How does UVB help plant growth? How to use it?

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I know I get a lot of questions about the benefits of UVB to your plants.Some growers say that it's the reason they have killer crops, and others say it is completely uncessary for healthy plant growth.The truth is in the middle.

Let's talk about the spectrum first.This is a big topic when discussing grow lights, so let's keep it short.The spectrum refers to all types of radiation, from visible light to x-rays.The groups are usually defined by their wavelength.

The range of visible light for grow lights is 400 to 700 nm.There are different colors within this range.You've probably seen charts like this before.

It shows that the light is concentrated in the range of 450 - 475 NM, which corresponds to blue and red light.There are many grow lights with spectrums like this.What do you get when you mix blue and red?It was purple.Now you know, your LEDs shine a bright purple.

Light is produced across the entire visible spectrum by the sun.White light is a mixture of different colors.Plants don't need all of the light to grow.The simplest way to think about it is that plants use blue and red light for growth and flowering.Designers of grow light have designed their lights to only provide light that the plants use.The waste is eliminated and the lights are more efficient.

Plants are complex.They grow well with just red and blue light, but different light can affect their growth.UV light is provided by the sun, along with visible light.You've probably heard of it before.

The vast majority of grow lights on the market today do not provide anything in this range, and we are worried about the UV.Since it's not visible, it isn't part of the light that qualifies as PAR.You won't see it on grow light spectrum charts.

The UV can be broken down into two categories: UVA and UVB.We usually talk about UVB, since it has an effect on plants.

It's important to remember that UVB isn't going to make your plants grow larger or more quickly.It makes your plants more potent.How much more?This depends on the strain, but at least 5% is fairly common, and closer to 20% is not uncommon.

How does it work?Plants can be harmed by UVB just as humans can.Mother Nature has an answer, even though we can't give our plants sunglasses or sun block.When your plants are exposed to UVB, they produce their own sunscreen in the form of trichomes.The more cannabinoids, the better.Plants grown at a high elevation are so potent because of this.The higher up you go, the more UVB there is.

If we wanted to increase the UVB exposure of our plants, all we could do was head for the hills.We would need to grow higher.

You can use a supplementary bulb like the T8 ReptiSun if you already have anLED grow light setup.You can get something similar for a reasonable price at most pet stores.

The Amare SolarEclipse 450 and the California Lightworks SolarStorm 880 are both lights that can provide UVB.Special UVB bulbs are built into the fixture.It's nice to have an all-in-one light like this, it makes your setup a bit easier to manage.

During flowering, you only need UVB.Some growers run it through the whole flowering phase while others just use it for the last few weeks to get the results they want.You will probably need to experiment here, as it really depends on your environment.

Over-exposure is one thing you need to watch out for.If you're not careful, UVB can burn your plants.It's not necessary to be on all the time.Your best bet is to start off with a short period of exposure daily and gradually work your way up to 4-5 hours a day around your peak daylight hours.If you're on a 12-12 cycle, the UVB should be on between hours 4-7.

I hope you've learned about what UVB is, why you should supplement your plants with it, and how you can get the job done!