Growing weed indoors is possible, but not exactly the easiest thing to do, especially for beginners. The plant is deprived of natural sunlight, which can be a significant hindrance to its growth. That being said, UVB grow lights can provide a promising solution, but you have to use it right.
The UVB grow light has the capacity to mimic the natural sunlight to induce the growth of weed. Nonetheless, it can also put too much stress on the plant and can have it killed. With this, while it holds a lot of promise, you have to observe caution in its use.
If you are on the lookout for a UVB grow light that you can use for weeds, keep on reading the rest of this post and we’ll share with you some of the top brands and models available on the market, as well as the features that make them exceptional.
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Top Picks for UVB Grow Lights
The table below will provide you with a glimpse of the models that we recommend, followed by a more detailed discussion of what you can expect from each of them.
G8LED 600-watt MEGA LED Grow Light
In 2016 and 2017, this model has been recognized by the HIGH TIMES Magazine as the Best LED Grow Light of the Year. For this reason, this is definitely one of the options that you should make a part of your list.
The high-yielding technology incorporated in the grow light is another thing that makes this exceptional. It has more wattage than most of its competitors, which is one of the reasons why it can perform better.
Another thing that makes this great is its coverage area, unlike others that are quite limited. It can cover an area that is up to 4 feet x 5 feet.
It is also praised because of its efficient design, especially because it no longer needs a veg / flower switch, which will turn off the diodes that are unnecessary for the growth of the weed.
The two-year warranty offered by the manufacturer is also a good thing, providing you with peace of mind regarding the quality of the product.
California Lightworks Solar Storm 400-watt LED with UVB
Among others, one of the best things about this model is the fact that it comes with 88 Super High Flux 5-watt LED emitter diodes. They are the ones that are responsible for allowing the light to provide the same heat that the weed gets from natural sunlight.
In terms of versatility, it is also a good thing that you will have the freedom to choose from two settings depending on the results that are anticipated. For instance, when the veg mode is chosen, it will save power. On the other hand, when you turn on the bloom mode, you can expect the best yield and maximum intensity.
It comes with UVB supplements, which you may not need to turn on during the initial process of growing the weed. Rather, it will only be turned on during the final stages of growth.
Lighthouse Hydro ION UVB Grow Light
This UVB light has a coverage of 4 x 9 square feet, which is pretty much large compared to most of the competing models that you can find on the market.
As the manufacturer claims, this is the first light that makes use of 6w and 10w chips, providing it with an edge above most of its competitors.
The LED spectrum and intensity of the light can be customized. This will provide you with complete control on how you would like the light to function.
All in all, the light comes with 52 LEDs, which are rated to have a functional life of up to 40,000 hours.
If you want to have peace of mind regarding the quality and functionality of the product, it is good to know that the manufacturer is offering a limited warranty that lasts for three years.
Lumini Hydroponic LED Grow Light with UVB
As a full cycle light, one of the advantages that you can expect in this product is the flexibility that it is able to offer. This is basically because there are different modes that can be chosen. You can choose from Vegetative, Flowering, or UVB.
The master controller is one of the innovative features that you can find in this weed UVB grow light. With the use of the latter, you will be able to control the lights that are incorporated into the unit. There are four saved modes that can be chosen from the timer.
Safety is not one thing that you have to worry about in this grow light for weed. If in case the fan becomes defective, the light will automatically dim by as much as 20%. More so, if one LED burns out because of power surge, the rest of the LEDs will not be affected.
Grow Light MINGER 600W LED Grow Lamp Full Spectrum
With a fully-adjustable spectrum, you will also have the opportunity to control the functions of the light based on the growth phase of the weed. Once it is in the late stages of development, you can now turn on the supplemental UVB mode.
If there is one thing that makes it a notch above its competitors, it would be its compatibility with the Cirrus Leaf App. The latter will provide you with a different way to control the functions of the light. It can be connected to your smartphone and the latter can be used to make remote adjustments based on the growth of the weed.
It should also be noted that it comes with an IP65 rating, which means that it is dust and waterproof.
Lastly, the company also claims that it has features that make it the most advanced from the options that will confront you. An example of this feature is the UVB technology that allows the increased resin production by as much as 28%.
What is a UVB Grow Light?
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A lot of you might have heard about LED grow lights, but UVB lights are seldom talked about. As shown in the products mentioned above, however, UVB lights are effective in improving the growth of weeds. More of this will be tackled later on.
To understand UVB, you have to know that there are three main types of wavelengths that reach plants, including weed:
- Ultraviolet A or UVA: It has a radiation of 320 to 400 nm. They make up 3% of the photons that can be found in sunlight. They also do not cause any damage to the DNA of the plant.
- Ultraviolet B or UVB: It has a radiation of 290 to 320 nm, which is more than enough to damage the plant’s DNA. With this, the UVB light is activated only in the late stages of growth.
- Ultraviolet C or UVC: This is the most extreme from the three and already has the ability to kill living cells, especially considering the fact that its radiation is 100 to 290 nm.
How UVB Affects Weeds
For many starters, this is probably the question that you have in mind. One of the most important things to point out is that UVB has different effects in different plants. Therefore, it is wrong to say that its effects on weeds will be similar to others.
Among others, one of the most important functions of UVB is that it improves the production of THC. The latter is a cannabinoid, which is believed to be a defense mechanism of the weed. When there is UVB grow light, it has greater UV exposure. The outcome is that it will defend itself against ultraviolet radiation, which is why it can produce a higher level of THC.
According to some weed growers, the use of UVB grow lights can help in increasing THC production by as much as 30%, although such claim is still a subject of debate these days. It allows the development of a protein molecule, which the weed develops as a way to defend itself from the damaging heat of the sun.
To investigate this claim, a research from Maryland has been conducted. The findings indicate that those that have been exposed to UVB radiation showed a higher level of THC, which is enough reason to believe that such supplementation is beneficial in growing marijuana.
Conclusion
This post discussed some of the best options that are worth considering if you are looking for the best UVB grow light for weed. The options are quite limited, but still, this does not mean that they are all the same. Take the time to evaluate the five products mentioned above and it will be easier for you to reach the right decision.