Was doing a little reading and wonder if any one that uses mh/hps lights have tried switching out to mh the last couple weeks.
Reading trichs are a defense for plants from UV-B rays is the reason I ask, and I'm thinking of doing this. This is what I read on gwe...perhaps DrPhoton could elaborate on this article.
UV-B/Sun/Metal Halide exposure
Some growers (including some famous ones like Ed Rosenthal) believe that exposing cannabis buds to UV-B light for the last 2-3 weeks before harvest can increase trichome production and overall potency. Although not yet proven, this may be partly because trichomes are theorized to help protect the plant from UV-B rays.
UV-B is the name for a "color" of light in the lower blue/violet spectrum that humans can't see. It is produced by the sun and causes damage to plants and humans.
In fact, nearly all organisms on earth have defenses to protect themselves from UV-B rays. Humans get sun-burned if exposed to too much UV-B and can even get cancer in extreme cases, so our skin protects us by becoming darker in response to sunlight. Instead of a tan, plants produce trichomes which can help protect against UV-B rays (though trichomes also have many other uses such as producing cannabinoids and terpenes/essential oils/smells).
Metal halide grow lights produce UV-B light just like the sun! Although MH lights are generally only used in the vegetative stage like for these plants below, it may be helpful to expose buds to UV-B light for the last 2 weeks before harvest to increase trichome production.
Learn more about how light spectrum affects your plants
The most common source of UV-B light for growers (besides the sun of course) are Metal Halide grow lights. UVB light is also produced by incandescent bulbs but they aren't really bright enough to be used for this purpose.
Just remember that glass blocks UV-B rays, so if you're using a metal halide bulb in an enclosed hood, it's important to remove the glass (and find another way to cool the light) so UV-B rays actually reach your plant's buds. Another option for UV-B light is reptile lamps, though not a lot of growers have those hanging around the house, and they're not as powerful as a Metal Halide lamp
Reading trichs are a defense for plants from UV-B rays is the reason I ask, and I'm thinking of doing this. This is what I read on gwe...perhaps DrPhoton could elaborate on this article.
UV-B/Sun/Metal Halide exposure
Some growers (including some famous ones like Ed Rosenthal) believe that exposing cannabis buds to UV-B light for the last 2-3 weeks before harvest can increase trichome production and overall potency. Although not yet proven, this may be partly because trichomes are theorized to help protect the plant from UV-B rays.
UV-B is the name for a "color" of light in the lower blue/violet spectrum that humans can't see. It is produced by the sun and causes damage to plants and humans.
In fact, nearly all organisms on earth have defenses to protect themselves from UV-B rays. Humans get sun-burned if exposed to too much UV-B and can even get cancer in extreme cases, so our skin protects us by becoming darker in response to sunlight. Instead of a tan, plants produce trichomes which can help protect against UV-B rays (though trichomes also have many other uses such as producing cannabinoids and terpenes/essential oils/smells).
Metal halide grow lights produce UV-B light just like the sun! Although MH lights are generally only used in the vegetative stage like for these plants below, it may be helpful to expose buds to UV-B light for the last 2 weeks before harvest to increase trichome production.
Learn more about how light spectrum affects your plants
The most common source of UV-B light for growers (besides the sun of course) are Metal Halide grow lights. UVB light is also produced by incandescent bulbs but they aren't really bright enough to be used for this purpose.
Just remember that glass blocks UV-B rays, so if you're using a metal halide bulb in an enclosed hood, it's important to remove the glass (and find another way to cool the light) so UV-B rays actually reach your plant's buds. Another option for UV-B light is reptile lamps, though not a lot of growers have those hanging around the house, and they're not as powerful as a Metal Halide lamp
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