Different wavelengths of light are extremely important for plant growth but can affect humans in very negative ways . If you spend time in a growroom , wearing protective eyewear is essential .
by Kent Gruetzmacher
why eye protection in the growroom is essentia l hen growing wcannabis , it ’ s important to note that environmental conditions which are good for plants are not necessarily good for people . This is particularly true for sunlight , as cannabis plants thrive in extremely sunny climates . Needless to say , spending a majority of the day in the direct sunlight would be bad for anyone ’ s health . Without proper protection , consistent exposure to grow lights has the potential to damage your eyes . Similar to the sun , prolonged exposure to grow lights can distort your vision and cause permanent damage to your eyes . Whether you are a hobbyist grower or commercial producer , eye protection in the growroom is highly recommended .
Why are Grow Lights Bad for Your Eyes ?
From natural sunlight to artificial sources , all light travels by way of wavelengths . To help us better understand how light wavelengths interact with the cosmos , scientists categorize them by way of the light spectrum .
Visible light occurs in the middle of the light spectrum , while invisible sources like gamma rays and radio waves exist on the extreme ends . Within the visible light spectrum , cannabis plants use different colours of light for photosynthesis during different phases of growth . Most often , blue light is used for vegetative growth and red light for flowering . While prolonged exposure to certain colour lights like blue light can be problematic on its own , there is also ultraviolet ( UV ) light to consider . As the Eye Hortilux website explains , “ UV light is extremely important for plant growth … The plant responds to the stress and sunburn from UV wavelengths by creating its own sunscreen in the form of trichomes . The more trichome production the higher the chemical levels .”
The Dangers of Ultraviolet ( UV ) Light
Manufacturers intentionally engineer grow lights to stimulate trichome development in cannabis with UV radiation . However , the amount of UV radiation people and plants can handle is quite different , and prolonged exposure to UV light for people manifests itself in both sunburn and eye damage . Scientists categorize UV radiation with three classifications :
• UVA ( 315-400nm )
• UVB ( 280-315nm )
• UVC ( 180-280nm )
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