Maximum Yield USA June 2018 | Page 44

280-315 NM: ULTRAVIOLET-B (UV-B) Although it is outside the range of light humans can see, researchers have discovered UV-B radiation can be beneficial to plants. Some plant varieties will naturally increase their production of essential oils when exposed to UV-B radiation. It is believed many plants create essential oils as a defense mechanism against a variety of potential problems, including overexposure to UV radiation. So, supplementing UV light in an indoor garden’s flowering room can trigger this natural response and increase a crop’s essential oil production. Metal halide-type lamps (metal halide, ceramic metal halide) naturally emit UV-B light, making them a good choice for U