Supplemental UV for LED grows

[Serapium]

Anyone ever experimented with adding a UV source to an LED grow? I'm curious whether the best way to experiment with this would be a traditional fluorescent black light or something like this: Black Light, OPPSK 27W 9LED UV Bar Glow in the Dark Party Supplies for Blacklight Party Birthday Wedding Stage Lighting https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01HCSEFEY..._DuF9BbC5EVA12

[Serapium]

Or... (more wattage)... Onforu 2 Pack 30W UV LED Black Light Flood Light with Plug(5ft Cable), IP66 Waterproof, for Blacklight Party, Stage Lighting, Aquarium, Body Paint, Fluorescent Poster, Neon Glow, Glow in The Dark https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GGV5B7R..._6zF9BbPMPDF64

[Canuck147]

Most lights these days have a few infrared bulbs already in place, just can't see em.

[Serapium]

Infrared is the opposite end of the spectrum from UV. I have seen a few LED lights with some UV output but not very many.

[Rwise]

I have been digging into lighting for UVA and UVB, the tubes do not last long, about 2 grows (short time cycles (on) kill them faster than long on cycles). I am sure the LEDs fade also, but many have 5 year warranties, maybe they will last longer. UV spreads out very fast, so the lights need to be close, but to close they burn the plant (UVB), to far they are not effective. (or so I have read)
I think at this point I do want to try some UVA/UVB to increase the THC, and would do this with 2 plants, 1 with and 1 without the UV rays.

[oldjarhead100]

I used some uv t5 bulbs in bloom and I left them on .now I have tons of seeds lol the best solution I found was led bars that come with uv in them https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1, I have 6 in bloom room but 2 are off they seem to work great
If you go with a t5 type light make sure it comes on for 5 minutes two or 3 times a day thats all thats needed anymore and it causes stress

[Serapium]

Seeds? Did one of your plants go hermaphrodite or did you miss a male? If hermie, do you attribute that to the UV light or did you have other stress factors as well?

[oldjarhead100]

Serapium Yes I left the uv lights on 12/12 with my hps everything in bloom room hermied , I tell all my FUs to all so maybe they wont find out for themselves lol

[Toker1]

Those UV bulbs are not designed for 12 hours of continuous use. You do short incremental blasts. 15 min on and 2 hours off during the lights on cycle.

[Potted]

I’m using two 50 watt Ava-Avb reptile lights for the last two weeks of flower,on for 15 min. off fur two hours, I just want to give them a sunburn to produce more resins to protect itself with. It seemed to work too,but at the expense of som last min.growning spurts during the flush.

[Potted]

I wish I had started earlier too, hope it works out well

[Farmall]

I used 2 bulbs from Solacure... used them about 2 weeks into flower till the end for about 2 hours total each day.... results look extremely promising.... harvested and curing now

Due to its DNA changing potential, they recommend you NOT being in the room when the light is on

[oldjarhead100]

Farmall not that I doubt it but where did you get that info about changing dna sounds interesting,

[starramus]

Anyone ever experimented with adding a UV source to an LED grow? I'm curious whether the best way to experiment with this would be a traditional fluorescent black light or something like this: Black Light, OPPSK 27W 9LED UV Bar Glow in the Dark Party Supplies for Blacklight Party Birthday Wedding Stage Lighting https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01HCSEFEY..._DuF9BbC5EVA12

It is UV B you are needing. This light will not provide that. I have one of the above black lights, but it is just for illuminating my Lizard King black light poster. Has a neat little remote to turn it off and on, and also has a strobe function, automatic, function, and sound triggered function. Unbelievably economically priced due to the underpaid Chinese proletariat. Get one for your posters, but not your plants.

[starramus]

You mean 1969 you lucky dog. I never got to see Jimbo ALIVE. That concert was the BIG one. He was talking about REVOLUTION! https://youtu.be/Srx-SBb5dqc

[starramus]

My memory fails me as well... I thought I was doing push ups for america in 1969, but i delayed that until 1970. i would rather have been going to concerts.

[Farmall]

My very first concert too.... I was 14. Once Jim Morrison got started the cops shut it down and we all had to leave. I thought to myself....sounds nothing like the record !

[Rwise]

I picked up a (reptisun) 10.0% UVB, 13 actual watts, claims to be good to 9",,, is this bulb going to be to hot? Also how close to or far from the girls should it be?

[Toker1]

Contact the manufacturer for specifications. I am using a 2ft T5Ho UV bulb by agro max. They suggest 10-12” from the canopy.

[LurkingInTheGrass]

Toker1 is experimenting under 400w HID, here is the thread

[D.A.A.S.69]

Serapium Man of man, you got some plants growing for sure,
I only grow a couple of plants at a time, 3-4,but I usually grow 2 of the same kind, most of the time, and you are right the Phillips lamps are the best ,imo.
But having grown the same plants a few times with just the Phillips lamp,which does great, I can easily see the difference in the stickyness, resin with the 10k finishing lamp, even with my old eyes.lol,
They are kinda expensive though, but you don't have to run them long either.Which helps.
Your SolarStorm, should be a great light, to,good luck with it.
HappyGrowing

[Serapium]

Update... I purchased an evaluation unit for my grow from California Lightworks, a Solar Storm 1100. It came with two UVB fixtures that hang off the side of the 1100. Oddly enough there was no documentation at all either in the manuals or on their site (that I could find) that lists amount of time and when they should be used. If I'm reading things correctly here and other places it sounds like I should leave them off until last few weeks of flower, and then only for very short bursts on a timer every couple of hours. That sound right?

[D.A.A.S.69]

I don't know if this will help you are not, but I use a 10k finishing lamp with uvb,in it,from GrowersChoice,in my 315cmh, for the last
week or two, growing autos, and I keep it on 24-7, my plants seem to like it just fine, doing it that way. GoodLuck
HappyGrowing
Serapium

[Serapium]

D.A.A.S.69 thanks. I had looked at those finishing lamps and intended to run a couple once I get to that stage. I'll have about 14 CMH going total from three different brands, all running alongside some LED's from various manufacturers and a few HID as control groups for comparison. What is your overall impression of the effect of the finishing lamp compared to the standard Phillips CMH lamp? Have you finished with both and been able to do a comparison between the results?

[D.A.A.S.69]

Sorry bro, i put it in the wrong place, it's above.