Anyone Use UV-B Light Supplementation?

Obviously great stuff is grown without it. Seems there are some compelling stories by some that use it so I thought I'd ask this group

i did....lol, hope that answers your question

You did, which I assume means you don't any longer?

yeah, that would be the correct assumption


it was just a increase in heat and I couldnt look into my garden during certain times because the lights were on. nothing improved

intensive said:

yeah, that would be the correct assumption


it was just a increase in heat and I couldnt look into my garden during certain times because the lights were on. nothing improved

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isnt uvb just to increase resin production? not really aid in the veg/flowing size?.....and y coulndt you look at ur grow while lights were?

UB-b is thought to increase potency, either through resin production or changing the resin's cannabinoid profile. You can't look at the UV as it will burn skin and retinas with prolonged exposure. I felt the available lab data was compelling, as were much of the anechdotal evidnce from growers. The trick is to use the correct bulb, which many don't. You want UV-b, not a or c

TJames said:

UB-b is thought to increase potency, either through resin production or changing the resin's cannabinoid profile. You can't look at the UV as it will burn skin and retinas with prolonged exposure. I felt the available lab data was compelling, as were much of the anechdotal evidnce from growers. The trick is to use the correct bulb, which many don't. You want UV-b, not a or c

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Umm I have UVB in my reptile terrarium , dont have too much trouble w heat or burning intensity...

Don't know what to tell you man. Look it up. UV is what burns you when you're in the sun... UV-b is nasty. Your UV bulb possibly isn't UV-b

I never found my certified and tested UV-b bulb throws out much heat.

uv is horrible for your eyes, so is tons of HID lighting.

the only thing that magically increased potency in my garden is dialing in the eviroment perfectly.

Appreciate the thoughts

While some concern is warrented those UVB reptile bulbs are not that dangerous. The intensity of UVB falls off dramatically as distance from the bulb increases. As long as you are not sticking your face right in there for long periods of time you dont have to worry too much. And in my experience it takes getting those bulbs almost touching the plants for them to do damage. Does it increase potency? I don't know but my last crop was the most cristal covered I have ever had but it also could have been the good genetics

If you are really interested in increasing the UVB and spectrum of usable energy for teh plant you might also want to look into the ceramic metal halide bulbs.

I have seen test where plants were grown on a mountain side at different elevations!
The plants that were at lower elevations grew bigger and yield more the plants at higher elevations yield less but the bud is more potent!
The reason for this is at higher elevations the atmosphere blocks less uvb hence making them more potent!
So there is a trade off between yield and potency!

In my opinion uvb hurts plants and they produce more resin as a sort of sunblock!
I have also tried a crop with the reptile uvb bulbs and seen no big difference in the end!
I believe the facts but don't think there has been enough experimentation documented to tell you the intensity needed or the duration to be benificial!!!
Party on peeps lol

+1 for a dialed environment for potency. 1kw's, CO2 and good rich soil make for the goods, lol. I do mix my lighting spectrum in flower, though; two Hortilux HPS and one Hortilux regular MH in the middle. Seems like the ladies under the halide are always a hair frostier.