Do Your Plants Need UV and Infrared Light

The development of LED grow lights helps accelerate photosynthesis, improve plant quality, and shorten production cycles. By producing high-revenue plants in a shorter time, it allows growers to reap more profits as well. When it comes to the selection of LED grow lights, most growers know that full spectrum LED grow lights, which include the visible spectrum of light, are beneficial for plant growth. But a complete spectrum of solar radiation includes ultraviolet and infrared wavelengths. Sometimes, using full spectrum LED grow lights alone can’t meet the lighting needs of plants. The use of UV and infrared supplemental LED lighting plays an important role in biomass production, better blooming, and healthier growth. However, inappropriate UV and infrared light can do harm to plants. It's confusing whether you should add UV and IR lights to your plants. If so, how should you apply them to your cultivation?

What are UV light and infrared light

Did you know what ultraviolet and infrared lights are?

UV and infrared lights belong to the “electromagnetic spectrum”.

UV light is a form of solar radiation with wavelength ranges from 100nm to 400nm. Proper UV lighting can enrich nutrient content and help plants grow better. UV light is mainly composed of UV-A (315nm - 400nm), UV-B (280nm - 315nm), and UV-C (100nm -280nm). UVA has the longest wavelength but the least energy. It is also known as “black light”, which may darken the human skin. Most UVA is transmitted by the atmosphere. UVB has a medium wavelength, but it is powerful. Since UVB is energetic, it has an antimicrobial effect on growing plants. UVC has the shortest wavelength, and it is almost absorbed by the atmosphere.

Nearly half of the light that reaches the surface of the earth is what we call infrared light. Wavelengths of infrared light range from 700nm to 1mm. It is electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths longer than those of visible light and shorter than radio waves. Therefore, infrared light is invisible to the human eye. Although the human eye cannot see infrared light, humans can feel it as heat.

Effects of UV and Infrared light on plants

UV light

Generally speaking, appropriate UV light alleviates negative impacts and maintains a healthy growing environment for plants through antimicrobial activities. These include reducing diseases, pets, and fungi. Furthermore, it can boost the production of biomass. For example, UV light can increase the THC and CBD content of cannabis. UV lights also have been known to promote photosynthesis, increase leaf area, and encourage branching. However, excessive UV light is harmful to plants. The UV stress can, in turn, lower the growth and yields of plants. This is because plants convert more energy to produce trichomes instead of growing strong and robust.

Infrared light

Although infrared light isn’t in the visible light spectrum, it is helpful for blooming and plant growth. Plants contain a type of photoreceptor called phytochromes, which is responsible for regulating the processes of stem growth, leaf expansion, and blooming. Phytochromes can sense infrared light. Therefore, infrared light speeds up the photosynthesis process and leads to more robust stem growth and node spacing. At last, infrared light promotes blooming and makes plants create more flowers.

Infrared light also benefits plant growth. High levels of infrared light trigger the survival mechanism of plants. When plants are covered by other plants, they stretch and grow taller leaves to receive more light. But overuse of infrared light can cause serious heat, and distort or even kill plants.

Both UV light and infrared light can be used to improve plant growth effectively. But UV light can cause skin cancer in humans and animals, while infrared light can cause thermal damage to plants. A good LED grow light can dispense UV and infrared radiation in an adequate and proper amount.

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How to grow plants with UV and Infrared light?

If you want to apply UV and infrared light to your plants, here are some considerations you should take into account.

• Specific light needs of your plants. This depends on the plants you grow. Every plant has different lighting needs. Check out more in the post “Do you need UV light for your growing cannabis”
• Size of your grow rooms. Check whether there are limitations on height or space to supplement UV and infrared light.
• Safety precautions regarding your exposure to UV and IR light.
• You budget. Although UV and infrared light are beneficial, they are not necessary for every grow room.
• Your desired planting goal. UV light contributes to healthier growth, while infrared light causes plants to stretch and trigger flowering.

If you are sure that your plants need supplemental UV and infrared light, here are some recommendations for how to grow plants with UV and infrared light.

Take cannabis as an example. The key to health and robust cannabis is choosing LED grow lights with the right appropriate amount of UV light and infrared light. Cannabis requires at least 16 hours of light at the vegetative stage. One hour of supplemental UV light every day is recommended in the mid-to-late vegetative stages. When it comes to the flowering stage, cannabis needs at least 12 hours of light. To increase THC content in the flowers, 90 to 120 minutes of supplemental UV light for this stage is recommended. Infrared light can be used for seedling, vegetative, and flowering stages. Supplement infrared light for 30 minutes before you turn the lights off for the day to promote plant growth and flowering.

If you want to supplement UV or infrared light solely for your plants, Horti-UV Pro is your ideal selection.

Any possible to supplement full-spectrum, UV, and infrared light in one LED grow light?

Of course.

Our new 3-channel LED grow light is an all-in-one and spectrum variable fixture. No need for an extra 730nm or UV light bars. You can adjust the spectrum and light intensity freely with a smart control system. Contact us for more info.