope I can shake your hand one day!!!

[@yng.chapito_1956]

What school

[@wxspello4447]

Weh moxt, east xt, soim D

[@bedbug]

keeping the windows very clean and removing window screens you don't use often is a small way to make more light enter as well.

[@k700i]

Growlights actually helped me to be happier during winter times, I didn’t know it was a thing until made a research about it. Thank you for these helpful tips Summer! 🍃🌿💚

[@bkrbkrl]

You can go to a big box store and buy those cheap hang on a door mirrors. I made a plant shelf where the plants sit on top of such a mirror. I do not crowd them together. In winter, when there is even less light, I place a second one behind the plants on that shelf. It reflects the bulb light beautifully shining down from above them.

[@allyyyyyyp]

I have a collection of orchids and live with a roommate in a split level studio, I'm downstairs and have tiny windows. With two grow lights that function as regular lighting and some mirrors, I have orchids ranging from full sun to low-light and they're quite happy. The range of good full spectrum eco-friendly (minus UVA/UVB) bulbs for growers has really exploded lately and I'm thankful for that!

[@danielterry5037]

I started collecting houseplants before I realized that my apartment wasn't exactly ideal. I have mostly northern exposures and then one western exposure with a HUGE TREE right outside that essentially filters the light... so I've got some grow lights. They aren't the prettiest thing, but I've hidden them under shelves, etc. Unfortunately my two larger LED ones are just mounted to the wall, but my bird of paradise is happy as a clam. Can you talk about how close plants should be for lights? It's so confusing with the wattage, LED vs fluorescent, etc, and then what would translate to "Bright, bright indirect" etc.

[@barbll000]

She did this video which is helpful kzbin.info/www/bejne/foDJeqF4i9CBe80 And here's a relatively cheap light meter. www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B005A0ETXY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[@danielterry5037]

@@barbll000 Ah, thank you! Now i"m spending my whole morning thinking about grow lights even more than I already do... I guess that's what happens when you start loving your plants!

[@luannebennett2712]

Mirrors are a great suggestion. As a bonus, they give the illusion of a larger space. I use them all over to make my rooms look bigger!

[@reijamerilainen]

Omg, that window mirror idea is ingenious! I need to try that! It really hadn't even crossed my mind that that could be an option, but for my deep corner northwest&northeast windows in the livingroom, that would be perfect!

[@brendakirk7250]

mirrors are a great solution. I have a big mirror in my bathroom that helps bounce light around from a couple east facing windows. The Soltech lights are very pretty, but pretty expensive too.

[@stevepowsinger733]

Brenda Kirk bonus, also shows if you’re getting fat.

[@mariarodov9193]

Your channel is my first go-to when I search for information about plants and all related. Thank you sooooo much for the great work

[@Jen-zk9se]

HGTV and other shows must be absolutely daft for not picking you up yet! 💛

[@Stumpybear7640]

Thanks Summer. I hadn't thought of bouncing light off the ceiling. I'm on it! Lots of love, stay well xxx

[@aprillee2217]

The condo we bought last year has a row of ceiling to floor mirrors along one wall in our living room, I would say it is about 14 feet of mirrors! Before we moved in, I tried to convince my husband to remove them. We never ended up removing them, because it would have been such a difficult job. They're about 10 feet tall, and there's 7 of them. However, a year later, I am SO thankful for these mirrors and glad we didn't get rid of them. While they're a little "80s" looking, I feel like we have worked with our space to make them look good. And the amount of light they bounce off our all-white walls is amazing. I have plants in the interior of the room that have been doing great because of this. We also have south and west facing windows in this room, so it's really quite a great space for plants. Just had to share about my experience with the power of mirrors!

[@ferrisland3504]

Alsooooo enjoy the creation around us!!! Try to garden, watch a sunset, or even go on a drive to get the wind in your face!

[@ioanasilviag]

the mirror beside the window is brilliant! i never thought of that!

[@KateTheSleepyTeacher]

I love those GE grow bulbs. They work amazingly. They brought my forgettii back from the brink of extinction.

[@stevepowsinger733]

TheSleepy Teacher they seem to be the only grow bulbs that don’t look red.

[@emlenomnoms9008]

Love the idea of the mirrors by the windows.

[@Omgiamsotriggered]

Excellent DIY cheap option for everyone! Use kitchen aluminium foil as a mirror! U can cut cardboard and tape it on it, that way u can move it and hide it when u have guests or people around. I did this on every corner on my room that I noticed gets most focused light, and putting foil makes light bounce making it way shinier.

[@462-x5n]

Excellent ideas! I don't think I've ever seen someone show the results of just using regular LED lights for plant growth...and your plants look amazing. So thank you for that. It really helps. Stay safe up there in New York! 🥰

[@justinomar9210]

Go watch cannabis growers they been doing it for years pretty much since they came out

[@p4ul1010]

Your house is my house goals and i have no doubt about it

[@morganmyatt1457]

I’m moving into a new house on Monday that has mostly northern facing windows. With over 100 plants im not sure why I thought that was a good idea. There is one room with a western facing window that I hope to make my plant room but i have so many that I know I’ll have to make some adjustments for my northern exposure as well. I will probably be adding a lot of grow lights. Thank you for this video it gave me a lot more confidence about my situation

[@ESOTERISMOYREALIDADES53]

YOU INSPIRE US--if only you could see my INTERIOR GARDEN..in an old 109 years old house..the skylight helps them grow up..thank you-ROSE..

[@brownjo1287]

You are saving my plants

[@marypolk9820]

I have a mirror reflecting a window. Works great for the room. Plants loving the light

[@marthanewsome6375]

Aquarium led full spectrum lights are great. Pop one under a shelf and then your set.

[@pamraley8311]

I'm a new succulent plant lover and already stewing about how I'm going to get them enough light in a northern winter. Your ideas about mirrors reflecting light back, and grow lights placed below a shelf are ideas I can use! Already picturing a long mirror hung on the slim side of a china closet next to a south window! Thank you.

[@FelineJungle]

Grow light is so important especially living in tiny NYC apartments!! Thanks for the tips

[@tempertramp]

I use $30 Amazon LED strip lights on all my plant shelves! They work like a charm, set them on a timer and my plants love them!

[@SureshKumar-wy5yu]

How long we need to switch the lights on for plants??

[@tempertramp]

@@SureshKumar-wy5yu I have mine on a 12hr cycle.

[@summerrayneoakes]

I too have mine on a 12-hour cycle.

[@PhyllisMoon]

Are they normal LEDs or LED grow lights? There's a big difference in the light spectrum.

[@ray-rayramirez4257]

Omg. You have a very beautiful jungle there🥰🥰 love it. Thank you for the idea of how adding more light. 👍

[@kentuckyroads6053]

Beautiful ideas, Summer! Thank you for sharing them.💕🌿

[@زهرة_الأوركيد]

More than 99 % adore your videos. It is a miracle❤❤❤🌷🌷🌷🌺🌼🌱🌻😄😄😄. Your channel is the best of the best. Stay home and stay safe. ❤

[@ja-uh9gz]

These are great suggestions. I love the mirror idea, very clever. Thank you and stay well, Summer.

[@summerrayneoakes]

Thank you! You too!

[@meredithheath5272]

You DO have a ton of plants!! Good ideas!

[@xfortunesquex]

LED lights are legit. I've got a potted basil growing under a counter light in a kitchen that is 20 feet away from the closest window, which is under a deck and gets next to no light. The basil is happy.

[@xfortunesquex]

@@andreabishop3684 Just a regular under the counter LED light. The basil is so tall that it's touching the light. The plant has lived there for about a month and it is really going! It's formerly a hydroponic from the grocery store and now it lives in a pot. The light I have is from Home Depot. It's a series of 3 bar lights about 8 inches in length that we adhered under a shelf near my sink, and it plugs into the wall and turns on with a switch on the cord. It was a weird rig to give me more light so I could see dishes to wash them, but it was a very unexpected with how the basil liked it. Hope this helps!

[@annetteprice]

@@andreabishop3684 Yep, LED are full-spectrum, so they give plants the red and blue light they need to grow. LED grow lights have red and blue spectrum boosting and optics that direct the light in specific directions, which is why they cost more. But even a regular LED light will benefit a plant some. There is a cool KZbin video showing an experiment using a CD to see the color spectra of different bulbs. It‘s called “Compact Fluorescent vs LED lights colour spectrum” by Matthias Wandel.

[@leansidhe]

what a great idea with the mirrors!

[@highbany]

Thanks Summer, at the moment here in Uk not a lot of sun which doesn’t help the lighting, Your video is great I’m about to buy my first grow light, mirror s sound such a good Idea. Your plants look beautiful, healthy and thriving. Please keep the videos coming, take care xx

[@marshal11ify]

You guys are great. I hope after all of this ascension is complete, people with adopt this lifestyle of reconnecting the nurture with nature. The possibilities are so creative and absolutely limitless. Great ideas. Thanks for sharing. I love the mirror invention. Its perfect to combo natural light. I use those remote GE lights for closets, bathrooms and staircases. There portable which is nice and they last a long time without stressing your electric bill.

[@shivasorion2014]

Actually...Ms Oakes...there are 4 Ways to Increase Light in ones home...The First Way... Subscribe to Your Channel...Thank you again for sharing.

[@summerrayneoakes]

Ahhh thank you.

[@ecocentrichomestead6783]

I have a grow room with white walls and 5000K led lights. It costs me $16/mth. In my south facing bay window, I hung a couple foil emergency blankets to reflect the sunlight on the back side of the plants.

[@cathywells5065]

Thank you so much for this! I love the mirror idea. I may pair it with a lamp on top of an armoire.

[@tarunuatutube]

This is just want I need. Thanks so much for sharing 😍😍😍😍😍😍

[@emmakates]

i’m moving into an apartment that has significantly less light than my current place, so these suggestions are great!! i’m definitely going to invest in some mirrors

[@lotosflower1786]

Thank you so much, especially for the great idea of hanging up some mirrors, I have a few left and this method helps to saves some energy costs too!

[@DrDianaRobertson]

Great video mate . Just what I was looking for.

[@emilymaness]

This was such an excellent video!!! Thank you for all the tips!

[@LayneLovesThings]

My succulents are on the bottom shelf to collect the most morning/afternoon sun they can. Plus several grow lights to combat the cloudiness they would have to deal with otherwise. I think I’ve finally made an arrangement they can be happy with.

[@summerrayneoakes]

Very good!

[@mikesbigtank6015]

This is just what i needed, mirrors sound like a great idea!

[@durritidumange]

Flat white paint will reflect more useful light for plants and will probably be cheaper than using mirrors.

[@davidcandia9184]

Thank you. Been struggling w figuring something out. 🌱🌵

[@janetbransdon3742]

Unused mirror tiles can be placed on the plant shelves as a decorative feature to bounce the light around the plants.

[@Zetabee]

I use a growlight bulb in a similar lamp, but I've also connected it to an Alexa adapter so that my Alexa device turns it on every day at the local sun rise time and turns it off at sunset. My other growlight from amazon from a friend has a timer feature built in.

[@krayslee]

glossy/polished floor tiles/marble helps as well. It really reflect a lot of the lights in the house

[@evilapple21]

getting rid of popcorn ceiling too!

[@hollyhasegawa6095]

Hi Summer, great video, and I'm liking your suggestions on bringing in more light. I am going to be painting my walls a lighter color, because now they are the light colored paneling and I am not fond of them but I have made it work for now. I do have windows from all directions which is helpful, and I have gotten grow lights, I still would like more grow lights. I do live in Idaho and I'm sure my northern exposure or East is different than other people's east or north, so we do what we have to for our plants. I really like the mirror idea. Thanks for all of the great tips on extra light for our plants. Stay safe and I will see you soon, XOXO, bye for now.

[@Elizabeth45840]

Awesome Video! Thank you so much for sharing.

[@Apoctopi]

Another plant-loving Oakes! Hello! Thank you for the ideas. Going to use this in my apartment.

[@gailbader8149]

very informative video. thank you

[@wendyacker245]

Awesome tips, thank you

[@babyplantmama2115]

Thank you summer! Great info and discount code!! I’ve been wanting a soltech solution light for so long!!

[@ashleykirby2937]

Just ordered my strip light 💡 thanks!!

[@k.j1053]

Thank you, good ideas with the mirror

[@alcurtis93]

A higher efficiency alternative to mirror is something like silver or white mylar material (although admittedly a mirror looks better ha). I'd swap the bulb in your T5 under counter fixture to an led bulb to reduce the heat.

[@summerrayneoakes]

Yes, an LED would be preferable to reduce the heat. I was a sucker for the good sale on these lights!

[@alcurtis93]

@@summerrayneoakes i don't know if you've seen them but you can actually just swap the bulb to one with LEDs inside (same dimensions connection etc). That way you can keep the fixture but swap only the bulb?

[@goldnwani3526]

Summer you are amazing

[@KalodexD]

I didn't know most of these!! Thank you!

[@jonathanpruitt7393]

This is a great video, thank you. Super practical. I never thought of the inset mirror idea but I like it. Some things I'm trying: 1) keeping the foliage free of dust, which of course blocks light ever so slightly, 2) I'd really like to install a solar tube (sun tunnel?) through my ceiling -they're much cheaper than skylights.

[@jobrand3691]

Hi Summer, I love your idea about mirrors. I wondered if you could address fire safety with mirrors in windows? I've seen conflicting information and want to make sure that I would do it in a safe way. Thank you!

[@summerrayneoakes]

Thanks Jo. I'd have to look more into it. I don't have these in my southern exposed windows, as they get enough light and would probably get too hot for most of my plants, but in the NE windows, where it's not "hot" light, I can't imagine it would ever be a problem.

[@jobrand3691]

@@summerrayneoakes Thank you! I'm interested for my SE exposure, as most of my plants have to be set back a few feet from the window.

[@jacolynsorchids1361948friends]

Thanks very interesting Love the Mirror Idea .

[@ChristianGertsen]

Thanks for the information ✌🏼

[@rachidchiouar2378]

Very interesting, What about electricity bills with all the facilities you added? Can you talk about electronic devices or any other solution to keep humidity and cool temperature for tropic plants

[@rebekka8887]

Most/all of the grow lights are LEDs, so they won't add much to your electricity bill. You can check the Watts via the links in the description they are like 9 Watts or so, an old TV will probably cost you much more a month than 10 grow bulbs :)

[@wfm5121954]

Great ideas. Thank you.

[@shiningstar1869]

Great advice! Thank you 🌱👍🌿

[@sealevelreef7174]

Thank you for the discount code just got my yesterday !

[@mariefrance4872]

Great tips in this video🌈🌱🙌 I also have a few vases filled with water around my plants. idk if it actually creates more light but makes beautiful reflections when the sunbeam into them. and also adds extra little humidity in my place ☺️

[@ThisCallumPerson]

careful, water can act like a magnifying glass. Just check there aren't really intensely bright, focused spots of light reflecting anywhere into the room, easy fix too.

[@RunaaSteinamrk]

It seems logical to me that making the room brighter / giving the plants more ambient light will give them more light so they grow better, but have you ever checked with a light measuring tool if it actually does make a difference? And does the LED strip work over long periods of time or is it just a small help to get seedlings started?

[@heathersplants5708]

I also have recently moved and where I moved to bearly has any light coming in at all. I'm currently looking into grow lights but I do need a super bright light for a few of my plants. Learning grow lights can be a headache and can also cost a arm and leg.

[@payronaaa]

Love your all videos...excellent ideas

[@checkitoutlove]

Gorgeous home

[@mikec3820]

i used my old coral life fish tank lights in combo with day light spec led house bulbs for my indoor bonsai collection. i do have a few 1000w hps and a 600w hps but they cost a ton in power to run. hoping to get a 1000-2000w led light to run in my 7x7 gorrila tent for my next over winter season. i also have a 60 bucket ebb and flow system. 20+ yrs of indoor growing i have a nice collection of grow equipment

[@Wilysfoliage]

I use the HEMMA product from ikea. It’s a pendant light socket and I attached a LED flood light bulb that Is 1,800 lumens 🌱🔌💡

[@yrenecedeno2177]

Thank you!! I am getting some of those, simply and cheap.. the result is great too.. beautiful plants!!!🙏🏼

[@Lex-rd4cj]

I really wanted to know more about the window mirror set up, like are they just leaning against the wall or have you secured them in some way, if so then how? And since the mirror seem like a perfect fit, did you make a special order for the measurements , did you cut it yourself, or were you just superlucky to find the correct size somewhere? :)

[@1989FFA]

She probably had it cut to fit there.

[@ms.5779]

Lex try buying one of those long, door mirror from discount store..about 15-20 brand new or less in goodwill, just lean up against the wall close to a window..put some plants on the floor at the base, some plants on a stool at mid-level and hanging plants at the top level.

[@summerrayneoakes]

My house is just weird all the way around with weird spaces and shapes and the like, so everything has to be quite custom. Since my windows are inset into my space, they have wall space around, and yes, mirrors have to be affixed. I used a thin piece of wood that has a groove in which the mirror sits into. And then you can secure the wood. You can try to find the perfect shaped mirror or you can find someone who does glass or mirror cutting.

[@Ricangelo]

Otherwise, you can hop into Ikea or any online store where they sell small pieces of mirrors. Stick them all over the wall and voila, u got a mirror wall. Apart from mirrors , go over to any craft store and you can those reflective mirror-like cardboards. I believe those would help a great deal with bouncing natural light around. Even better if you're renting.

[@sparkfishes]

@@summerrayneoakes glass cutting is really not difficult : get a good tungsten wheel cutter , score once with even pressure using a straight edge, use paraffin or thin oil ( like sewing machine oil) as a lubricant. Break the glass mirror using a match stick or similar pivet point and press down on each side of the score line to snap the glass mirror. Obviously, you score the glass front of the mirror. I am sure there are lots of YT videos on how to do it . The secrete is a good cutter , even pressure and a lubricant

[@rachelhmua]

Fantastic ideas.

[@jonathanlupisan]

I was just looking for new ways to bring more ways to bring more light to my plants. This video came at the perfect time. Thank you 🙏 Do you know if the GE grow lights would still be effective about 4-5 feet away from the plant?

[@summerrayneoakes]

If you're growing seeds, no. But 4-5 feet will give a modest low light for plants that are typically understory plants.

[@patsykhan9679]

Thank yu sis I will look up ge grow lights

[@cynthiathompson309]

Thank you for the information I am going to do more with my mirror

[@funnyvideosfans]

that’s so many plants!!

[@lucybloom5463]

These are fantastic ideas! ♥️

[@TracySPT]

Did she link the bulb that is in her lamp in her bedroom on top of the wardrobe? All of the GE bulb links don't look like they would fit in a lamp like that.

[@summerrayneoakes]

Yes, it's this GE Grow Bulb here: amzn.to/2S1htdx

[@jacquelined.1611]

What about up lights from the floor? To spotlight a plant?

[@eyeonvision360]

Do you tuts on how you made that 2x4 wall installment?

[@alizaerrington1003]

I love the idea of adding grow lights to lamps! My biggest question is how do you cover windows from people seeing in without blocking light?

[@LoveToday8]

You could do two sheer curtains.

[@stardoll1995]

These are really good and simple ideas that one can do! 😄

[@AIRStudio-AngelRiveros]

very cool video thanks a lot!!!

[@melodycheng2032]

Thank you for the video! It really helps. I'm so glad to hear that those under cabinet LED lighting bar is an option. Does it matter if it's 4500K or 6000K? Thanks!

[@Flav_M]

Someone correct this if not accurate: White paint works considerably better if not flat finish. Survival blankets(if you don't care about wrinkles, if you do and that's all you can get ... stretch it tight and leave in the sun a few hrs..won't fix it but it'll help) are dirt cheap and quite effective. If you've got horizontal blinds and must close them, aim them towards the ceiling(probably white right?) rather than the floor. If plants are small, consider putting them between the blinds and window, no they won't cook...It's 95-100 currently here, and I've got peanut seedlings going on my bathroom sill (on a W facing wall..yeah). *check for water more often if left in direct sunlight One last thing I'd like to add...and this one is a biggie: CAREFUL with grow lights, UV can be a real pain in the EYE. Especially if using them in the rooms you frequent/spend lots of time.

[@cibe2552]

You are very current on the genus names of plants. Can you do a video of popular houseplants whose genus (or species as well) names has been changed

[@SNOOKIENCHIP]

I just need the right light fixture for my lights but watching was great

[@sachilunia]

Can you make a video on what plants to be used for wood mount other than staghorn fern and how to take care of that .

[@summerrayneoakes]

great suggestion.

[@freemorox5896]

Great video Summer thanks. I needed some grow light tips. Just flagging up. The soltech via Amazon link just brings up incontinence plants in the UK 😀

[@MrBlondie1293]

Hi Summer, heads up that the first link needs changing as it leads to a different, more personal, type of item!

[@summerrayneoakes]

The product links in the description? I just double-checked all of them and they seem to lead to all the correct products....

[@MrBlondie1293]

@@summerrayneoakes aye, the Amazon link goes to incontinence pads when I click it for the grow lights