What You Should Know About UV Light For Plants

 There has been some debate over the importance of UV light for plants. Some growers even wonder whether ultraviolet light has a place in plant cultivation of any kind at all.

The fact of the matter is that if you are growing plants indoors, you should be supplementing your plants with some form of it.

We’ll cover everything you need to know about this wavelength, along with the best ways to add it to your grow room.

What is UV Light?

Often referred to as UV light for short, ultraviolet light is technically a type of electromagnetic radiation garnered from natural sunlight.

Every time you are out in the sun, you are exposed to UV light.

It is broken up into three different categories of wavelengths — UVA, UVB, and UVC.

It helps plants grow in several ways and also may improve the overall potency and quality of your flower.

But, only certain types of UV light are really beneficial to plants.

Benefits of UV light

You’ve been told to be afraid of ultraviolet light all your life. Yet, in safe doses, UV gives you a great tan without actual damage to the skin. That darker skin helps add protection for the next time you are out in the sun. In essence, your skin creates its own natural sunblock.

Vegetable seedlings in a tray
UV light is extremely important for plant growth too. In safe doses, UV helps produce oils that create the great smells and tastes you are looking for in your crop. That’s what the plant produces to protect itself from more UV exposure. Just like us, plants create their own natural sunblock.

The plant responds to the stress and sunburn from UV wavelengths by creating its own sunscreen in the form of trichomes. The more trichome production the higher the THC and CBD levels. So in plant growth, trichomes filled with THC are the best natural sunblock for UV radiation. The plant produces more THC to compensate for high UV light exposure.

When the correct amount of UV is present it:

Increases oils & resins that contain THC & CBD
Increases root mass
Causes more branching, less stretching
Improves taste and smell
Creates higher potency plants
Increases resistance to insects, bacteria, and fungus
Plants grown indoors without exposure to UV can lack these enhanced benefits. That’s why it is so important to choose indoor grow lighting that includes photons in the UV range.

How Does UV Light Affect Plants?

Plants have different responses to UV light depending on the type and wavelength. The response also varies depending on the species of the plant.

Here are some of the most noteworthy benefits of adding UV spectrum to your grow tent.

how does UV light affect plants?
Some studies have shown that UVA and UVB light can enhance the production of terpenes and flavonoids in plants.

In one study, growers cultivated tomatoes in a greenhouse using grow lights without UV. They noticed the tomatoes grew great, but the taste left plenty to be desired.

So, they grew another batch with supplemental UV and found that flavor and aroma were greatly amplified.

This is great for those growing flowers because it means the taste and aroma of your flower will be increased.

But to take things a step further, consider the fact that one study found that flowers grown without UV light will be missing up to 6 key terpenes! And as we are coming to realize, terpenes affect the way flower makes you feel, as well as that taste and aroma.

Other studies prove that UV can increase resins and oils that are found in plants grown specifically for this purpose.

This means your flower will be more potent, and you can command higher prices as a commercial grower.

UV light can also increase the root mass of your plants and increase veg branching with less stretching — leading to tighter internodes, and heavier harvest weight.

Increased Resistance To Stress & Disease
Furthermore, growers notice an increased resistance to stress and disease when supplementing with UVA and UVB spectrums.

Plants can produce up to 15 different variant defense proteins as soon as they are exposed to UV light.

UV light has the ability to destroy harmful microorganisms, particularly when the wavelengths are shorter than 300 nm.

Not only that, but UV light can increase your plants’ resistance to bacteria, insects, and fungus.

Grow plants indoors without any UV exposure, and you’ll lack all of these benefits.

Faster Germination
UV light can also promote faster germination when starting seeds. They strengthen the plant and prepare it for higher light intensities.

It reduces the “shock” time of the seedlings while also speeding up germination.

How Do I Get UV Light for My Plants?

Natural sunlight isn’t really an option for indoor gardens. That’s why grow lights are key for people trying to grow their own plants indoors. While many indoor grow light options produce little to no UV light, many ECO Farm grow lights are designed with an exclusive light spectrum to give your plants the UV rays they need to thrive.

The amount of UV light being produced by your grow light is just another factor in deciding what is the right light for your grow.

Conclusion

Explore the possibilities of LED grow lights with UV-A and UV-B for boosting yields and valuable features of your harvest — but always keep in mind that you’ll need to protect your eyes and skin from prolonged exposure.

Avoid using UV-C in the grow room, especially when emitted from a grow light. Exposure to UV-C can damage your skin, eyes, and more, even after only short bursts. Your plants do not require any UV-C to flourish.