Does a shortened UVA UVB exposure schedule result in the same 5% THC increase?
The question is:
Is it possible to increase the potency of cannabis 5% or more by shortening the amount of time the marijuana plants are exposed?
After extensive testing trial and error we have found it is neither myth nor magic but rather a natural reproductive response. There is no need to expose the plants through vegetative stage or even all the way through bloom.
Instead we only subjected the medical marijuana plants during the last 2 weeks at 12 hours continuous UVA UVB light exposure.
Over the same 7 different strains all increased at least 5% over what they had tested without the UVA UVB lighting and the same as when we had exposed them for 12 hours under the ultraviolet lighting.
We had all 7 strains tested at the same place as before. I chose very nice, large top flowers closest to our lights. We then dried them for 2 weeks at 80 degrees 45% humidity hanging on stems. After that we cured the medical marijuana in a jar for one more week.
Preparation for testing after being subjected to the UVA UVB lighting and then drying and curing is to trim or manicure it as best as humanly possible.
Here is why..When a sample is brought in for testing the individual performing the test will grind down the sample then perform multiple test on portions of the 1 gram sample they were given. They will then average out the results from the test results they have taken and record those findings. The results you see on your report can either be the average of the samples, the highest test result recorded or if they only do one sample test then that will be the number recorded on your report.
Due to the fact that once the sample is ground up each test will vary in results. Also any leaf material or branch material will lower your THC and CBD percentages. That is why it is critical to manicure your flowers as best as you possibly can.
Now some background info on why the UVA UVB lighting increases THC.
OK so we all know or should know the most potent strains of cannabis come from mountainous regions. The higher the elevation the better more potent the strain becomes. Why is this you might ask? Because THC is a natural sunblock or UVA UVB blocker nature has ever created. The plant produces more and more to protect itself from damage. Remember the natural instinct of a marijuana plant is to reproduce and live another day. If the sun bakes it's seeds and ruins the chance for reproduction its dead, no more reproduction. So to compensate for the high altitudes and high UVA UVB light spectrum exposure the marijuana plant produces more THC.
Downside is once we bring the cannabis plant indoors there is no longer any exposure to UVA UVB lighting so the potency is decreased immensely. None of the bulbs on the market that we use to grow with contain much if any of the ultraviolet light spectrum. On top of that the glass in our hoods and distance from the plants also decrease or eliminate any of the ultraviolet light available. Side note: Don't even bother with LED or CFL bulbs that claim to produce UVA UVB light. They do not produce enough useable light to show any increase in THC.
Now I have heard the the new double ended bulbs do have a decent amount of useable ultraviolet light and we will be testing those very soon.
Next phase of UVA UVB experiments
Our next phase of testing will be to cut the UVA UVB exposure down even more! We will be doing a 2 week 6hr a day exposure schedule and then perform the same testing on all the strains we have tested prior to see if the 5% increase stays the same or decreases. Our expectation is that it will stay the same!
Hope this has been very helpful to everyone who reads our blog posts. Our intention is to increase awareness of the effects of UVA UVB lighting on medical marijuana plants resulting in stronger medication for sick or terminally ill patients. The better the quality of medication the less will be required to treat and medicate these patients.
How to grow Michigan Medical Marijuana
UVA, UVB, LIGHTING, MEDICAL MARIJUANA, CANNABIS, THC, INCREASE, PLANTS
