Playing catch up here for an epic and long thread but I believe I have a lot of useful info on the UV/UVB thing so thought I'd add a little vs. just lurking / learning.... I have only caught up thru post # 1050 / Feb 28, 2015 so excuse me if this has been “worked out”… Thanks to all for willingness to share, it’s refreshing in so many ways….That's a bold claim to make, my friend. I have no doubt you grow and breed excellent bud, but proving your UV setup contributes to the excellence is another question entirely IMO. For starters, how much UVA and UVB actually makes it to your canopy?
Sorry, being trained as a scientist, and now a journalist, skepticism is in my nature. I believe the process of challenging claims and generally poking at "common knowledge" brings progress, so I hope you are willing to oblige
For most growers, it doesn't really matter if it's true or not because we know UV is not necessary for great bud. The most commonly used light sources for growing don't have any UV, but the product still knocks your socks off. But, again, for weed that is the best of the best - or indeed trippy - there might be different requirements. In any case, we need to consider that response to UV is strain dependent.
I find it amusing some people in here spouting the world of difference their UVB lights make when their lights have ZERO UVB in them and they are so certain UVB is why something is working, in actuality it’s just that they have a healthy blend of blues and deep blues.
Playing catch up here for an epic and long thread but I believe I have a lot of useful info on the UV/UVB thing so thought I'd add a little vs. just lurking / learning....
Go check out these bulbs, check out the graph and if you trust anything I say or the meter I have, they will hammer a UV index of around 15 (higher than almost any tropical environment) 2-3’ from the bulb and around 10 from 3-4’ from the bulbs. Check out the specs and mid-range UVB 306nm http://www.ushio.com/products/uv/lowpressureblacklight.php
I’m not sure what studies Sam did, but I think they were in a GH and naturally not the best control, I respect Sam a ton FTR for what he’s done as others to pave the way. I also know from personal experience and countless studies out there that UVB helps reptiles and my personal vitamin D levels and to think this entire spectrum of light doesn’t affect plants; would be simply silly & irresponsible to say the least. Why do we need to harden off spring plants? if UVB can even prevent this need it’s value is there but knowing what UVB does for other things and its many unique, amazing properties, I find it near impossible it doesn’t affect Cannabis, all plants for that matter in both positive and probably negative ways. I spent a lot of time testing and finding the right tech but get them lights, give them a go and wear your UVB glasses and clothes BC you will get burned but trust me, people stand within a foot of these for medical procedures every day 1000’s of times over, they are safe, relatively speaking.
Elmer Bud,
Your anology between sound and electromagnetic waves is not correct, because, unlike sound waves, EM waves don't lose energy with distance - they simply distribute the energy in more volume if the light is unfocused, but as you know focused light (laser) will travel indefinitely without losing energy. No matter of what frequency it is.
A point source emitting any wave with a spherical front (sound or EM) will have the energy density on the front decreasing proportionally to the cube of the distance from the source as the surface of the spherical front increases so. This is basic physics and geometry.
Sound waves, as mechanical waves that need a medium to propagate, weaken additionally, as you pointed out, because of the friction between the particles of the media. But EM waves in the visible and UV range interact very weakly with air.
So, UV light doesn't lose energy with distance faster than visible light. They both weaken proportionally to the cube of the distance to the source.
As for the whole topic of UV light and cannabinoids,
It is a known fact that cannabinoids and their acids absorb UV light in the range 200-250nm (acids - up to 300nm) very well (https://www.researchgate.net/publication/244594773_Chromatographic_and_Spectroscopic_Data_of_Cannabinoids_from_Cannabis_sativa_L). This means that UV light "heats" the cannabinoids accelerating their reactions resulting in quicker maturation and degradation. It might also accelerate the production of cannabinoids (if it also heats the precursors, which I don't know if someone has measured). From the link I posted above, we can see that different cannabinoids have a somewhat different UV specter, so some cannabinoids will absorb more UV light, maturing faster than others in the presence of UV.
So, UV light affects at least slightly the ratio of cannabinoids and at what stage of maturation/degradation each of them is, compared to no UV lighting.
Elmer Bud,
Your anology between sound and electromagnetic waves is not correct, because, unlike sound waves, EM waves don't lose energy with distance - they simply distribute the energy in more volume if the light is unfocused, but as you know focused light (laser) will travel indefinitely without losing energy. No matter of what frequency it is.
A point source emitting any wave with a spherical front (sound or EM) will have the energy density on the front decreasing proportionally to the cube of the distance from the source as the surface of the spherical front increases so. This is basic physics and geometry.
Sound waves, as mechanical waves that need a medium to propagate, weaken additionally, as you pointed out, because of the friction between the particles of the media. But EM waves in the visible and UV range interact very weakly with air.
So, UV light doesn't lose energy with distance faster than visible light. They both weaken proportionally to the cube of the distance to the source.
As for the whole topic of UV light and cannabinoids,
It is a known fact that cannabinoids and their acids absorb UV light in the range 200-250nm (acids - up to 300nm) very well (https://www.researchgate.net/publication/244594773_Chromatographic_and_Spectroscopic_Data_of_Cannabinoids_from_Cannabis_sativa_L). This means that UV light "heats" the cannabinoids accelerating their reactions resulting in quicker maturation and degradation. It might also accelerate the production of cannabinoids (if it also heats the precursors, which I don't know if someone has measured). From the link I posted above, we can see that different cannabinoids have a somewhat different UV specter, so some cannabinoids will absorb more UV light, maturing faster than others in the presence of UV.
So, UV light affects at least slightly the ratio of cannabinoids and at what stage of maturation/degradation each of them is, compared to no UV lighting.
G`day Yoss
K That was my hypothesis based on my basic knowledge of wave theory .
And my knowledge some UV spectrum is absorbed by oxygen ??
Sam SK anecdotes from his experiments with UV . Said sun burnt plants . No improvement in resin or effect .
Thanks for sharin
EB .
I live on a continent with extreme UV .
I don`t notice major differences in the indoor grown compared to out door ??