can you use uv lights to grow plants UVA Grow Light: Optimized for Indoor Plant Growth – Forever Green Indoors

can you use uv lights to grow plants UVA Grow Light: Optimized for Indoor Plant Growth – Forever Green IndoorsCommercial 385nm UVA LED light bar for supplemental UV in grow rooms, coral systems, and controlled environments. Quick Specs: Type: UVA LED Light Bar Wavelength: 385nm (single band) Length: 44 in (4 ft) Power: 30W Voltage: 100277V AC Waterproof: IP68 Housing: Sealed aluminum + glass lens Applications: CEA, coral, mycology Why 385nm UVA? How This Compares: Standard UV lights: 395405nm (visible violet) FGI: true 385nm UVA Standard: blended spectrum

Commercial 385nm UVA LED light bar for supplemental UV in grow rooms, coral systems, and controlled environments.

Quick Specs:

• Type: UVA LED Light Bar
• Wavelength: 385nm (single-band)
• Length: 44 in (4 ft)
• Power: 30W
• Voltage: 100–277V AC
• Waterproof: IP68
• Housing: Sealed aluminum + glass lens
• Applications: CEA, coral, mycology

Why 385nm UVA?

How This Compares:

• Standard UV lights: 395–405nm (visible violet)
• FGI: true 385nm UVA
• Standard: blended spectrum
• FGI: single-band precision
• Standard: IP65 or lower
• FGI: IP68 fully sealed

Why UVA (385nm) Matters

Plant morphology is influenced by spectral composition. While PAR lighting drives growth, UVA wavelengths (around 380–400nm) play a role in plant signaling, structure, and secondary metabolite expression.

Unlike broad-spectrum fixtures, this unit allows growers to:

• Introduce controlled UV exposure
• Fine-tune lighting strategies
• Experiment with spectrum-specific responses

Extended PAR (E-PAR) Context

Recent research, including work from Utah State University, has expanded the understanding of usable light for plants beyond traditional PAR (400–700nm).

• E-PAR Range: ~380–740nm
• UVA sits at the edge of biologically active light
• Supplemental UVA helps bridge the gap between artificial lighting and natural sunlight

Natural sunlight includes measurable UVA energy (~380nm), which is typically missing from standard LED grow lights.

Applications

• Commercial indoor cultivation (CEA)
• Supplemental UV for flowering and morphology control
• Coral fluorescence and reef systems
• Mycology environments
• Research and controlled trials

Core Features

• True 385nm UVA Output (Single Spectrum)
  Narrow-band ultraviolet designed for controlled application. No blended or diluted spectrum.
• IP68 Waterproof Construction
  Fully sealed aluminum housing with a bonded clear glass lens. Built for high humidity, washdown, and commercial grow environments.
• Universal Input Voltage (100–277V)
  Ready for commercial installations without additional drivers or conversion.
• 4-Foot Linear Coverage (44”)
  Even distribution across canopy rows, vertical racks, or coral systems.
• 30W Precision Output
  Low power, high-impact supplemental lighting for targeted use cases.

Natural Sunlight Spectrum Blue Energy 1.2234 umols

Typical Full Spectrum LED Lack 380NM UV

Full spectrum LEDs have limited blue spectrum which peak at 460nm.  

Full Spectrum LED 460nm Blue Energy Levels .0514 umols

Full Spectrum LED with Supplemental 380NM UV 

Adding supplemental 385NM UV creates a secondary peak of blue energy at 1.5047 umols at 12" from the canopy, roughly equaling natural sunlight. 

Supplemental UV Spectrum plus Full Spectrum Blue Energy 1.5047 umols (3x greater) 

Build Quality

These are high quality units with a crystal glass lens cover to protect the diodes and allow for cleaning. The all aluminum frame dissipates what little heat the bar creates. At 30 watts the Lightbar sips energy too. 

Spectrum Theory 

Blue energy is scientifically known to help form more compact plants. More lush leaf growth, stronger and larger stems and tighter internodal spacing.

We gave a prominent researcher at a major State University one our 385NM UVA Lightbars: 

"Your UVA lights arrived and we have confirmed their 385 nm peak. This looks like a high quality fixture." He went on to say: "Elevated exposure to UV photons is known to enhance the synthesis of UV blocking compounds in the leaves of many species and it is reasonable to think that UV photons can increase the synthesis of secondary metabolites in plants." And further, "I expect we will find value in dosing of CSat plants with UV photons, but not surprisingly, the effects will likely interact with UV wavelength, intensity, timing of delivery, and growth stage."

The UVA Lightbar fits neatly inside the frame of our Uniformity Pro LEDs as well as many other multi-bar style full spectrum LEDs.

Use

We recommend two of our UV-A LEDs over each 4'x4' area. The slim design allows them to be hung inside the frame of most 6 and 8 bar LEDs. Mounting height should be at the same level to avoid creating shadowing. 

Control

A basic digital 110V wall timer can be used, or if using the TrolMaster Hydro X we recommend the DSP-1 module for 110V or DSP-2 for 120V power connection and multiple on/off timer programming.

 Technical Specifications

• Power: 30W (±5%)
• Diodes: 20 UVA LEDs
• Input: 100–277V AC, 50/60Hz
• Thermal Output: 102.3 BTU
• Rating: IP68 waterproof
• Dimensions: 44.88” × 2.24” × 1.53”
• Weight: 4.4 lbs

Photometric File Download

Product Warranty (see our warranty here)

3 year warranty