Hey, i am soon to buy a LED grow light, but i have realized that they aren't as common as U.V grow lights, is there a reason for this?

Do UV lights give an advantage over LED, or vice versa.

I read that LED saves electricity compared to UV, it said it saves up to 80%. But i am not sure how much that would be since i have never used UV, and would hate for my electricity bill to shoot up. Can somebody compare this to a household item, like a TV or a Computer.

thanks in advance.

LED's are much more efficient and use alot less electricity.

I don't know ether they are as effective as UV lights though.

I was under the impression that UV lights didn't do shit when growing anything really. I believe the UV percentage present in sunlight is used by the plant to tell it which way is up, when to start flowering, when to begin producing THC etc, but you need straight up visible light for photosynthesis and therefore growth to take place.

I believe that although LED lighting is very power efficient, it is not only expensive, but not actually that effective at producing enough lumens to grow pot. Most people stick with HPS, High Pressure Sodium lamps to produce large quantities of light without getting things too hot. Enough halogen or filament bulbs would probably burn your plants, especially the seed leaves.

If I were you, obviously I'm not condoning growing an illegal drug, but I would reccomend growing outdoors if at all possible - although its harder to control, your plants will grow bigger due to the increased area over which they can grow, you can't be busted unless you are caught there multiple times in a row, even then you can claim you merely found them, and its much much cheaper than buying huge quantities of lights, extractor fans, etc...

^Well, you couldn't exactly say that you just found them if you got busted there several times. But that's already saying that you didn't stop it when you should have. Everything else you said, was true.

Stick to a HPS or MH lamp, or if you want to save cost and have less heat, set up a series of compact fluorescent lights. Pretty much all your other options are not for the run of the mill pot grower. They're only feasible if you're rich, already know what you're doing in terms of growing, and want to experiment.

Hey, thanks for the replies guys.
Right now, outdoor growing is not an option, purely because of my living conditions.
I have already set up a cheap hydroponic area for the plants to grow in, and i have checked ebay for grow lights, and you can buy 30 x 30 cm LED grow lights, which is the perfect size for my small operation, this was $30, with $20 shipping.
So unless these are shotty, no brand lights i believe this would be for me.

But if you think that LED's are not suitable for growing pot then can you give me the exact name of the type of light that would be?

thanks once again.

http://www.erowid.org/plants/cannabis/cannabis_faq_growlight.shtml

Start reading, that's a good place to start. If you want to grow indoors, especially if you wish to grow hydroponically, don't think of trying to spend less that $100, closer to $200 to be honest for a small, basic set up.

I would also advise against growing hydroponically, especially on your first grow attempt. Its expensive, and for the quality gained versus the expense and the time & effort, you would need to grow on a fairly large scale, taking clones from several mother plants, and having an output of several ounces per month. And then what would you do with all that pot...

you would need to grow on a fairly large scale, taking clones from several mother plants, and having an output of several ounces per month. And then what would you do with all that pot...

oh lawd, i just don't know what i'm going to do with all this weed...

i can't sell it...
i can't smoke it...
i can't make hash with it...
i guess i'm just going to have to throw it out, aren't i? :(

But if you think that LED's are not suitable for growing pot then can you give me the exact name of the type of light that would be?

HPS (High Pressure Sodium) or MH (Metal Halide) lights. Expect to spend some $. You can save money by going fluoro. Rig up a couple of 48" 40W shoplights... but HPS/MH are much more powerful and throw off more light.

I've also never heard of UV grow lights... There are UV bulbs but those are for reptiles and whatnot. Ya need more than plain old UV to grow (in terms of spectrum).

I'm gonna agree w/ Von Bass and tell you to go soil. More of a fuck up margin. Hydro is more complicated w/ nutes/pH, etc, etc - easier for params to go way off and burn your plants.

If you can grow indoors, you can grow outdoors. You already have a place to hang 'em, all you have to do is find a plot to plant 'em. Even if you live in a city you can do it. Might have to think a little more out of the box though, get creative in terms of transportation, etc.

Also might want to be careful going directly to the grow shop and then to the grow house. LE has been known to follow people, write down plates, etc. Exercise caution when ordering online to if you're buying a bunch of growing supplies. Never can be too careful.

Wow lots of idiots in this thread :)
first of all give up the idea of using just leds for your grow not enough lumens, led panels are used as supplementary light source, spectrum enchancer, as well as UV light is used supplementary to make your product more potent (uv-b helps in thc and thcv metabolism, while strong blue spectrum supposedly increases resin production).
high intensity discharge lights such as high pressure sodium or metal halide are the most optimal light sources, but not when you got heat to deal with - those need either portable ac ($250-$400), or powerful squirrel cage fan ($80-$180). Window ac are not as stealthy but cheaper than portable ACs. MH and HPS emit SHITLOAD OF HEAT, dont listen to anyone saying otherwise, if heat is concern then go with compact fluorescents. Also ignore the dude that suggested that growing hydro increases quality, no son, growing hydro increases speed of growth and yields, 90% of the shit that gets sampled at cannabis cup type contests is grown in soil for a reason and usually grown organically because hydro buds lack taste and fragnance of soil grown pot. But dont attempt hydro because you will fail if you have no experience with basic unfertilized soil + nutrients operation. Not to mention all the fucking expenses like decent ph/tds meter for hydro is no less than $150... there is no fucking reason to grow hydro unless you go all out on it. Put that money into lights, p.o. box for ordering good genetics, superthrive + humidity dome + rockwool for your clones, and good sterile unfertilized soil and some decent nutrients (ex. fox farms). Then with remaining $20 get yourself a weed growing book which you can find in gardening section of bigger book stores. Your welcome.

I believe you are correct. They do not use uv at all. They mainly use the blue and red spectrums of light.


"Grow Lights
When growing outdoors the sun provides light but when growing indoors artificial light is required. Fluorescent light is ok for beginners to learn with but the final product will not be something to be proud of.

Metal Halide (mh) and/or High Pressure Sodium (hps) are the lighting systems you need to grow high quality marijuana indoors. They can be found at any hydroponic store.

The sun emits light energy that spans from the red to the blue end of the light spectrum. As far as marijuana plants are concerned, in spring-summer when plants start to grow (vegetative growth) there is more blue spectrum energy and that promotes plant growth.

In summer-fall when plants produce flowers there is more red spectrum energy (and shorter days) that cause hormones in plants to increase flower and THC production. ":


so when it is in vegetative growth you need more blue spectrum and in flowering stage you want more red spectrum. So above me^ you are mixing it up. Red increases thc production. Also UV light will not make the plant more potent but it will degrade the thc.

I believe you are correct. They do not use uv at all. They mainly use the blue and red spectrums of light.

Also UV light will not make the plant more potent but it will degrade the thc.

Wrong. Why pull shit out of nowhere instead of just a little research? guy on rollitup.org has a journal with pics where he grew 2 sativas under 300w uv tanning bulb FROM SEEDLING to bud. And all other veteran growers spend money on the uv-b bulbs for what reason? it was proven that uv-b spectrum is a necessity for POTENT product.

THC only degrades from uv light after the plant died/got cut and the buds are just sitting in the light.

Quote4u

cannabinoids are present in glands throughout the plant in two forms…stalked and not stalked;
the density of glands increases as you move up the plant (uncertain whether or not this is a function of maturity or structural difference – more study needed)
in one study, the THC generally increased as locations became less favorable for plant growth, suggesting increased plant stress enhanced delta-9-THC production
cannabinoids also may function in the role of UVB protection (another biological stress-inducer), which may be functionally analogous to human skin pigmentation (again more study needed to understand and resolve current information).
colour rendering Index (CRI) with a maximum value of 100 (i.e., that of outdoor daylight) – only comparable with lights on the same temperature (i.e., 2700K, or 6500K, etc.). For example it is un-instructive to compare identical wattage CRI (70 vs. 20) of MH (4500K) vs. HPS (2700K)
recent developments in LPS (Low pressure sodium) might provide some better solutions
Pate (1983) and Lydon et al (1987) both demonstrated that under conditions of high UV-B exposure, drug-type Cannabis produces significantly greater quantities of THC.

http://tinyurl.com/5tkzfh <- source

.

Metal Halide (mh) and/or High Pressure Sodium (hps) are the lighting systems you need to grow high quality marijuana indoors. They can be found at any hydroponic store.


hey does anybody know of a online store that sells either of these and ships international.

(not a U.S citizen)

...suggesting increased plant stress enhanced delta-9-THC production cannabinoids also may function in the role of UVB protection (another biological stress-inducer), which may be functionally analogous to human skin pigmentation

I've heard about the relation between UVB and resin production, and while the above statement may be true, it would suggest that stressing the plant would produce the best bud, bud with the highest THC %. However, we know that's not true.

You stress the plant enough and it's going to turn out stunted, skinny, and shitty. The plant either responds w/ more THC, as stated, or dies.

Nigger rig your MH/HPS lights up w/ proper ferts and your gonna have lush growth, lots of bud sites, and flowering. That's what 99% of the people use, and with success. If it works for that many people, shit, it'll work for you.

I was always under the impression Moroccans, etc made hash 'cuz it's hot as fuck over there and since the plants are stressed from the heat, arid environment, etc there stunted but they contain a high resin concentration. Would make sense to make hash in that situation... or could just be a cultural thing.

UV has a unique function in teh biology. Corals will spawn. Turtles will start fucking like rabbits w/ the addition of UVA. And UVC will make all your DNA belong to us.

So while it may help it's by no means necessary to grow potent weed.

I've heard about the relation between UVB and resin production, and while the above statement may be true, it would suggest that stressing the plant would produce the best bud, bud with the highest THC %. However, we know that's not true.

You stress the plant enough and it's going to turn out stunted, skinny, and shitty. The plant either responds w/ more THC, as stated, or dies.


You seem confused, let me clarify: they are not discussing PHISICAL STRESS, however it indeed is true that fans blowing directly at the plant strenghten the stem making it thicker, and naturally increasing ability of the plant to hold bigger denser heavier flowers, so your wrong anyways.

Stressing the plant with UV light does not stunt the plant making it skinny and shitty, it SIGNALIZES to the plant that the fucking atmosphere in the location it grows in allows alot of "harmfull" radiation to get to it, that results in the plant creating MORE TRICHROMES and HIGHER THC CONTENT IN TRICHROMES, why ? because the flowers hold seeds, the plants babies, and it will do anything to protect them from that "harmful" radiation (create more trichromes with higher thc content) Do not confuse the different ways to stress the plant, of course if you beat it up your gonna eiter kill it hermie it. Another benificial "stress" that can add make the product better is dropping the temperature below 70 few times toward harvest time this stress the plant thermally making it "think" that cold fronts will be severe this season, and it needs to protect the seeds inside the flowers so they can grow next season, so what does it do? generates more resin to protect seeds from cold. So as you can see cannabis responds to controlled stress with more resin, thc, trichromes, thicker heavier buds. Of course if you stress it the wrong way like an idiot you will ruin your shit (stress with high temps for example will only make the nugs airy and less fragnant)


Nigger rig your MH/HPS lights up w/ proper ferts and your gonna have lush growth, lots of bud sites, and flowering. That's what 99% of the people use, and with success. If it works for that many people, shit, it'll work for you.

I was always under the impression Moroccans, etc made hash 'cuz it's hot as fuck over there and since the plants are stressed from the heat, arid environment, etc there stunted but they contain a high resin concentration. Would make sense to make hash in that situation... or could just be a cultural thing.


Wrong again, their climate is indeed hotter but it is the natural sunlight spectrum delivery(yes it is different in different parts of the world) that makes the difference, not the temperature. And it has nothing to do with hashmaking.


UV has a unique function in teh biology. Corals will spawn. Turtles will start fucking like rabbits w/ the addition of UVA. And UVC will make all your DNA belong to us.

So while it may help it's by no means necessary to grow potent weed.

It was proven 15 years ago that it helps, and how can you state that it is not necessary? have you produced some kind of bulb that fully eliminates the uv spectrum and have grown some potent buds with it? For fucks sake it is well known fact that outdoor weed grown closest to the equatoral line has the highest thc content/ratio to other cannabinols/noids. Hmm as if there was more uv-b in the sunlight close to the equator... wait! oh shit! there is!
Oh and HPS and MH and CFLs DO EMIT UV SPECTRUM, just FYI. There is a big difference in plants exposed to daily 10min sessions of uv bulbs and everyone who has tried it never went back claiming that It makes as much difference in quality as co2 supplementation in quantity.

Wrong. Why pull shit out of nowhere instead of just a little research? guy on rollitup.org has a journal with pics where he grew 2 sativas under 300w uv tanning bulb FROM SEEDLING to bud. And all other veteran growers spend money on the uv-b bulbs for what reason? it was proven that uv-b spectrum is a necessity for POTENT product.

THC only degrades from uv light after the plant died/got cut and the buds are just sitting in the light.

Quote4u

http://tinyurl.com/5tkzfh <- source

you dont have to have Uv light. You mainly just need the red and blue specturms.

you dont have to have Uv light. You mainly just need the red and blue specturms.

well no shit dude, im not arguing that general idea im saying that noone grows with red and blue spectrums isolated by some kind of filters or narrowband LEDs, and the metal halides, mercury vapor, high perssue sodium, fluorescents, and all the other types of light emit multiple spectrums of light. yes mh is more blue and hps is more red, but they both emit uv and you cant fucking argue that the uv doesnt have the impact on motherfucking POTENCY unless you grow the whole fuckin plant under light that has uv filters and some sort of sunblock creme on the hood and then go sample some weed that was grown with under same light as yours but with UV supplementation and then you can fuckin say that you dont have to have uv in your light source to produce POTENT weed. or maybe your definition of potent differs from mine.

well no shit dude, im not arguing that general idea im saying that noone grows with red and blue spectrums isolated by some kind of filters or narrowband LEDs, and the metal halides, mercury vapor, high perssue sodium, fluorescents, and all the other types of light emit multiple spectrums of light. yes mh is more blue and hps is more red, but they both emit uv and you cant fucking argue that the uv doesnt have the impact on motherfucking POTENCY unless you grow the whole fuckin plant under light that has uv filters and some sort of sunblock creme on the hood and then go sample some weed that was grown with under same light as yours but with UV supplementation and then you can fuckin say that you dont have to have uv in your light source to produce POTENT weed. or maybe your definition of potent differs from mine.

It is not necessary to worry about green light as it is usually reflected off the leaves, making them look green. There is some evidence that shows that a reduction in Ultra Violet (or UV) light can improve growth. If you are growing under glass or plastic this may interest you.

www.weedfarmer.com/cannabis/hydroponics_guide.php




www.cannabis.com/growing/lighting-can_blacklights_be_used_for_growing.html

Not suitable for growing:

Blacklight type flourescent lights.

ANY incandescent lamp
(if it screws into a regular lamp, it won't produce worthwhile buds). Exception, compact flouro mentioned above)

Halogen

Mercury Vapor

If UV is so useful why do people try to avoid it? why are blacklights not used since they give off uv?

(if it screws into a regular lamp, it won't produce worthwhile buds). Exception, compact flouro mentioned above)




i know that LED wont work well for marijuana and i need either MH or HPS lights,
but what do i screw it into?

It is not necessary to worry about green light as it is usually reflected off the leaves, making them look green. There is some evidence that shows that a reduction in Ultra Violet (or UV) light can improve growth. If you are growing under glass or plastic this may interest you.

www.weedfarmer.com/cannabis/hydroponics_guide.php




www.cannabis.com/growing/lighting-can_blacklights_be_used_for_growing.html

Not suitable for growing:

Blacklight type flourescent lights.

ANY incandescent lamp
(if it screws into a regular lamp, it won't produce worthwhile buds). Exception, compact flouro mentioned above)

Halogen

Mercury Vapor

If UV is so useful why do people try to avoid it? why are blacklights not used since they give off uv?

dude, please read the the links i posted earlier because you simply do not understand what im trying to say. blacklights are not used because they dont give off enough uv-b wavelenght, and too much of uv-a and uv-c. Tanning bulbs otoh produce intense uv-b. You need to understand that those bulbs are not used to grow weed, they are used to SUPPLEMENT MAIN LIGHT SOURCE, and by supplement i mean 10minute exposure sessions during final weeks of flowering cycle. Reason why reduction in ultraviolet improves growth is because that reduction is in the main source of light running 12+ hours on, and the PROVEN increase in potency was noted with short but intense exposure to UV-motherfucking-B

and to OP: hps/mh bulb plugs into a socket usually mounted to the reflector, and that socket has a cable that plugs into the ballast.

ok i have no understanding on what you just said.
If somone can do the hard work for me and send me a link of one in an oline shop, that would be great :D

sorry to double post, but i want mine on top of the forum :D .

I was looking up grow lights, is this one suitable its 400watt HPS.

http://www.specialty-lights.com/901336.html

there are plenty more just like this one, just different wattages.

I was just wondering can anybody compare its wattage to a tv, or a computer.
I am extremely interested in how much it uses before i purchase it.

dude, please read the the links i posted earlier because you simply do not understand what im trying to say. blacklights are not used because they dont give off enough uv-b wavelenght, and too much of uv-a and uv-c. Tanning bulbs otoh produce intense uv-b. You need to understand that those bulbs are not used to grow weed, they are used to SUPPLEMENT MAIN LIGHT SOURCE, and by supplement i mean 10minute exposure sessions during final weeks of flowering cycle. Reason why reduction in ultraviolet improves growth is because that reduction is in the main source of light running 12+ hours on, and the PROVEN increase in potency was noted with short but intense exposure to UV-motherfucking-B

and to OP: hps/mh bulb plugs into a socket usually mounted to the reflector, and that socket has a cable that plugs into the ballast.

Hey calm down man, it was just copy pasta.