How To Build a Commercial Indoor Grow Room

commercial indoor grow room

All You Need to Know Before Building a Cannabis Indoor Commercial Grow Room

When setting up an indoor commercial grow room, your success depends on optimizing your resources. Your design, equipment, grow system, and utilities need to be utilized most efficiently to ensure good profits.

The cost incurred with building an indoor commercial grow room is high; therefore, a proper setup will ensure a commensurate or even higher ROI.

There are various grow room types, such as grow closets, tents, and cabinets. These are for small scale to medium size businesses. However, if you want to get the big bucks, a commercial grow room utilizing vertical growing equipment in warehouses or skyscrapers is your best bet.

Warehouses are ample spaces for growing your cannabis, while a vertical growing system helps you maximize the space per square footage both vertically and horizontally.

Moreover, indoor commercial cannabis growing simulates the outdoors environment, which necessitates the strategic placement of various weather conditioning equipment in an otherwise well-designed grow room.

When launching a cannabis commercial grow room, important considerations include costs, design, and grow equipment.

Indoor Commercial Grow Room Build Setup CostsVertical farming technologists planning an indoor commercial grow room using vertical grow racks.

According to Marijuana Business Daily, the average startup cost for a professional indoor grow room is about 75$ per square foot, versus $10 per square foot for an outdoor grow.

Indoor cannabis commercial growth is a costly option that must be managed with care to avoid wastage or losses. Despite its high price tag, it regularly produces high-quality crops compared to outdoor growth.

What are some of the costs of setting up a commercial grow room?

1. Climate ControlUsing an app to control climate in an indoor commercial grow room. Vertical racking systems.

The health of your crops is heavily impacted by the climate control equipment set up to manage the humidity, temperature, and air circulation of your grow space. 

This equipment involves purchasing dehumidifiers, CO2 burners, fans, and other ventilation equipment, which can drive up initial costs.

2. Lighting

Some commonly used grow lights include HIDs and LED lights. HIDs are cheap but emit a lot of heat, while LEDs have a higher price point but emit less heat. The heat that HIDs release may increase climate control costs, while LED lights can help you save money. 

Therefore, the lighting system you select for your professional grow room might significantly impact your overall operating expenditures. 

3. Shelvingmezzanine vertical growing rack for cannabis hemp plants indoors. buy vertical grow rack systems.

Commercial cannabis indoor cultivation is cost-effective when incorporating vertical grow systems. Vertical grow racks give you shelving on multiple tiered grow space, helping you utilize what would otherwise be wasted overhead space. Moreover, you maximize installed ventilation systems getting you more bang for your buck.

4. Rent

A large facility offers the opportunity for increasing canopies but at the cost of higher rent. Therefore, it becomes prudent to utilize every square inch of precious grow space using mobile carriages. 

Mobile carriages are portable, heavy-duty vertical racks that allow you to establish aisles just when tending to plants, saving on space. When compared to fixed systems (which create static aisles), you only need one aisle in your space,  improving the ROI on your real estate.

5. Consumables and Irrigation Equipment

You’ll need to regularly restock materials like fertilizer, insecticides, and cleaning / sanitizing agents to keep your professional indoor cannabis operation working smoothly. 

For maximum productivity and efficiency, you’ll also need a budget for an automated irrigation system that includes reservoirs, submersible pumps, and a water distribution system.

Cannabis Indoor Commercial Grow Room Design

How can you get the best of your indoor facility design to optimize your grow space?

6. Create a Design That Is Energy EfficientMarijuana plants growing on vertical racks in an indoor commercial cannabis grow room.

HVAC and lighting are among the two most expensive components of a grow room. LED lighting technology can help you save nearly 50% on your HVAC bills hence demonstrating a link between the two technologies with costs incurred. 

Vertical shelving systems also improve the grams per wattage per square footage. Energy conservation measures while leveraging vertical growing systems save energy costs. 

7. Optimize for Labor

A good workflow should be considered while designing a professional grow room. A good layout should have a  decent arrangement from cultivation to harvest. For example, the trim,  dry, and cure rooms should be next to each other for seamless processing of crops. 

The irrigation, lighting, and ventilation systems should also be automated to eliminate redundant procedures. Moreover, the vertical systems should incorporate workflow solutions such as the mezzanine walkway for reaching higher-up crops.

8. Allow Your Grow Style to Determine Your Layout

The design will differ whether opting for horizontal or vertical farms for your commercial grow room. Professional indoor growing aims to maximize the canopy cover without the need for costly future customizations. 

Vertical farming is a bona fide money-saving option, and an experienced installation company can assist in the creation of a detailed design that eliminates the need for costly adjustments. 

9. Consider an Experienced Vertical Farming Systems Company

Experienced Vertical Farming Systems Company workers planning an indoor commercial cannabis grow room using vertical grow racks.

It’s easier to work with a consultant who understands the jargon of architects and engineers than to deal with the design work yourself. 

Also, compared to a ‘street’ architect, an experienced vertical system installation company is familiar with the system and can provide a better layout.

In fact, the major issue with indoor growing is there are no set guidelines to govern the designing of commercial cannabis grow spaces. Therefore a professional vertical farming consultant experienced in the systems design work and installation service can give you the rock-solid results you require for your commercial grow room. 

Cannabis Indoor Commercial Grow Room Equipment

What grow equipment do you need to get your commercial cannabis grow room started?

10. Indoor Commercial Grow Room Lighting SystemCannabis plants growing under proper lighting in an indoor cannabis grow facility.

There are three types of lighting used in a grow room; fluorescent lights, high-intensity discharge lamps (HIDs), High-pressure sodium lights (HPS), and light-emitting diodes (LED). 

The key to choosing the ideal lighting system is assessing the heat they emit, the proximity between your plants and lights for the case of vertical farming (as the heat may scorch the plants), and the cost of purchase and management. 

Other associated types of equipment with lighting include ballasts and reflectors.

11. Indoor Commercial Grow Room Ventilation SystemIndoor Commercial Grow Room Ventilation System

Fans that circulate air within the grow space are essential for the ideal ventilation system. In addition, it’s crucial to calculate the fan strength and determine the type of air intake, whether active or passive. 

There’s also the exhaust system fitted with fans and a carbon filter to bring in fresh air and remove stale air. 

You also need air conditioners (AC) to control humidity and temperatures in your commercial grow room. CO2 is also necessary for plant transpiration demanding CO2 Burners, which pump CO2 into your commercial indoor grow environment.

12. Indoor Commercial Grow Room Fertigation System

The fertigation system is responsible for providing nutrients to your plants. It helps cannabis cultivators produce a consistent harvest, which improves product quality. 

It also allows you to monitor the pH levels of your water and soil. Notably, sensors may be required to automate the fertigation system, removing monotonous tasks and ensuring crop yields.

13. Indoor Commercial Grow Room HVAC and Dehumidifiers

Even though HVACs are made for temperature control, they are also helpful in controlling humidity. However, because humidity control isn’t their primary function, they may need to be supplemented with dehumidifiers. 

Dehumidifiers are purposely made to control humidity levels, which reduce the burden on your ACs, ensuring an efficient system.

14. Indoor Commercial Grow Room Vertical Grow Systemscannabis hemp mobile grow rack with casters for sale. vertical farming technology and vertical grow rack systems for sale.

Vertical grow systems are shelvings vertically stacked that allow you to plant your crops in 1020 hydroponic grow trays. 

The vertical grow racks, either as mobile carriages or tabletop caster units, give you the flexibility to maximize your grow space. They are sturdy to handle the weight of your plants, lighting, and irrigation equipment.

Start Your Indoor Commercial Grow Room With the Right Vertical Systems Specialists

The fundamentals of a professional indoor grow room revolve around costs, equipment, and design of the grow space. Having these three considerations well assessed is the bridge to your ideal commercial grow room.

A commercial cannabis operation can’t possibly be complete without vertical grow systems in place. 

MMI Agriculture is a bona fide vertical systems installation company with years of experience designing grow rooms and supplying high-quality vertical grow racks. Our vertical systems are backed by a 10-year warranty, ensuring the best of both worlds in terms of functionality and durability.

Get in touch with us for a quote.

6 Top Tasks for Your Cannabis Grow Room Cleaning Checklist

commercial grow showing roots of clones while completing cleaning checklist

6 Cannabis Grow Room Cleaning Checklist Items You Need to Have Right Away

Here are the best grow room cleaning tips you will ever need for your indoor commercial grow.

Summer can be difficult for indoor growers since ambient temperatures can reach elevated levels for growing plants. 

Although indoor farming allows for planting at any time of the year, the season is an excellent time to unveil your grow room cleaning checklist.

Summer grows are difficult since the scorching outdoor temperatures, mixed with the heat created by grow lamps, can make maintaining perfect conditions in a grow room a nightmare. However, with the advent of  LED lighting and low-cost air conditioning, you now have more options for summer planting.

So, what do you need to clean your grow room or tent if you’ve decided to do so? What should be cleaned, and how should it be done?

We’ll address these topics, but it’s also worth noting that cleaning your grow room shouldn’t be a one-time event; the goal is to avoid disasters, and a daily cleaning routine can help you avoid losses.

Why Is a Grow Room Cleaning Checklist Necessary?TO do list and alarm clock concept. Cannabis grow room cleaning checklist and tips for commercial grow rooms.

A grow room cleaning checklist reduces the chances of pests, pathogens, and mold from wreaking havoc in your grow space hence better plant health and yields. 

A cannabis grow room cleaning checklist is a step-by-step guide to cleaning your cannabis grow room. A good cleaning checklist ensures that your operation runs smoothly, with no infections, pollen, or other contaminants lurking in your grow room.

Sanitizing or sterilizing your grow room are two aspects to consider when preparing a grow room cleaning checklist.

Sanitizing your cannabis grow room is a cleaning operation to inhibit pests or pathogens from thriving in a particular grow space.

On the other hand, sterilization is done as a countermeasure when a previous harvest has been plagued with illnesses and pests, and it is used to kill off these microorganisms so that the new batch can get off to a healthy start.

Both procedures aim to kill pathogens, but sterilization is a more thorough approach than sanitization.

Embracing the best-case scenario, sanitizing your grow room is sufficient in most situations. 

Making a daily, weekly, and monthly grow room cleaning checklist ensures that you stay on top of the situation and keep diseases and pests at bay.

Therefore, what are the tools of the trade when carrying out your grow room cleaning?Variety of cleaning supplies to clean a commercial indoor marijuana grow room.

  • Sponges and several cloths
  • Gloves and protective goggles
  • Cleaning agents; Detergent, Hydrogen Peroxide, Bleach, and Vinegar
  • Alcohol wipes 
  • Reverse Osmosis or Distilled water 
  • Duct tape
  • A Mop and bucket, broom, and dustpan 

6 Steps You Got to Have In Your Cannabis Grow Room Cleaning Checklist

A cannabis grow room cleaning checklist is ideal for ensuring your grow room is in tip-top condition. What things do you need to check out as you clean your grow room?

1. Start With Cleanliness

The first thing you have to factor in your daily grow room cleaning checklist is cleanliness.

Powdery mildew and pollen are prevalent problems in a poorly sanitized environment. Having sufficient airflow in a grow room is a preventative measure for dealing with these two nuisances.

However, in the case of accumulated contaminants, there’s a need to conduct daily cleaning procedures, which include;Man touching and handling cannabis plants on vertical grow racks and mobile shelving. Indoor commercial cannabis grow room.

  • Closely Inspect Your Plants and Vertical Growing Systems – Dedicate some time daily to inspect your plants to check for dry leaves or signs of pests and disease. Consider what can host diseases on your tabletop caster units and vertical grow racks, such as soil spillage and debris, and remedy it immediately.
  • Practice Good Housekeeping – Clean the floor with a mop and detergent/bleach combined with warm water daily to remove grime and debris. As a disease-preventive method, the goal is to eradicate possible pest habitats on a daily basis.
  • Assess Your Grow Equipment – Contaminants are kept out of your grow room thanks to functioning growing equipment like carbon filters, ventilation systems, and irrigation systems. Check your equipment daily to keep pathogens from destroying your crops. Also, use alcohol wipes to wipe your electrical equipment cables.

Weekly Cannabis Grow Room Cleaning Checklist

Weekly grow room cleaning entails more time-consuming procedures that aren’t practicable to complete daily but are equally vital.

2. Cleaning the Ventilation SystemInspecting a ventilation system for a indoor marijuana grow room for commercial use.

There will almost certainly be junk in the intake filters and bug screens, which is a positive indication they are functional but due for a clean-up.

Most intake filters have removable dust filters, simply strip them off, blow out the dust inside and wash the sleeves in the washing machine. Reinstall the filters after drying them.

Cleaning your grow room’s ventilation systems is crucial in your grow room cleaning checklist. An opening in the system can allow spores, bacteria, and pollen to infiltrate your grow room and affect your canopies.

Check for leaks or holes that can be sealed with duct tape for a more efficient ventilation system.

The lifespan of most filters is between half a year to a year; inspect them keenly to assess the need for replacing them.

3. Cleaning and Sterilizing the Grow SystemsSupplies to clean and sterilize indoor cannabis grow room systems and vertical grow racks.

Whether using 1020 grow trays or plastic pots, you need to sterilize them to keep the root system healthy and fungus-free

Hydrogen peroxide is a good disinfectant that is severe on disease-carrying pests yet gentle on plants. A suitable H2O2 solution for cleaning surfaces and eradicating persistent bacteria is two parts water to one part 35 percent hydrogen peroxide.

You can also use Hydrogen peroxide to sterilize your grow soil and kill any diseases or pests present. This, on the other hand, is something you can perform after a growing season or monthly.

Small tools, including pumps, irrigation tubes, trays, and propagation covers, can be sterilized by soaking in the hydrogen solution.

Monthly Cannabis Grow Room Cleaning Checklist

With your daily and weekly cleaning checklist down, there are tasks to be done monthly or bi-annually based on your assessment.

4. Cleaning the Irrigation SystemWorker cleaning the irrigation system in a cannabis grow facility with vertical racks and mobile carriages.

Bacteria and mold can grow in pipes that are dark and humid. You may have to dismantle your irrigation system and clean it thoroughly.

Large items, such as reservoirs, should be washed by hand and thoroughly rinsed. You’ll also have to open the submersible pumps and clean the filters.

If you use a reverse osmosis purifier to purify your irrigation water, it may also need to be serviced. Replace the carbon and reverse osmosis filters as required.

Also, if you’re using a pre-softener, make sure the salt cartridges are replaced.

5. Cleaning the Grow LightsCannabis plants growing under grow lights in an indoor commercial marijuana system with vertical farming technology.

Using a soft cotton cloth, thoroughly clean your reflectors. Avoid using paper or abrasives.

A 3 percent vinegar solution comes in helpful at this point, followed by thorough rinsing with distilled or reverse osmosis water (that helps reduce the formation of calcium stains).

As for the tops of your reflectors, wipe away accumulated dust. Clean the glass panels on your air-cooled hoods with a regular window cleaning product.

Duct tape can be used to secure ducting connectors and replace broken seals connected to your grow lights.

6. Stock UpWoman writing a to do list for cleaning supplies for a cannabis grow room.

As you conduct your checks, compile a list of depleting consumables like nutrients, hydrogen peroxide, bleach, and window cleaner.

Also, calibrate the pH meters to keep your grow medium and nutrient solution pH levels in check.

Create Your Perfect Cannabis Grow Room Cleaning Checklist

Checklists are more than just a way to ensure you’ve completed all of the needed tasks. Making a grow room cleaning checklist will help you safeguard your crop yields and health while also making your next grow to go more smoothly.

MMI Agriculture provides high-density vertical growing systems that help compliment your grow room cleaning efforts. They are made of high-density steel that resists disease proliferation while allowing you to access upper levels through the mezzanine walkway. This makes it easier to inspect crops and clean the elevated shelving.

Contact us for the best vertical solutions in the market.