Trichomes, THC and UVB light.....

I agree Natmoon, the most damage would seem to be to the eyes. But who are we to know whether one person or another is prone to skin cancers and the like. I've studied UVB about a year ago for awhile and a friend and I thought of an ingenious idea, just havent had time to test it yet. Would be a possible ingenious mix of led's and HPS tho.

If UVB is potentially causing the plant to push out more at the bud sites this would be considered more of a defense mechanism in my eyes. I mean resin and all that is really meant to protect the seed until it is mature after all.

Now my science mind is working - could it work like this?

Think, skin cells (our own) mutate under UV light, as do other cells both in our bodies and bodies of other animals. This possible mutation would in nature make it more/less likely for different variations to form in a species (hence diff strains). Now in animals the embryo and all of its development is protected from this UV by the mother. In plants seeds are either protected by a fruit or seed pod. Now a plant goes into flowering, it notices the UV levels would endanger its offspring but UV tends to penetrate the thin leaves. It starts pushing out more trichs and THC etc to absorb and relect/refract this UV light before it harms the seed.
I unno...maybe...what'a ya'll think.

ohhhh.....I like the way you're thikning. I'm gonna read and re-read this. I do believe you are making an important point. I know of some people at the moment that are working on a system of integrating the LED and HPS lighting......they are currently in a test phase....could be more than a little interesting. the issue with LED's is intensity...though I have found some that have 900 lumens per.....maybe we need to recruit a light/physicics major into this discussion? thanks for your thoughts, and keep them coming...

devilwacause said:

I agree Natmoon, the most damage would seem to be to the eyes. But who are we to know whether one person or another is prone to skin cancers and the like. I've studied UVB about a year ago for awhile and a friend and I thought of an ingenious idea, just havent had time to test it yet. Would be a possible ingenious mix of led's and HPS tho.

If UVB is potentially causing the plant to push out more at the bud sites this would be considered more of a defense mechanism in my eyes. I mean resin and all that is really meant to protect the seed until it is mature after all.

Now my science mind is working - could it work like this?

Think, skin cells (our own) mutate under UV light, as do other cells both in our bodies and bodies of other animals. This possible mutation would in nature make it more/less likely for different variations to form in a species (hence diff strains). Now in animals the embryo and all of its development is protected from this UV by the mother. In plants seeds are either protected by a fruit or seed pod. Now a plant goes into flowering, it notices the UV levels would endanger its offspring but UV tends to penetrate the thin leaves. It starts pushing out more trichs and THC etc to absorb and relect/refract this UV light before it harms the seed.
I unno...maybe...what'a ya'll think.

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Oh and on the animals mother protecting offspring maybe I should say she either carries them, lays them in a safe area (as sea turtles think they are doing) or produce so many offspring that mutation wouldnt matter. However still those producing mass offspring (cause a plant does the same in a sense) either biologically "empower" the offspring's chances of survival to external stimuli thru years of evolution or instinctively tend to still place offspring in a safe location. Therefore in animals the offspring is fitted with every possible chance of protection available by the environment to the parent. Plants like marijuana wouldnt have that luxury of selecting a perfect area to place their offspring. So over the eons as marijuana spread worldwide naturally and by mans hand it constantly encountered new environments. Since the plant has no control of the environment its offspring will be in it has to provide the maximum protection it can.

tahoe58 said:

ohhhh.....I like the way you're thikning. I'm gonna read and re-read this. I do believe you are making an important point. I know of some people at the moment that are working on a system of integrating the LED and HPS lighting......they are currently in a test phase....could be more than a little interesting. the issue with LED's is intensity...though I have found some that have 900 lumens per.....maybe we need to recruit a light/physicics major into this discussion? thanks for your thoughts, and keep them coming...

Click to expand...

But since LEDs generate no heat, weigh virtually nothing, and can be wired in multiple different setups you could overlook intensity here. Our idea was to "mount" UVB wavelength led's along the stalk pointing downwards at each bud spot with the wiring (thin a** wire) could be run down say the back of the plant.

the thought that the trichome production is a defense mechanism against UVB is certainly considered within the literature to date. and that is the basis for this discussion, the relationship between trichome, UVB, and then ultimately THC (as an indivdual compound). the role of the trichome is also being discussed in gthe thread Evolution of the trichome (The Evolution of the Trichome). I am really interested in the role of UVB light plays in the physical presence of THC and if UVB is increased can we also anticipate an increase in THC. there would appear to be significant evidence that this is true. the question then becomes, how do we administer that type of light most effectively and to optimize the THC production - does it mean strain development? i.e.e, breeding for strong trichome AND THC production in the presence on UVB light? is it possibnle to achieve improvements merely from adaptive changes as oppposed to genetic mapping changes? I am having a ball with this.....

oic....ok...I missed what you were trying to say. alright...that's interesting...I didn't realize there were UV LEDs? frick! how interesting is THAT! you got some very interestingthoughts there.....let keep running with this....

devilwacause said:

But since LEDs generate no heat, weigh virtually nothing, and can be wired in multiple different setups you could overlook intensity here. Our idea was to "mount" UVB wavelength led's along the stalk pointing downwards at each bud spot with the wiring (thin a** wire) could be run down say the back of the plant.

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I just been down the town and noticed that they have sets of 120 leds for Christmas trees for 12.99.
They were all blue leds with caps added to change the colours.
It would be real easy to remove all the caps and add these 120 leds to my grow room and see if it made any noticeable difference.
For only 12.99 seems to be worth a try to me,as a side lighting option only though

i'd be interested in how effective this could be....thanks for piping in...

natmoon said:

I just been down the town and noticed that they have sets of 120 leds for Christmas trees for 12.99.
They were all blue leds with caps added to change the colours.
It would be real easy to remove all the caps and add these 120 leds to my grow room and see if it made any noticeable difference.
For only 12.99 seems to be worth a try to me,as a side lighting option only though

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But those christmas lights wouldnt be putting off UVB if they are LED, led's are made to specific wavelengths. Plus anyone who has really really contemplated using LEDs will tell ya the specific wavelengths to focus in on. I dont remember them off hand, but it seems you would need a specialty led for any type grow. Well maybe not "specialty" but to hit the right wavelengths you have to order certain ones.

Skunk, we got to find a way to best utilize these UVB lights. As was mentioned in the many articles we read about UVB, the buds seem a bit smaller but more potent when given UVB (or exposed to in naturally). So I'm on 12/12 at the moment, maybe like 1 day UVB on and 1 day off and so on. Maybe this way the bud can grow oneday and get stronger the next? Or maybe you have a better plan?

Btw, don't forget UVB is bad for the eyes and skin, especially the eyes, so best to turn them off when looking at the plants, don't want to take any chances.. or just wear some

Personally, I'd attach them somehow to my hid lamps. Cut across them width ways. I have long HID's with built in ballasts. So i'd cut across them width ways. One across the top-end, one across the bottom-end of the lights. The HPS is important too, for yield... and cbd.

skunkushybrid said:

Personally, I'd attach them somehow to my hid lamps. Cut across them width ways. I have long HID's with built in ballasts. So i'd cut across them width ways. One across the top-end, one across the bottom-end of the lights. The HPS is important too, for yield... and cbd.

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You can see how I have mine, should be alright like that. I turn my plant everyday so that it will get the UVB evenly, don't have room for 2 right now plus it's just 1 plant.

But concerning the hours, are you just going to leave the UVB on when the HID is on without a break at all? Like I said we I want to get big buds aswell as try and get some more potency out. So maybe during the 12/12 I could have the UVB on for 6, or another way is to have the UVB on oneday and off the next. What you think?

I'm thinking ur gonna wanna watch the reaction of the plant....it might be a pain in the ass...but you might want to "ramp" up the amount of time, and closely monitor the condition of the leaves and other visible attributes. even if you went 2-4-6-8-10-12.....say for a couple of days at each level? IDK.....I'm a cautious one though...and would not likely subject them full force right off the bat? who knows, that might be totally over-conservative.

tahoe58 said:

I'm thinking ur gonna wanna watch the reaction of the plant....it might be a pain in the ass...but you might want to "ramp" up the amount of time, and closely monitor the condition of the leaves and other visible attributes. even if you went 2-4-6-8-10-12.....say for a couple of days at each level? IDK.....I'm a cautious one though...and would not likely subject them full force right off the bat? who knows, that might be totally over-conservative.

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No you are right, I always try things full pelt but need to think about it. Like I said I want bud size aswell as potency, but with constant UVB I don't think I will get that. I'll start at 4 for now

excellent....I'll be watching...

hey guys, i wanted to stop in and say that i have two 10.0 uvb bulbs i've never used. i also have a favored mom that i've been growing for almost a year and a half, many harvest in many conditions. because i know this mom so well, i decided to do a uvb added grow with her. i know the potency (which is predictable in every way shape and form, two hitter at most for light weights....) and i'll be able to tell if there is a valid increase and/or change in the high. other plants will be in the flower room, but won't be in this demonstration, as i don't know them well enough to say what made a difference.

so. coming in about 8 weeks:

The Sunburned Dreamgoddess; Baking Under 2kw and UVB....

Nice one, will be eagerly waiting for your results. I don't have anything to compare my grow to so it's a bit pointless, I'm just trying to make the best of what 'we' have learnt recently and hoping for some good results. But in your case it should help in showing whether it makes much difference or not, but I have faith cos the research seems to suggest it.

Btw did you have the lights for lizards or have you heard about this UVB light thing before?

excellent kp...I sincerely appreciate your piping in on this...I'll be very interested in your feedback and results.

kindprincess said:

hey guys, i wanted to stop in and say that i have two 10.0 uvb bulbs i've never used. i also have a favored mom that i've been growing for almost a year and a half, many harvest in many conditions. because i know this mom so well, i decided to do a uvb added grow with her. i know the potency (which is predictable in every way shape and form, two hitter at most for light weights....) and i'll be able to tell if there is a valid increase and/or change in the high. other plants will be in the flower room, but won't be in this demonstration, as i don't know them well enough to say what made a difference.

so. coming in about 8 weeks:

The Sunburned Dreamgoddess; Baking Under 2kw and UVB....

Click to expand...

Harkin said:

Btw did you have the lights for lizards or have you heard about this UVB light thing before?

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i have lizards, but they do not require uv.

i've know for years that uvb makes a difference in potency. however, i've not had any complaints for my stuff without it, and i like the principle, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".

but, since i have something i can compare against with no bias, i figure it couldn't hurt; each uvb bulb is only 26 watts

I totally agrtee with you of that principle....did you get a chance to read that piece (Seedless Marijuana - the hoax) or maybe you have seen it from before? I found it made for an interesting read....

kindprincess said:

i have lizards, but they do not require uv.

i've know for years that uvb makes a difference in potency. however, i've not had any complaints for my stuff without it, and i like the principle, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".

but, since i have something i can compare against with no bias, i figure it couldn't hurt; each uvb bulb is only 26 watts

Click to expand...