Why Should You Buy Full Spectrum Grow Lights For Weed?
The answer to the above question is that under most circumstances full spectrum led grow lights are superior for the reasons explained below.
What Is The LED Grow Light Spectrum?
To fully appreciate the value of full spectrum lights you need to understand the fundamentals of electromagnetic energy. Electromagnetic energy is composed of various forms of energy waves that are released by the sun into the earth atmosphere, such as, radio waves, X-Rays, gamma rays, TV waves, ultraviolet (gives you a sunburn), microwaves, and gamma rays.
All of these forms of electromagnetic energy travels in waves made of tiny particles, and each wave does something different. For example, heat waves move molecules, which results in matter warming up and X-Rays go through a person and transfers their image onto film. Also, some electromagnetic energy waves are deadly. However, the earth’s ozone layer, luckily, blocks and sends back the most harmful form of electromagnetic energy back into the atmosphere.
The following explains the different types spectrums f. And for those who best learn visually, I have included a chart also.
- 180nm to 280nm- (UVC) Deadly electromagnetic energy that is, luckily, almost entirely absorbed by the ozone layer.
- 280nm to 315nm-(UVB): This causes sunburns and, some say exposure to it also results in weed having a higher THC level.
- 315nm to 400nm-(Black): A form of light that is not absorbed by the atmosphere.
- 380nm to 750nm: Visible electromagnetic spectrum, which is composed of waves of different visible colors.
- 700nm to 1mm-Infrared: Above 750nm it is invisible and is only noticed as heat.
The following illustration below illustrates the electromagnetic spectrum:
The Visible Spectrum
Light waves are a form of electromagnetic energy which is released by a energy source. I.E., the sun, LED lamps, etc. These waves allow you to see objects. A light source is calculated using nanometers (“nm”), and a single nanometer is called a wavelength.
The human eye can only see specific wavelengths (380nm to 780nm), which is called the visible light spectrum or more commonly known as just the light spectrum.
Seven wavelengths of are visible to the human eye, and each wavelength represents a separate color. When matter becomes hotter, it changes color with the shorter wavelengths being a higher temperature.
The best full led grow lights cover more of the 380nm to a 780nm range of the visible electromagnetic spectrum while cheap full grow lights for weed, only include a portion of the 380 to 780nm visible light spectrum.
With quality full spectrum grow lights you will not need any supplemental LED lights, like blue or green. However, many growers still use RED and BLUE bulbs for the respective stage.
Wavelengths Of The Visible Light Spectrum
Violet Wavelength-400nm to 420nm: This is the shortest wavelength that also has the most energy.Indigo Wavelength-420nm to 440nmBlue Wavelength– 440nm to 490nm Green Wavelength – 490nm to 570nmYellow Wavelength– 570nm to 585nmOrange Wavelength– 585nm to 620nmRed Wavelength – 620nm to 780nm
The Seven Visible Light Sources
- Sun: The sun gives off radiation all over the electromagnetic spectrum.
- Incandescent Bulbs: Are recognized by the wire inside the bulb, which is heated and in turn glows.
- Fluorescent: Made via a small wave of ultraviolet light, which results in a coating on the inside of the bulb that is to be illuminated. The spectrum for Fluorescent lighting is between 480nm to around 570nm.
- Halogen: Caused by a filament composed of tungsten, which is heated enough to generate illumination. A Halogen case is used to help increase the brightness. The spectrum for Halogen is around 650nm to 950nm. Halogen bulbs most closely represents red bulbs.
- LED (Light Emitting Diode): Caused by an electrical current going through a microchip, which results in illumination. LED electromagnetic spectrum ranges from UV to IR.
- Laser: This is electromagnetic radiation that is released via a device that amplifies the bulb. The range is from 189nm to around 1mm.
- HID-(High Intensity Discharge): is made of gas that produces light when it sends a discharge between two separate electrodes and into plasma or ionized gas.
Blue and Red LED Bulbs
Different segments of the electromagnetic spectrum work better for the various stages of cannabis growth. For example, blue is considered to be the best veg light. That’s why blue LEDs exposure (during the vegetative stage) will make your cannabis plants grow large, robust leaves. Red lights are considered to be a flowering grow light because exposure to RED, LED lighting will help make sure your cannabis buds are healthy. Traditionally, many growers exclusively used blue LEDs and red LEDs during the respective vegetative or flower growth stage for marijuana plants. However, specializing is not typically needed if you purchase a high-quality LED that uses the full visible light spectrum.Full-spectrum is now the preferred choice for most cannabis growers as full spectrum led grow lights are designed to closely mimic the sun, by including every color that needed for plants to photosynthesize.
As a result, the top full spectrum lights provide sufficient lighting for marijuana in both the vegetative and flower stages of growth. That is why many experts say that quality, full spectrum, LED grow lights, are all that the average or beginning cannabis grower will need. However, if you want to experiment, you can also buy specialty red or blue bulbs or better yet purchase a grow light that has individual vegetable and flower switches.
Buyers Tip-Some, full spectrum grow light manufacturers don’t have a separate veg and flower switch that will allow you to use either red or blue lighting exclusively. So, if you desire to use lighting tailored explicitly for either vegetative or flowering, you will need to purchase full spectrum lighting that has with a veg and flower switch or buy supplemental red or blue led grow lamps.
UltraViolet
Ultraviolet light (”UV”) is the invisible part of the electromagnetic spectrum that is responsible for causing sunburns. Many growers believe that plants exposure to UV will result in cannabis plants having a higher THC count. The theory for this is based on the fact that cannabis, just like humans, get sunburns. Plants, specifically cannabis plants, as a defense mechanism against UV rays, react to UV exposure by producing resin, which in cannabis is said to result in higher THC percentage in weed.
PLEASE NOTE: UV exposure has not been scientifically proven to increase THC potency in cannabis.
UV is not included in some grow lights and you will likely pay more for UV capability. So, it is ultimately your decision on whether or not you should, pay extra, to purchase led grow lights with UV capability.
Click The Following Link: Best LED Grow Lights for our expert review on the latest full spectrum grow lights
