UVb an experiment

[MerryPrankstr]

Originally posted by OldMac

M.P. you could do me a big favor and let me know what the new housings measure, lip to lip (both directions). Also, if possible the distance from the lip to the glass cover over the diodes. That would give me a chance to prerun mounting ideas, and see if they need to be mounted at differant heights.

Overall size of the bezel at the bottom is 14 inches by 14 3/8th inches, while the width of the bezel is 3 3/8ths" on the "length side" and 3 1/2" on the "width side." The actual LED window is 7" x 7 1/2".


Hope that this helps!
M.P.

[oldmac]

Thanks MP, I think it does.

The size of the LED window I believe to be the same as the older model, but I'll check it tonite. The original housings are abt 12"x12+" so the new ones are a little larger, but should not be a problem. thnx again.:thumbsup:
(I need to spread some more love around, I owe you one!)

[Rusty Trichome]

Are you showing any signs of turning hermie from the aspirin?

I don't think so, but my boobs do kinda hurt... The hand is getting better though. Would likely help if I quit bumping it on everything. Amber (my wife) is still mad I wouldn't go get it casted.

Was wondering...(rut ro)
Are there wavelengths from our other lighting sources (HID, CFL, T5's, LED's...) that can cancel-out, dilute or distort UV light before it hits the plants? I know I read something along those lines not too long ago, but I guess age has it's drawbacks. I can't remember where. A photography forum, perhaps...?

Regarding using filters...are there any filters that would let the UVB through it unscathed, and which wavelengths would be affected by the mixing of colors from the filter(s)? I wonder if it would inhibit photosynthesis, change biological processes (wound repair, internode stretch, nutrient uptake...)

I hadn't really thought of it before, but has anyone tried infra-red? (just curious)

[MerryPrankstr]

You're welcome, OldMac... :thumbsup:

Nice to meet you and a lot of the regulars and have them as friends in my last days. Hope to finish this grow, maybe even taste some of it...

Laterz,
M.P.

[Rusty Trichome]

Tiz been two full weeks, and I'm a little more impressed that I thought I would be.

Ok, I run my lights at 18-6 and that is the schedule I kept with. 18 hours a day of UVB suppliment.
Keeping in mind the potential dangers with using UV light, I turn it off prior to each viewing and for daily maintenance, (watering, feeding...) so this is not an uninterrupted exposure.

So, I had two trays of clones. In each tray I placed 3 tall clones, (cola's from a semi-successful fimming) and 3 shorter clones which were culled from the undergrowth of the same two (identical) donor plants.

The UVB shelf had the shorter clones closest to the UV bulb, but the taller ones had more than adequate exposure in peeking over the short ones. None were further than 10 inches from the UVB bulb, none were closer than 6 inches. All 12 clones had CFL's within 3 inches.

What I've noticed so far:
All 12 clones have thrived, but the UVB exposed batch grew a little taller, (avg of an inch taller) and they have a noticeably tighter internode spacing, with darker-green leaves that appear...IDK...more mature...heartier...? Under the UV light, the shorter clones almost caught-up to the taller clones in height. This is only true of one non-UVB clone, but is still smaller than her siblings in UVB light.

Under a Radio Shack pocket microscope, no difference in pore spacing, and the trichome hairs. (precursors to globular-head trichomes). Leaves appear equal in size and shape, and no strange mutations, other than the non-UVB plants being a tad yellowish in comparison.

Had to move 6 of the plants into flower shed, so the UV in veg will continue with only 6 plants, and all will be UVB exposed.
In flower, I now have 3 plants from each tray. Two of the original 'tall' clones, one of the 'short' clones. I've tagged them and will see if any difference in growth or habits between the exposed and the non-exposed.

Still a crappy camera, (and photographer) but hopefull the pix will help. UVB tray is on the right in one picture, and closest to you in the other.

[oldmac]

Hey Rusty, the pictures ain't so bad, of course there is no way short of hooking up a camera to a microscope to be able to see the precursor hairs of the trichomes. But your observations have that covered. Seems there is not much difference between groups in that respect, at least at this stage.

I tried to do some research on your question of interference to UVb from light sources that might cancel or distort the UVb. I haven't found anything along those lines...yet, but I'll keep looking.

I did come across some interesting work that has been done on producing THC from the plants chemicals artifically using UVb. A Dr. Mechoulam (who with Dr. Gaoni isolated THC in 1964) has worked on medial applications of mj for over 40 years now. He was the first to also synthesize THC (marinol) and his process uses UVb light to do the conversion. Seems he is the father of medical marijuana research, especially dealing with the cannabinoids and endocannabinoids. I am trying to find some of his scientific papers, but without even seeing them I am sure UVb plays a major role in THC production.

Sorry I was among the missing for a week or so, but I don't have a housekeeper till after Labor Day so Tonto and I took a road trip to a couple of car shows and casinos. Keeps us from messing up the house and me from having to cook for us.

Keep the updates and observations comming, the early use of UVb
supplemental lighting might be as usefull as it's late use.

[headshake]

Was wondering...(rut ro)
Are there wavelengths from our other lighting sources (HID, CFL, T5's, LED's...) that can cancel-out, dilute or distort UV light before it hits the plants? I know I read something along those lines not too long ago, but I guess age has it's drawbacks. I can't remember where. A photography forum, perhaps...?

i don't think any of the other lighting sources will cancel-out the UVB, other than UVB itself. granted, this is an assumption at the moment. if light is waves like sound, with UV being short, spikey waves and the red end of the spectrum being slow and rolling waves, then it would take the exact opposite of the UVB wave to cancel it out, no? and like FM radio, or the high end of the audio specturm (treble), environmental factors (atmosphere, line of sight, walls etc) would impact UVB, or any short-wave light for that matter. kinda like treble cancels it self out quick and bass doesn't.

did any of that make sense?

I hadn't really thought of it before, but has anyone tried infra-red? (just curious)

far infrared waves are thermal so i can't imagine there would be much use there. as for the near infrared, well just aim some remotes at them and use something to hold the buttons down...lol.

sorry, not trying to explain anything to anyone, just brainstorming out loud. maybe i'll spark somebody else?


-shake

[oldmac]

While we wait for Rusty's updates, I thought I'd pass on what I'm doing currently.

I decided to not use the supplemental UVb again, at least not right away. This current batch went into bloom Aug 13th and is now abt 4 weeks in. I'm going to go to the UVb for the last 2 weeks or so, to see if that alone will cause the plants to ripen faster, and get me to the amber tric state that I like.

[Weezard]

While we wait for Rusty's updates, I thought I'd pass on what I'm doing currently.

I decided to not use the supplemental UVb again, at least not right away. This current batch went into bloom Aug 13th and is now abt 4 weeks in. I'm going to go to the UVb for the last 2 weeks or so, to see if that alone will cause the plants to ripen faster, and get me to the amber tric state that I like.

Might have to fool with it myself.
Just had 2 of my outdoor ladies ripped off!
There's that "ethical human behavior" again

Gonna have to go back to indoors under LEDs.
Just so I don't have to hurt anybody.
It's probably kids.
But with the quality of these strains, they'll be back.
I can cope with the loss of weed, it's the trust in others that is never the same.
Makes the world a colder place.

Have ordered a proximity alarm and a fence charger for the outdoor pen.
Don't have solid faith in it though. So, will have to keep an indoor room to insure a minimum med. supply at the least.

So, Howzit with you?

Weeze

[oldmac]

Hey Weez,

Sorry to hear about the rip off, I know what a bitch it is. I lost an entire greenhouse (8'x16') last fall, all where seeded plants. Besides the money I lost that was to come from those seeds (hurt me big time) the real shit part was they poisoned my outside dog. But the up side is there are now 3 less crack heads in my town, for some reason they disappeared a few months later.

BTW I hear you are becomming a mole-ass user. Et tu 'zard?

You may want to consider a little UVb indoors to get amber trics.