Month: November 2021

A Complete Guide To Setting Up Ideal Cannabis Grow Rooms

Cannabis – both marijuana and hemp – is quickly becoming the most prominent cash crop in the United States. And deservedly so; hemp can be used to manufacture a wide array of products. It also grows very vigorously and easily, thus requiring cannabis grow rooms with less specialized care than most other crops. This makes it a lot cheaper to cultivate and ultimately more profitable.

Cannabis and hemp can be cultivated both outdoors and indoors in cannabis grow rooms. Today, many farmers are opting to cultivate their hemp indoors. Planting crops in an enclosed space allows you to set up a controlled environment and provide the optimum conditions for their growth. It also, for the most part, protects them from pests and diseases, translating to all-round healthier, more productive crops. 

That said, there are a number of challenges facing indoor cultivators. One of the biggest challenges is limited cultivation space. Most cannabis grow rooms are quite small, making it hard to run a large-scale operation. 

One solution to the issue of limited space is our vertical grow racking systems. Our products utilize the vertical space in your grow room and allow you to plant your cannabis and hemp in multiple tiers. This will help double, and even triple, your yields. 

In today’s feature, we’ll look at what the ideal marijuana grow room looks like. We’ll also go through some of the ways you can incorporate our vertical farming equipment in your commercial grow space. 

What’s In The Ideal Cannabis Grow Room?

What makes for perfect cannabis grow rooms? Providing your plants with the optimal conditions they need to thrive will ensure they grow healthy and productive. The typical indoor commercial grow room has a number of essential features: lighting, vertical grow racking, humidity and temperature control, and proper air circulation.

1. Lighting Your Grow Room

Lighting is one of the most crucial aspects of a well-designed, profitable grow operation. It is imperative that each cannabis strain is provided with an adequate amount of light to ensure enhanced growth and optimized yields.

When setting up a marijuana grow room, the rule of thumb is to use bright but not too bright lights. Before choosing a set of lights, you’ll need to consider the type of plants you’d like. Different lights cause plants to grow differently; for example, certain light spectrums result in tall, lanky crops, and others in squat, bushy ones. 

Many commercial cannabis farmers go for LED grow lights for their cannabis grow rooms that allow users to customize the light spectrum they expose their plants to. Such lights will help you fully optimize the growth of your hemp plants. That said, it’s crucial to make sure you’re not exposing them to too much light. 

2. Make Sure The Temperature Is Just Right

The temperature of commercial cannabis grow rooms needs to be optimal for your plants. If it’s comfortable enough for you, it’s probably okay for your cannabis as well. A cold grow room will hamper germination and create a damp environment, putting crops at risk of mildew and mold. 

Insulate your cannabis grow room as much as possible. Instead of putting on a heater, run your overhead lights for 18-24 hours a day. (Running lights for this amount of time will be much cheaper than running a heater for 5-6 hours.)

Another factor that many farmers fail to consider is cold nutrients solution. Chilled solution will shock your plants, slow down physiological processes, and ultimately stunt growth. Keep your reservoirs elevated from the floor to minimize heat transfer. You can also use an aquarium heater that will raise the reservoir’s temperature without damaging the nutrients. 

3. Setting Up Vertical Farming Equipment

Vertical farming equipment has become a commonplace fixture in most commercial marijuana grow rooms today. Vertical equipment allows you to take advantage of all the vertical space in your grow room. Setting up a cannabis vertical grow room will allow you to plant your cannabis and hemp crops in multiple tiers. 

When setting up a commercial grow room, fitting it with vertical farming equipment will help maximize yields. We’ve developed numerous vertical farming products designed to fit every cannabis grow room layout. Let’s look at some of them. 

• Mobile Carriages

Our mobile carriages work in conjunction with our vertical grow racks to help eliminate wasted space created by the necessary aisles needed for non-mobile systems. Equipped with a single-spoke gearbox with 3 different gear ratio options, these carriages effortlessly move back and forth. If you’re really interested in maximizing your grow space, it’s an absolute necessity that you go mobile.

• Vertical Grow Racks

While it’s important that you utilize our mobile capabilities to increase your canopy and your yields, it’s equally as important to use our vertical grow racks, as well. Vertical grow racks sit on top of the carriages, thus allowing them to be moved back and forth. Our grow racks come with the rebars to help support your grow trays, as well as to hang your lighting from. They are made up of 14-gauge steel, thus illustrating their strength and durability.

These grow racks can be stacked up to 21’ high and are the best way to double or triple your yields. 

• Tabletop Caster Units

Our tabletop caster units are used in rooms that don’t have enough space for vertical farming equipment. They can also be used during the germination stage before the seedlings are transplanted. These units have caster wheels, making them easy to move from one room to another. What’s more, they can also be optimized to accommodate multiple tiers.

4. Choosing Pots For Your Cannabis Plants

The containers you grow your hemp and cannabis in will largely determine how they grow and develop. There are many different kinds of grow pots to choose from. Knowing the different materials available to you will help you decide what’s best for your plants. 

Plastic containers are used quite commonly: they are inexpensive and can be built to provide good drainage. They are, however, not very durable. Ceramic and terracotta plant pots are another option. These pots help regulate temperatures but often have poor drainage. 

Hemp fabric grow pots are grabbing everyone’s attention today. Although these containers are made using thick fabric, they hold plants and soil really well. They also provide great aeration and drainage. They may, however, be subject to wear and tear more than other containers. 

Regardless of the containers you choose to grow your plants in, our vertical farming equipment can support them. 

5. Can You Access All Your Plants?

Access is another important factor for all cannabis grow operations. What’s the point of going high with your racking if you can’t reach the tiers on the top? One of our main goals is to help you choose the ideal cannabis grow room design without compromising on plant access.

That’s why we designed the retractable mezzanine walkway. This elevated decking makes it possible for your workers to access higher tiers in the grow room without having to climb up and down a ladder. The mezzanine rolls out and creates a walkway when an aisle is created. When not in use, the mezzanine rolls back to its resting place, which is located underneath the adjacent grow tray.

6. Ventilation And Air Circulation

When setting up a commercial cannabis grow room, you’ll need to ensure your plants always have a gentle breeze going around them. Providing proper circulation and plenty of fresh air helps plants grow faster. Good airflow also protects your crops from mildew and mold infestation, bud rot, spider mites, and fungus gnats. 

You’ll need to create a gentle breeze that washes over, through, and under your plants to ensure humidity remains at optimum levels. As your crops begin to flower, you will need to control the aroma in your grow room. Installing a powerful, oscillating fan or two will get the job done.

Besides ensuring proper air circulation in the grow room, you should also provide an avenue for hot air to escape. It might get too hot in the grow room, and ventilating your large cannabis grow room will ensure all this heat is directed away from the plants. 

7. Provide A Reflective Environment For Your Plants

As we’ve already mentioned, light plays a vital role in developing strong, healthy and productive cannabis crops. No matter how many nutrients you provide your crops with, they won’t be able to really flourish unless they’re receiving adequate light. 

Placing a reflective material over your walls is a simple trick to help ensure your cannabis plants get all the light they need. You could also paint your walls a bright white to reflect light on your plants. If you’re looking for an easy way of squeezing out the most yields from your plants, make the walls and other surfaces in your grow room reflective.

8. Let’s Talk Humidity

Although humidity generally doesn’t cause too much trouble for developing crops, you should always ensure it’s neither too high nor too low. Remember, your plants will require different levels of humidity at different stages. 

For example, optimal humidity during the vegetative state is around 40%-60%, during flowering 40%-50%, and in the final weeks about 40%-45%. 

As mentioned earlier, proper heating, insulation, air circulation and ventilation will keep the humidity levels in your cannabis grow room controlled. 

9. Provide Adequate Carbon Dioxide

Plants use carbon dioxide to generate food in a process called photosynthesis. The more carbon dioxide present in the room, the more food your cannabis plants manufacture. This translates to higher overall yields. 

There are numerous ways in which you can supply carbon dioxide in your grow room. One of these is a carbon dioxide tank which you can use to pump CO2 into the room. You could also leave dry ice to melt near/around your plants or buy canisters that “leak” carbon dioxide into the room slowly over time. 

Remember to limit carbon dioxide supply when lights are off. It’s also advisable to buy a meter to monitor CO2 levels in the air in your commercial grow room. 

10. Keep Your Indoor Grow Rooms Safe and Tidy

Many farmers make the mistake of filling their indoor grow rooms with too many plants in a bid to maximize their yields. This results in a cramped grow space that’s difficult to maneuver around. 

Ask yourself, how much room do cannabis plants need to grow?

One of the most crucial features of a good commercial cannabis grow room is safety and tidiness. 

Ensure there is enough space in between aisles such that people don’t have to squeeze themselves through. Keep all the lights and growing accessories anchored either to the ceiling or the vertical racks to minimize the risk of anything falling and injuring someone. 

Prioritize your safety and that of other people working in your commercial grow room. 

We’ll Help You Set Up Profitable Commercial Marijuana Grow Rooms

We understand that setting up a cannabis grow room may be a bit convoluted and complicated. There’s so much you need to keep in mind: lighting, ventilation, insulation, reflection and more. We’re dedicated to making this process easier for the cultivation of any indoor crop. 

We offer free design services and show all our clients the best way to plan their grow rooms. We also evaluate our clients’ grow rooms and help them develop a layout that fits their space. If you’re thinking about expanding your commercial cannabis grow operation in 2022, feel free to contact us or request a quote. 

5 Reasons Why You Should Consider Vertical Farming Systems For Your Indoor Grow Operation

Growing marijuana indoors will give you more control over your plants and the environment in which they grow. It allows you to provide your plants with enough lighting, the right nutrients, and the appropriate amount of water. Unlike outdoor cultivation, it keeps your cannabis protected from strong winds, hailstorms, and heavy rain. 

That said, for more farmers, indoor cultivation comes with one major challenge- available space. If you’re just getting into cannabis cultivation, you may not have the resources to grow your first batch, say in a warehouse or large greenhouse. 

At the same time, it’s important to get high-quality and high quantity yields if you’re going to increase your bottom end. 

That’s where vertical farming systems come in. Designed to maximize space and offer more flexibility, these upright grow structures will allow you to grow your marijuana in multiple tiers, hence maximizing yields and profits.

When done correctly, indoor vertical grow systems can maximize your efficiency, thus increasing your profits.

What Is Indoor Vertical Farming Technology And Why Should You Consider It?

Vertical farming involves growing cannabis using vertically inclined platforms. The indoor vertical farming equipment enables you to grow your cannabis in multiple tiers.

These setups take less space, meaning you can grow more plants without needing to acquire additional space. But vertical growing does more than just double the grow space; it also reduces your energy bills and other resources.

Why Most Cannabis Growers Prefer Indoor Farming

If it’s too costly to maintain an indoor grow, why don’t people just grow outdoors?

To better understand this question, it’s important to understand the history around cannabis cultivation. It all boils down to how it started;

For many years, the authorities regarded cannabis as illegal. Cannabis lovers were therefore forced to grow their flowers indoors. Decades later, growers are still setting up their grows in warehouses.

Reason?

For some, it’s a lack of outdoor growing space while for others it’s the lack of security and protection. However, for the majority, indoor farming is the only way they know how.

For indoor growers that want to expand their yields and maximize profits, growing up makes more sense than growing out.

5 Reasons Why “Growing Up” Using Indoor Vertical Farming Systems Is The Future Of Cannabis

Here are some of the reasons why commercial cannabis farmers are gravitating towards indoor vertical grow systems.

1. Vertical Grow Racks Allows You To Reach New Heights With Your Grow System

Maximizing grow space is the primary role of vertical farming and, of course, the ability to quickly scale up your cannabis venture in climates that won’t support other grow methods.

Our vertical grow racks extend up to 21′ high, allowing for dual-level access. We can go higher than this upon customer request.

Adding two more levels to your grow room will allow you to plant twice as much cannabis, which will undoubtedly double or triple your profits. 

2. They Help Get The Most Out Of Your Resources

When setting up an indoor grow room, it’s imperative to invest in a proper lighting solution. You must also have proper airflow and temperature control to ensure your plants receive their optimal temperature. 

If you have a large grow room but only maintain one level of plants, investing in vertical grow racks would be a great idea. 

Vertical racks will ensure that your lighting, heating, and other overhead costs go to maximum use- the surest way to maximize your profits. You’re paying to have your entire facility heated and lit up- why use only a portion of it?

3. They Provide Better Conditions For Your Plants

You’ve probably come across farmers who congest their grow rooms with numerous plants, with total disregard to what these plants need to yield optimally. 

Overcrowded spaces often tend to produce stunted plants that are more susceptible to diseases. This is because the plants don’t have enough access to light and air.

Investing in vertical farming systems will help you plant more cannabis while keeping their unique needs in mind. These systems are designed with enough space in between levels; they will therefore give your cannabis plants adequate room to breathe and grow optimally.

4. Combine Vertical Racks And Mobile Carriages For Maximum Flexibility

When combined with mobile carriages, our vertical farming technology creates a mobile vertical grow system that maximizes space and flexibility. 

Our high-density mobile carriages can hold up to 1,400 pounds per linear square foot and are capable of extending up to 56’ feet.

This vertical farming equipment also does away with empty aisles in your grow room, thus helping optimize space horizontally as well. 

Order these customizable mobile carriages today and turn any wasted space into a more functional and effective indoor cannabis operation.

5. You Can Grow Cannabis Anywhere, Including Urban Areas

Following the legalization of cannabis in many states, cannabis firms are expanding to incorporate both farming sites and dispensaries to sell their products. People are realizing the benefits of growing cannabis near large urban setups.

Unfortunately, it’s hard to find large buildings or spaces for growing cannabis in densely populated cities. 

This is where vertical greenhouse growing systems excel. Our vertical farming technology allows you to increase production per square foot, hence amplifying your output two or three-fold.

Growing cannabis in a thriving urban area means that you can constantly supply locally grown cannabis to the local community without the additional transport costs and other logistics. 

Our vertical growing systems are customizable and can be installed anywhere, including a greenhouse, repurposed warehouse, or garage, depending on space availability.

Is Vertical Growing the Future of Cannabis?

The global vertical farming market is expected to grow by 25.7% by 2027, so indoor vertical farming is definitely the future of cannabis.

This rapid growth indicates the advancement, investment and optimization cannabis growers are making to achieve better quality and higher yields, while minimizing costs per square foot.

Vertical grow systems will provide additional canopy space, hence doubling your yields. This equipment also increases productivity, allowing you to keep up with the ever-growing customer demand.

Vertical farming technology also saves you money by allowing you to grow cannabis in multiple tiers, eliminating the need to acquire more land.

You Know How To Grow; We Know How To Maximize Yields And Double Profits!

Now that you know how vertical farming systems can help grow your profits, how do you determine the right vertical grow system for your cannabis operation? At MMI Agriculture Solutions, we offer products and services tailored specifically for each grow operation.

Not only will we offer you a free customized floor plan drawing, but we will also dispatch our skilled and experienced crew to ensure that your grow system is installed and running correctly.

Once you contact us, if needed, we can conduct a site survey and carry out capacity evaluations. These work in conjunction with one another to determine the best plan for your grow operation. 

We also have the ability to carry out any seismic calculations, or retrieve any permits that may be required. Our systems are designed and fortified to withstand any seismic complications, which only helps to ensure the safety of your operation. 

We trust our products, and that’s why we offer a 10-year warranty on parts and labor- the longest and the best in the industry.

It’s time to take your grow operation to higher levels and double your profits. Contact us today to learn more and/or to get a quote.