Pests and other pathogens can make growing indoors somewhat difficult. It is all about proper management of your indoor grow room or greenhouse. Preventative measures are always the best way for pest and pathogen management but sometimes these little critters and fungi spores find their way in to your grow room and begin to thrive. One new technology that is being used in commercial greenhouses and grows rooms is the use of UV-C T5 lamps.
UV, or ultraviolet, refers to a broad spectrum of light, anything from 100-400 nanometers. Ultraviolet has been further broken down into subcategories, and UV-C is the category that we are interested in. It is the section of UV between 185-280 nanometers. UV-C rays have the highest energy and is the arguably the most dangerous part of UV. UV-C rays can destroy anything from viruses, mold, bacteria, and mildew to plant pests like spider mites. Although it is successful in killing unwanted diseases and pathogens, it needs to be closely monitored because it can be harmful to not only you but your plants as well.
UV-C lamps can be used to sterilize a grow room before use, even though it is still recommended to clean everything with a weak bleach solution. Another possible application for UV-C lamps is to have them in your indoor garden and have them turn on for a few seconds to a minute depending on the wattage of the lamps. The UV-C rays only kill what they hit so it is necessary to place them in intervals in-between the plants to ensure that the plants are getting hit from every angle.
There is still more research needed for this application, as far as dosage of UV light, how far from the plant lamps should be placed, how long between dosages, but this will be a way for companies to reduce their dependence on chemical insecticides.
Article by, Brett McCormick, co-founder of Good Green Builders. Good Green Builders is a hydroponic grow room and Greenhouse builder in the San Francisco Bay Area. For more information or a free consultation call today, (415) 246-8055.
Source: UrbanGardenMagazine.com
