Learn About the Importance of UV & IR For Cannabis Growth

Introduction

An essential component needed for plants to thrive is adequate lighting; this holds, regardless of where the plants are grown (indoors or outdoors). Growing plants outdoors could guarantee they'll receive a full spectrum of radiation. However, when you grow plants indoors, you may need to give extra attention to the adequacy of the radiation spectrum your plants receive. Using LED grow lights with UV and IR guarantees the best outcome in this case.

The Definition of Ultraviolet and Infrared

The complete spectrum of light received by plants from the sun consists of infrared light, Ultraviolet light, and other visible lights like blue, red, and green. Now that we know how well this radiation spectrum is crucial for plants' survival, let's take a closer look at the two most essential ones for cannabis growth.

Scientifically, light is referred to as a spectrum that consists of a short end, a center, and a long end. Ultraviolet light is predominant on the short end, and so are visible and infrared wavelengths. They are found at the center and the long ends respectively.

Infrared Light

IR is a kind of electromagnetic radiation that has a 700nm – 1nm wavelength. It is different from visible light by its longer wavelength and the greater percentage it occupies in sunlight. Generally, it is used in night vision equipment and thermal imaging and has since found relevance as essential radiations in LED grow lighting setups.

Ultraviolet Radiation

The best source of UV light for plants is daylight. While other sources of this radiation include mercury vapor, metal halide, and fluorescent. This electromagnetic radiation has a wavelength ranging from 10nm – 400nm. It has a shorter wavelength compared to visible light and occupies only a small percentage of 10% of sunlight. It generally helps with the production of vitamin D on the skin, spectrometry, and has found relevance in the science of LED grow lights.

In a nutshell, UV light and infrared light carry powerful wavelengths in themselves, which could help trigger the process of growth and development for cannabis plants. These two radiations have become a breakthrough in the science of LED growth lights today, and growers need to make informed decisions about the most suitable LED grow lights regarding radiation types.

Full-spectrum LED Grow Light

Before you purchase an LED grow light, you may probably hear the term ‘full-spectrum LED grow light.’ This is a common term to describe that the LED grow light in question has radiation very similar to that of the sun. However, as a marketing concept, the two main forms of radiation (UV and IR) are usually implied in the terminology.

If you have ever used traditional lights, one of the main issues would have been low yields after a complete plant cycle. This is because of the types of the light spectrum emitted by these types of LEDs. The LED arrays will only release light spectrums that activate after there has already been a photorespiration period. It is dangerous to only supply plants with light spectra perceived to be essential and not the entire spectrum needed to thrive.

The irony here is that these plants may end up healthy, but you may not have the desired yields compared to healthy plants grown under a full light spectrum.

Plants require two qualities from an LED grow light, intensity, and spectrum. Getting maximum yields from your plants is guaranteed when you combine these two qualities in an LED grow light, just like what MedicGrow SpectrumX provides.

UVA, UVB, and UVC

UVA and UVB are the two forms in which ultraviolet light from the sun appears. However, there is another radiation called UVC, which doesn't originate from the sun but has the same effect as the other two short radiation forms.

The highest energy portion in the UV radiation spectrum is the UVC radiation. As light comes from the sun, UVA and UVB are generally transmitted into the atmosphere; however, the more dangerous wavelength, UVC, is absorbed by the ozone layer. So, the only way UVC becomes available in our atmosphere is from artificial lamps like LED grow lights or lasers.

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Impact of Infrared Light

At this juncture, you will appreciate the science that makes LED grow lights with UV and IR effective. However, let’s explore the impact made by infrared lights for a moment.

Infrared light is at the bottom of the light spectrum, among several other light waves. However, they have longer wavelengths and may not be easily detected by the naked eye, but you can feel the heat energy they emit. When you combine the traditional red and blue light with infrared light, photosynthesis becomes faster due to the Emerson effect. This also holds for the effect seen when combining UV light and LED grow lights. This is why using LED grow lights with UV and IR is your best bet for greater yields.

We cannot undermine the science of LED grow lights or blow the extremes of these radiations out of proportion. When it comes to growing cannabis plants, the technology of UV and IR grow lights employ the best systems to ensure the delivery of radiation in the best way possible and the right amounts.

The Necessity of Using UV and IR for Growing Cannabis

Now that we have an understanding of these light spectra and radiations, let’s take a look at the importance of them both.

Importance of UV Lighting

There are two things to note before applying to get a cannabis growing license in some regions:

• Be prepared to use UV light for indoor grown plants to behave like they are growing in the wild.
• Know the importance of UV lighting in pest control for indoor grown plants.
• Be ready to create an enabling environment, as plants only respond to the adequacy found in their surroundings.

UV radiation from sunlight stimulates plants to produce chemicals that shield them from pests. The released compound makes these plants inedible to pests and helps plants to have more THC and CBD. Hence, when growers want to make plants more fragrant, they use UV lights.

Here are a couple of benefits provided by ultraviolet lights:

• Cannabis has an interesting response to the sunburn created by UVB wavelengths. Instead of burning out like other plants, it creates a sunscreen known as trichomes. The more the trichome produced, the higher the CBD, CBN, and THC levels.
• UV radiation also helps to reduce the leaf area, leaf thickness, resin and terpene production, plant height, and plant thickness.
• If your goal is to boost the number of oils and fragrant terpenes for waxes or edible tinctures, compared to high yields, then you may need to use Metal halides which produce great levels of UVB lighting.
• Exposing plants to UVA radiation could be more beneficial than UVB for plant development. UVA will give the same positive results and doesn’t come with the adverse effects of UVB.
• UVA radiation helps to promote photosynthesis.
• UVA radiation also prevents the growth of fungus and mold on plants.

Importance of IR Lighting

Infrared lights come with lots of heat, yet they are not harmful to the life cycle of cannabis plants in small amounts. When cannabis is grown in a natural environment, infrared lighting is always present. This is why we assert that this radiation, in adequate amounts, does not harm cannabis.

IR light helps cannabis to grow by promoting adequate stem growth, more fruits and flowers, and adequate node spacing. Some other benefits of IR lighting include:

• IR lighting is a much better way to produce resin.
• It offers better protection for cannabis against pests and bacteria.

In a comparison between UV light vs. infrared, one might prefer to avoid the heat generated by the latter. However, using LED grow lights with UV and IR together helps your plant to benefit from a wider range of advantages.

How To Choose UV & IR LED Grow Light for Cannabis

Selecting the best LED grow light is greatly determined by how much information you have at your disposal. There are many types of grow lights available, to begin with. How will you be able to highlight which grow lights will suit your cannabis plant and help them thrive?

There are several factors to consider when trying to choose the best grow light. Some of which include:

• Intensity
• Spectrum
• Cost
• Ease of use, etc.

The different grow lights available include High-intensity discharge lights, compact fluorescent lights, and light-emitting diodes (LEDs). These grow lights come in different light spectrums and wavelengths. It is also important to note that these grow lights may only be able to sustain growth at some points in the lifecycle of cannabis plants and may be detrimental at other stages of development.

So far, the best lights in terms of the previously highlighted qualities are the LED grow lights. We also stated earlier that there are different light spectra emitted by various kinds of LEDs. However, the most helpful ones are the LED grow lights with UV & IR radiation due to the benefits gotten from their combined effects.

If you’re looking for an LED grow light that combines the power of UV light and infrared light, then we recommend MedicGrow Spectrum X. All you need to do is set up the LED by following the guidelines provided. All your plant needs to do is soak in the goodness and thrive.

Spectrum X is undeniably one of the most advanced LED grow lights with multi-bars for indoor plants. Its high efficacy guarantees plant growth optimization and helps you cut down operational costs. It comes with knobs that help you set up the lighting schedule and regulate the brightness so your plant will never experience burnout. The design also puts the different stages of development of your plant into consideration with its detachable panels that help you decide the balancing of light spectrums.

You don’t need a professional to help you set up or install Spectrum X as it comes with balancing dampers. These dampers are mechanisms that help you adjust the fixtures to desired angles. Finally, we also designed these grow lights with the need of growers in mind. Spectrum X has met up to expectations at different hydroponic grow rooms around the world, so it is safe to use and will deliver excellent results for you.

Conclusion

The combined effect of UV and IR lights cannot be underestimated. However, having a system that delivers adequate amounts of these radiations matters to the survival of your cannabis plant. LED grow lights with UV & IR help with photosynthesis, fruit and flower development, and much more, and are undoubtedly a perfect synergy of benefits.

However, having an LED with UV light and Infrared light isn’t enough. You need a system that will help you regulate the amount of light exposure at every stage in the lifecycle of your cannabis plant. This is why we recommend MedicGrow Spectrum X.

Change the conversation of your indoor grow planting today. Upgrade with MedicGrow Spectrum X now.