How much UVB to give.

jimihendrix1

Well-Known Member
If it was shorter than normal,, its probably because the 10k bulb has so much Blue in it. Blue will keep it much more compact, and leafy.

I start both seedlings, and veg with 1000w Hortilux HPS. Only thing that gets less light is a clone. I use the side lighting of 1000w Hortilux for clones. Keep them at least 6ft away. I use UVA/B from Seedling-flowering. Not just the end. Outside they get it from seedling- harvest.

sativas down in coilumbia, Equador, Peru all get huge amounts of both UVA/B, and also add in High Altitude of the Andes. 2nd talles mountains in the world.
One also has to take into consideration the Origin of the plants that are grown. Are they more narrow leaf, or wide leaf dominant?? Hybrid?? Which parent do they take after. Indica/Indica dominant plants cannot take the UVA/B that a narrow leaf sativa has evolved into along the equator.

Not all strains will have the same response.


High levels of UVA/B would more closely simulate strains originating from Africa, Columbia, Equador, Peru, Brazil and regions 20 degrees North, or South of the Equator.
Only one place in USA that has UVA/B levels that can give huge amounts of UVA/B vs the equator is Hawaii
 

Topshelfruns

Well-Known Member
Not all strains will have the same response.
High levels of UVA/B would more closely simulate strains originating from Africa, Columbia, Equador, Peru, Brazil and regions 20 degrees North, or South of the Equator.
Only one place in USA that has UVA/B levels that can give huge amounts of UVA/B vs the equator is Hawaii
I greatly appreciate the information :) quick question in my area if I ever buy sativa it's always low quality vs indica's or hybrid's do you think this might be because the sativas are not getting high enough uv levels?
 

detgreenthumb

Well-Known Member
I vegged this plant under a 400w solis tek 10k metal halide last year and I cant help but think that the amount of UV the bulb produced was damaging my plants somehow :( and honestly If I can avoid using UVC i will! My next grow i will be using the agromax pure uv t5 ho bulb and run it 12 hours a day! I will report back my findings.
I grow using hydroton pebbles and rockwool grow cubes.
View attachment 4759504
UV forces the plant to create its natural defenses (trichomes) against the damage they cause. The UV should be introduced towards the back end of veg through flower with C being the most rarely used of all (can cause serious skin damage to humans). But UV-C also sterilizes areas from mold and PM
 

Topshelfruns

Well-Known Member
UV forces the plant to create its natural defenses (trichomes) against the damage they cause. The UV should be introduced towards the back end of veg through flower with C being the most rarely used of all (can cause serious skin damage to humans). But UV-C also sterilizes areas from mold and PM
When I spoke with solis tek on the phone years ago they told me the 10k produces UVA's uvb and uvc and they told me that 30% of the total spectral energy emitted is within the uv spectra do you think this bulb produces 280nm UVB?
 

detgreenthumb

Well-Known Member
When I spoke with solis tek on the phone years ago they told me the 10k produces UVA's uvb and uvc and they told me that 30% of the total spectral energy emitted is within the uv spectra do you think this bulb produces 280nm UVB?
I'd have to Josh to get those specs. I highly doubt they're pumping UV-C out of those though
 

jimihendrix1

Well-Known Member
I greatly appreciate the information :) quick question in my area if I ever buy sativa it's always low quality vs indica's or hybrid's do you think this might be because the sativas are not getting high enough uv levels?
One of the Big Reasons, and also most of them like Pure Haze will only finish in a Greenhouse, which many filters out UVA/B, but if they do9nt do smoething to protect them, the magnification will burn them alive, so many times they have to filter the light/UV so whatever material they use doesnt magnify, or create hot spots.
 

Cabrone

Well-Known Member
280nm is the line of UVB/C. Sola Cure is strongest at 285nm-305nm, which 285 is the wave length the protein responds to the strongest.

Some manufacturers claim 290nm, which is incorrect according to NOAA
After giving @jimihendrix1 a little shit and prodding him for more info, he convinced me on the solacure bulbs. My 4-4ft's showed up yesterday. Thanks @jimihendrix1. I will set them up on the next run and report on results
 

jimihendrix1

Well-Known Member
Main reason I use the SC is because they go to 280nm. The sun produces 280nm, and the plants have a gene at 285nm. So I dont get the controversy really. Its either 285nm, or it aint. 290nm, aint 285nm. Just like 2, isnt 3.
Im a Black, and White type of person. Something either IS, or ISNT in accordance with the 285nm Protein Photo Receptor.

Im also not so inflexible, or stubborn if someone can make a valid, logical argument about something, that I cant, or wont change my mind. Only a fool cant change their beliefs, if someone proves otherwise. NO ALTERNATIVE FACTS.

But Ive got no dog in the fight. Solacure goes to 280nm, no other bulb does. If there was another bulb that went to 280nm, have a built in reflector, Id try it too.
 

iShatterBladderz

Well-Known Member
I greatly appreciate the information :) quick question in my area if I ever buy sativa it's always low quality vs indica's or hybrid's do you think this might be because the sativas are not getting high enough uv levels?
I can only speak based on my experiences, but a lot of the sativas local to me suck just because growers dont want to flower them for as long as they need to be flowered for. There's a commercial grower not too far from me that grows a lot of lemon haze, and he claims it is ready to be harvested at 8-9 weeks. a good friend of mine has the same exact cut of lemon haze, and he flowers it 12ish weeks, and gets considerably better results. when its flowered out like it is supposed to be, its almost a psychadelic buzz compared to the slight head change from the product harvested early.
 

jimihendrix1

Well-Known Member
I can only speak based on my experiences, but a lot of the sativas local to me suck just because growers dont want to flower them for as long as they need to be flowered for. There's a commercial grower not too far from me that grows a lot of lemon haze, and he claims it is ready to be harvested at 8-9 weeks. a good friend of mine has the same exact cut of lemon haze, and he flowers it 12ish weeks, and gets considerably better results. when its flowered out like it is supposed to be, its almost a psychadelic buzz compared to the slight head change from the product harvested early.

And many Sativas will go longer than that.

Weve got a cut of Willie Nelson from 2006, and it will go 100+ days. Pure Haze can go 6 months, though its said the range of 130-150 days is what to look for. Willie Nelson is 100% Sativa. Vietnam Black x Highland Nepali. First time I grew this stuff, I vegged it 24/7 with 1000w Hortilux in 5 gallons soil for 30 days, trained if from early on by bending it over like a vine, and the sucker ended up 6 feet long, and the most I ever got out of a 5 gallon buck. 16oz out of 5g of Promix BX. This plant stretches like none other. It grows for 85 days after flip. All the while producing really nice Grey looking spear buds. Some of my friends favorite stuff. Best plant Ive seen for using the least amount of soil. Would get huge outside, but not finish until mid - late November.
Sativas are also grown mostly at 12/12 along the equator, though I veg most everything on 24/7, unless trying to match time outside in the spring. 14 hours is best, but for hardcore sativas, a greenhouse is best, unless in south Florida, or Hawaii. You can do 24/7, and slowly over a couple/few weeks cut them back to 14 hours for normal hybrids/Indicas.

People have a hard time letting long flowering strains go the distance. And they also need really strong light/umol.
 

iShatterBladderz

Well-Known Member
And many Sativas will go longer than that.

Weve got a cut of Willie Nelson from 2006, and it will go 100+ days. Pure Haze can go 6 months, though its said the range of 130-150 days is what to look for. Willie Nelson is 100% Sativa. Vietnam Black x Highland Nepali. First time I grew this stuff, I vegged it 24/7 with 1000w Hortilux in 5 gallons soil for 30 days, trained if from early on by bending it over like a vine, and the sucker ended up 6 feet long, and the most I ever got out of a 5 gallon buck. 16oz out of 5g of Promix BX. This plant stretches like none other. It grows for 85 days after flip. All the while producing really nice Grey looking spear buds. Some of my friends favorite stuff. Best plant Ive seen for using the least amount of soil. Would get huge outside, but not finish until mid - late November.
Sativas are also grown mostly at 12/12 along the equator, though I veg most everything on 24/7, unless trying to match time outside in the spring. 14 hours is best, but for hardcore sativas, a greenhouse is best, unless in south Florida, or Hawaii. You can do 24/7, and slowly over a couple/few weeks cut them back to 14 hours for normal hybrids/Indicas.

People have a hard time letting long flowering strains go the distance. And they also need really strong light/umol.
Yeah, impatience is a bitch, especially when it comes to growing "Connoisseur Quality" cannabis. What I see a lot of where I live, in a fairly young cannabis market, is growers going straight from drying to the shelves. Lots of beautiful looking cannabis floating around that tastes like hay. Don't get me wrong, we've also got plenty of amazing growers out here too, but because of our low cost-to-entry and no limit on licenses, anybody with a savings account can become a commercial grower.
 

xtsho

Well-Known Member
I greatly appreciate the information :) quick question in my area if I ever buy sativa it's always low quality vs indica's or hybrid's do you think this might be because the sativas are not getting high enough uv levels?
Define "low quality" if you mean lower THC content or not couch lock then that is normal for many sativa's which is why many people prefer them. Quality is not just about THC content. And chances are that any true sativa being sold is harvested too early.

And many Sativas will go longer than that.

Weve got a cut of Willie Nelson from 2006, and it will go 100+ days. Pure Haze can go 6 months, though its said the range of 130-150 days is what to look for. Willie Nelson is 100% Sativa. Vietnam Black x Highland Nepali. First time I grew this stuff, I vegged it 24/7 with 1000w Hortilux in 5 gallons soil for 30 days, trained if from early on by bending it over like a vine, and the sucker ended up 6 feet long, and the most I ever got out of a 5 gallon buck. 16oz out of 5g of Promix BX. This plant stretches like none other. It grows for 85 days after flip. All the while producing really nice Grey looking spear buds. Some of my friends favorite stuff. Best plant Ive seen for using the least amount of soil. Would get huge outside, but not finish until mid - late November.
Sativas are also grown mostly at 12/12 along the equator, though I veg most everything on 24/7, unless trying to match time outside in the spring. 14 hours is best, but for hardcore sativas, a greenhouse is best, unless in south Florida, or Hawaii. You can do 24/7, and slowly over a couple/few weeks cut them back to 14 hours for normal hybrids/Indicas.

People have a hard time letting long flowering strains go the distance. And they also need really strong light/umol.
It can be challenging growing some sativa's. I had an OTH go 20 weeks and it could have gone longer. I was glad to chop it down but then I was sad because I had been growing it for so long it had become like family. I still miss it. :bigjoint:

That Willie Nelson sounds nice. I have some ACE Orient express that is a cross of Vietnam Black and China Yunnan. When I get around to growing them I'm hoping to find a Vietnamese dominant pheno to work with.
 

Bookush34

Well-Known Member
Well after my SolarCure bulbs went missing in the mail two weeks ago I think I have finally tracked them down. They got handed over to another shipping company to do the rural delivery. Guess what. No one delivers to me. Hahaha.
I’ll make the treck later today.
 

Rurumo

Well-Known Member
It can be challenging growing some sativa's. I had an OTH go 20 weeks and it could have gone longer. I was glad to chop it down but then I was sad because I had been growing it for so long it had become like family. I still miss it. :bigjoint:

That Willie Nelson sounds nice. I have some ACE Orient express that is a cross of Vietnam Black and China Yunnan. When I get around to growing them I'm hoping to find a Vietnamese dominant pheno to work with.
[/QUOTE]

I just ordered some Zamaldelica x Kali China, but I was so close to going with the Orient express, I want to try that Vietnam Black too.
 

xtsho

Well-Known Member
Well after my SolarCure bulbs went missing in the mail two weeks ago I think I have finally tracked them down. They got handed over to another shipping company to do the rural delivery. Guess what. No one delivers to me. Hahaha.
I’ll make the treck later today.
Well that's unfortunate.
 

iShatterBladderz

Well-Known Member
@jimihendrix1 If I were to start incorporating UVB into my grow, what would be the best configuration in a 4x4 tent? I'm using an HLG-550 that is usually 20-24" from canopy, centered in the tent, I'm just not quite sure how I would go about hanging the UVB fixture/fixtures in order to get fairly equal coverage at the right distance and power setting.
 

$crill@man

Active Member
I’ve ran Arcadia bulbs, And hlgs uva attachment. The HLG I felt did nothing. I trust and it’s not just me, but we feel the the addiction of solacure lights was worth it. I hang them around 2 feet above canopy. Increasing time as we go. Plus the owner from solar cure is pretty good guy.
 

TommyDumper

Member
Using UV lamps as augmentation

This is the simplest way to use UV lights and creates the least amount of risk. Using one lamp for every 4 to 8 plants and running them for 2 to 3 hours per day, after a break in period to get the plants used to the new source of stress. This is to just simulate what they would normally get if they were grown in northern latitudes. UV effects are cumulative, so running higher power for shorter periods like this is very similar to having lower UV all day long.

Using UV lamps as plant stressing lights

This is trickier, but offers the greatest return. The goal is to push the limit of how much the plant can handle, up to the point before noticeable damage. This forces the plant into maximum protection mode and is done the last month of fruiting. Instead of producing larger fruit, it focuses on protecting the fruits already on the plant by producing much more resinous material (flavonoids or cannabinoids, depending on plant). What you end up with is denser but slightly smaller fruit that is considerably more potent. Some lab tests have indicated as much as 35% higher THC level in cannabis, although 20-25% is more realistic until the technique is mastered over a few seasons.

When it comes to cannabis, there is no single guide on how to do this, and never will be. This is because cannabis sativa and cannabis indica are two very different strains with different tolerances, and most plants are hybrids. Sativa plants grow in areas that traditionally get more UV (and tend to naturally have more THC) whereas indica plants have been grown traditionally at higher latitudes and are higher in CBD than sativas. It short, it requires a hands on approach and careful monitoring for every hybrid. This is also true of non-cannabis plants, which are just as varied, just as much hybrids. If you are growing tomatoes in a greenhouse, this same principle would apply to you: You can't compare a Beefstake with a Roma when it comes to UV tolerance, you have to dial it in manually.

We use ours 6-8 hours a day from Seedlings -Flowering. We keep it off of rooting clones.
Can you simply add a couple of UVB Bulbs to sockets, bulbs like this to a grow room with 12 plants?
Does the lights spread pretty well or is placement critical?
 
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