UVB UVA Lighting Study Results Increases Medical Marijuana Potency 3-5%
I just completed 2 full years of testing on over 10 different strains and have reached the conclusion that the UVA UVB light spectrum will add 3-5% THC and .0-.5% bcd over all strains tested.
I have done 6 complete grows from veg through bloom each one tested with the lighting and without the lighting alternating each crop. One on and one off. Each time the crop with the lights on would jump 3-5% with the lights off it would decrease 3-5%. I have assumed an error margin of 2%
My test results seem to be right in line with what other people have experienced over the years. I could not find any recent data online so I Decided to do my own research and testing.
Some strains tested are as follows when under Lizard Lights.
Chem dawg 27%
OG-18 25%
Holy grail Kush 28%
Critical + 23%
Tohoe OG 24%
Grape Ape 23%
White Fire OG 25%
Dead Head Og 24%
Chem Valley kush- shit pheno 15%
The difference in potency is so obvious that all my patients would complain about the lack of potency on the crops that I did not use the UVA UVB lighting!
UVA UVB Light Exposure
I have found it is best to expose them to it from time they are rooted. This will give them time to acclimate to the lighting. It does not make any difference to the potency if you use the lights in bloom only. The only difference is if you do it in bloom only you will get leaf curl but it does not seem to stress the plant or hurt it in any way. I would start them off slowly and build up to the full 12hrs in bloom if you are not going to veg them under the UVA UVB lighting.
I started off my strains in low doses on a timer in 2 hr increments on and off and slowly each day increased them as I was scared to kill them initially due to some research I had done on this topic in online forums.
I soon found that it did not matter at all. You can hit them with the lighting 24hrs in veg and 12 hrs in bloom with no adverse effects except a little leaf curl at the ends if they had not been previously acclimated to it at the beginning of life stages (rooted). This is why I would recommend exposure as soon as possible.
I purchased the new 4 ft Zoo MedReptiSun 10.0 UVB/UVA Bulbs
These bulbs were chosen because they reach the deepest and furthest away.
With these 10.0 bulbs penetration is 18-24 inches from the light.
The older 8.0 or 9.0 bulbs were 12 inches or less which did not give much room for plant location in my 8x15 room.
UVA UVB Light Test Results
I had every batch of plants tested by Cannalytics for accuracy. I have also found that where you take your sample on the plant also plays a role in test results. The THC % plants can vary anywhere from 3-6% difference based on where sample was taken top, side or bottom of plant.
I am no scientist so I can't say 100% that it does not alter the plants genetics but based on my knowledge of genetics and my own research I do not believe the genetics have been altered at all. What has happened is just a natural stress response by the plant to protect itself from the ultraviolet rays.
To prove this even more is the fact that each strain dropped back 3-5% when it was not under the UVA/UVB lights. Even when I had them under the UVA/UVB lights in veg but not under the lights in bloom they did not increase in potency enough that I could measure a change.
Further UVA UVB Questions To Answer
Some further questions I would like to get an answer to is if the light is positioned on one side of the plant instead directly over top of the plant does the whole plant respond to the uva uvb stress the same throughout or does it only increase potency on the side the light is on? I will need to take two samples off one plant and have them analyzed.
I was able to get the double 4ft fluorescent light fixtures for $50 each that had a 15ft electrical chord plug attached. I found the ReptiSun 10.0 4ft bulbs for $18.95 each plus a few bucks shipping. I will find who it was and post it when I do. My total cost for 6 fixtures and 6 bulbs was around $400.
I have used them for 2 years on and off so pay off has been good. In my opinion it is well worth it to run the UVB UVA bulbs. It will set your product apart from every one elses in your area. Think about it to be a beginning grower and have strains testing out at 27-28% and seeds were gathered from online seed banks is pretty darn good!
I hope this helps someone, happy growing
Dutchman Enterprises
UVA UVB MEDICAL MARIJUANA LIGHTING LIZARD LIGHTS THC POTENCY INCREASE
