Brilliant Ideas for Your Cannabis Grow House Design

An intelligent cannabis grow house design is dependent on getting a good design team and plans for your indoor grow systems. Read on blog.

Tips to Power-up Your Cannabis Grow House Design

Running a lucrative cannabis indoor facility demands a cannabis grow house design that supports your workflow. The US cannabis market is lucrative, valued at USD 13.2 billion in 2022 and expected to reach 40.1 billion by 2023. 

Despite the large market size, different players are looking to get a piece of the pie, creating high competition in the industry. Competition shrinks the profit margins for companies unless you are efficiently producing quality (Grade A) cannabis.

Indoor vertical cannabis cultivation provides an opportunity to consistently produce premium cannabis. However, if your facility lacks a proper cannabis grow house design you may not meet your business goals.

Commercial indoor cannabis growing is done in warehouses, skyscrapers, or even shipping containers. Each structure presents unique design challenges.

A warehouse grow room gives the farmer flexibility to install the necessary climate equipment and vertical growing systems.

A cannabis warehouse grow room is an agricultural containment room in which cannabis (clones, seedings, and flowers) is grown under controlled environmental conditions.

What Is a Cannabis Warehouse Grow Room?

A cannabis warehouse grow room is an agricultural containment room in which cannabis (clones, seedings, and flowers) is grown under controlled environmental conditions.

The structures can be set up in any climate or environment as the grower has control over environmental factors like humidity, lighting, temperature, and airflow.

There are two approaches to acquiring a warehouse grow room. You can either build one from the ground up or lease a space. When deliberating on these options consulting with a professional is key to success. 

Notably, building a warehouse for cannabis cultivation is expensive, time-consuming, and hectic trying to acquire permits. Nevertheless, should you manage to build there’s the advantage of having a space perfectly designed for your indoor growing equipment.

On the other hand, you can lease a warehouse to grow cannabis. Leasing a space saves time on acquiring permits and getting the project up and running. 

One downside is that your cannabis grow house design needs to be adjusted to work in the existing structure. This can present a slight headache to the designers but not outside the scope of possibility.

The warehouse grow room design needs to be next to perfect to ensure a successful operation. 

The ideal cannabis grow house design is dependent on two factors; your plans for installing vertical growing equipment and the design team for your warehouse grow room design.

The ideal cannabis grow house design is dependent on two factors; your plans for installing vertical growing equipment and the design team for your warehouse grow room design.

Top Considerations for a Profitable Cannabis Grow House Design.

In cannabis cultivation, the process spans various phases such as cloning, flowering, harvesting, and drying. When planning out your warehouse you first need to have sections for each of these phases spelled out. 

It’s recommended to have a separate room for cloning, seedlings/ flowering stage, and drying the cannabis. 

Moreover, where space allows, you can further divide the flower rooms. 

Dividing the flower rooms isn’t a necessity but it opens up room for experimentation with new varieties or treatment protocols. Also, it helps with containing diseases or pest outbreaks.

Then again, purchase appropriately sized airflow equipment for your operation. Undersized equipment can lead to high energy costs as they work hard to regulate the environmental conditions. 

Furthermore, undersized HVACs and ACs result in inconsistent environmental conditions such as extreme levels of humidity or temperature affecting the quantity and quality of yields.

Various equipment-driven factors that determine the success of your cannabis grow house design.

Cannabis plants during the vegetative stage need 18 hours of light. Cannabis requires 12 hours of light to enter the flowering stage.

1. Cannabis Grow House Design: Lighting 

The cannabis plants need to get light at the appropriate duration and frequency. 

Cannabis plants during the vegetative stage need 18 hours of light. Cannabis requires 12 hours of light to enter the flowering stage. To ensure consistency, growers may need to install controllers that automate the transitions between light and darkness durations.

Moreover, have a space between the light fixture and your canopies. The grow lights and mature plants should be 1-3 feet apart (depending on the type of light) to avoid scorching the plants.  

To avoid scorching the plants you need customized vertical growing systems. An experienced company should customize the vertical systems to your cannabis variety whether growing Indica, Sativa, or Hybrid varieties. They each grow to a particular height which determines the dimension of your vertical systems.

There are a variety of vertical grow rack systems that can be customized to work for your cannabis grow house design.

2. Cannabis Grow House Design; Vertical Growing Systems 

A warehouse grow room should resemble a manufacturing factory. A good warehouse grow room design should produce high amounts of cannabis plants in respect to the available space. 

Vertical growing systems provide an opportunity to increase the canopy per square foot by utilizing the overhead space.

Vertical systems are multi-tier racks that can house your canopies, lighting and HVAC equipment, and irrigation systems.  

There are a variety of vertical grow rack systems that can be customized to work for your cannabis grow house design.

First, we have the vertical grow racks. These are sturdy systems made of 14 gauge steel to support your plants, equipment, and workers as they tend to your plants. 

They also have rebars to easily support your plant laden grow trays in addition to hung light fixtures. Conversely, you can have wire decking instead of rebars to also support your cannabis post-harvest efforts.

Second is our mobile carriages. These systems help utilize up to 90% of your grow space by eliminating static aisles. These heavy-duty vertical growing systems support up to 1400 pounds per linear square foot. 

Their span/width is ergonomics-centered to ensure efficiency during plant care and harvesting. The mobile carriages are fitted with different gear ratios to move loads of all sizes with one hand.

Installing vertical systems isn’t a one size fits all approach, you need a design for every grow space. 

The design work is also unique for your lighting, irrigation systems, and air circulation systems. You need to identify a company well versed with each of these intricate systems to ensure a working warehouse grow room design.

One company cannot meet the requirements for the ideal cannabis grow house design. A cannabis grow room comprises many systems that require a variety of specialized services/companies. 

3. Cannabis Grow House Design; Floor Plan Layout and Indoor Grow Room Systems Design

One company cannot meet the requirements for the ideal cannabis grow house design. A cannabis grow room comprises many systems that require a variety of specialized services/companies. 

These companies, also referred to as contractors or agencies, can be classified according to their roles in developing a credible warehouse grow room design.

  • Cultivation Consultant 

Cultivation consultants give you an overview of your cultivation project. They can help you identify the various cultivation methods, and instruct on streamlining workflow and everyday operations.

  •  The Cannabis Grow Space Architect

An architect needs to be licensed and at least versed in cannabis facility design for a proper layout. They should detail where to locate the growing rooms and drying rooms with an efficient workflow in mind.

  • Mechanical Engineer

Getting your airflow equipment wrong could be detrimental to your indoor growing efforts. You need a mechanical engineer to design your electrical, plumbing, and environmental controls. 

  • Vertical Systems Specialist (Racking and Benching Installation Company)

Vertical growing systems are a capital-intensive part of your indoor grow op. As such, you need an experienced vertical growing systems installation company to ensure optimal use of space while keeping costs down.

MMI Agriculture is an experienced vertical systems installation company specializing in supplying and installing quality vertical growing systems. We support the grower’s efforts by providing a free floor plan drawing. Moreover, we perform capacity evaluations to help you monitor your business goals. 

  • Climate Conditioning Equipment Companies

Good airflow at the various stages of plant growth is crucial. Sourcing a HVAC company will help you get the appropriate equipment for healthy plant growth.

You also need to acquire the appropriate lights for your cannabis plant. Some varieties prosper under HID lights and other LED lights. Each type of light affects your costs and plant health.

An intelligent cannabis grow house design is dependent on getting a good design team and plans for your indoor grow systems. 

Foster an Intelligent Cannabis Grow House Design With MMI Agriculture

An intelligent cannabis grow house design is dependent on getting a good design team and plans for your indoor grow systems. 

A warehouse grow room is a pretty big grow space and with the right design can result in great gains.

At MMI Agriculture we are about getting you started and running with vertical growing systems. 

We offer various preliminary services and supply reliable vertical grow racks to set you up for success. Contact us today for a quote.

Cannabis Grow Racks: 5 Keys to Boosting Your Indoor Yield and Profit Margins

Are you in US states where cultivating cannabis is legal? MMI Agriculture has premium cannabis grow racks for sale. Keep on reading blog.

Revolutionizing Indoor Vertical Farming with Cannabis Grow Racks

The opportunity to make profits in the cannabis cultivation market is huge. It’s even more lucrative employing modern horticultural technology such as cannabis grow racks. 

To succeed in cannabis cultivation, various factors like the growing system (indoor or outdoor), plant variety and grow medium need to be well thought out.

The US market size of the medicinal and recreational marijuana growing industry is projected to hit $22.6bn as of the year 2023. There’s an avenue to make great gains growing cannabis the right way with cannabis sales expected to hit a new high.

One lucrative method of growing cannabis is indoor vertical cannabis cultivation. The method involves growing cannabis indoors on vertical grow racks for increased and high-quality yields.

The opportunity to make profits in the cannabis cultivation market is huge. It's even more lucrative employing modern horticultural technology such as cannabis grow racks. 

What Is Vertical Cannabis Farming?

Vertical cannabis farming is the cultivation of cannabis indoors on vertically stacked grow racks. 

The method utilizes Controlled-Environment agriculture technology (CEA) to create the ideal conditions for plant growth.

For profitable vertical cannabis farming, it involves utilizing various equipment and technology such as:

  • Air conditioning equipment like ACs, HVAC, Fans
  • CO2 burners
  • Vertical grow racks 
  • Irrigation system
  • PH meters 
  • Fertigation system 
  • Filters

The stakes are high with vertical farming; purchasing all the aforementioned equipment as well as leasing the real estate for your indoor grow operation.

As a result, vertical farming is a high-risk venture. Having a business plan at the onset is crucial to a successful indoor grow op. 

Moreover, an experienced vertical systems installation company can help you do capacity evaluations for your indoor space. 

Such services can help you project the ROI of your operation, which can help you bring more clarity to your business plan.

What do you stand to gain from cultivating your crops in cannabis grow racks?

Top 5 Benefits of Using Cannabis Grow Racks

With cannabis grow racks, farmers can maximize their grow space and climate-conditioning equipment. Farmers can add up to 300% of grow space with vertical grow racks and save on energy costs.

1. Maximize on Grow Space With Cannabis Grow Racks

Conventional farming involves growing cannabis on horizontal beds, same for its indoor counterpart where cultivation is on horizontal cannabis grow tables. However, this leaves underutilized overhead space. 

Considering the cost of leasing real estate, indoor farming done on horizontal grow tables can hamper good profit margins. 

Then again, you are utilizing high-power ACs and HVACs to service one tier of crops while they have the juice to service the entire grow space.

With cannabis grow racks, farmers can maximize their grow space and climate-conditioning equipment. Farmers can add up to 300% of grow space with vertical grow racks and save on energy costs.

Furthermore, farmers utilizing mobile carriages can utilize up to 90% of their grow space for canopies by eliminating wasted aisle space. 

Their design allows you to move hundreds of square feet (in grow racks), loaded with canopies, with a single hand. 

Thanks to the attached drive shafts you can manage your plants quickly and efficiently.

Moreover, the cannabis grow racks can house your irrigation systems. You need to consider how the plants will receive and drain water. 

2. Better Environmental Control

Cannabis grow racks make it easier to provide crops with lighting requirements. 

After determining the cannabis variety to grow, the vertical grow racks can be custom-built to ensure the proper distance between the canopy and lighting. 

With vertical grow racks you can ensure every plant receives adequate lighting.

Moreover, the cannabis grow racks can house your irrigation systems. You need to consider how the plants will receive and drain water. 

Your cannabis grow tables should be designed to drain water naturally. 

Even in the case of an overflow, water shouldn’t spill because it can damage lower-tier light fixtures or become a tripping hazard.

Microclimates or “hot spots” are common in indoor farms. Vertical farming helps you make the most of the air conditioning equipment. 

Nevertheless, it’s common to have microclimate form, and supplementing your grow space with oscillating fans is necessary. 

Cannabis grow racks give you the flexibility to attach these fixtures where “hot spots” form to keep optimal conditions for your plants.

The controlled indoor conditions coupled with increased all-year production per square foot make cannabis grow racks a worthwhile investment.

3. More Growing Cycles per Year

Indoor cannabis growing is independent of outdoor weather conditions. This means farmers can grow any time of the year. 

Then again, the artificial growing environment allows you to maintain consistent and quality yields.  

Indoor vertical farming can be likened to having a plant factory. You have increased crop production without compromising on quality or time of production.

Notably, while growing cannabis you need to induce the various stages of growth. This activity is done by regulating the light the plants receive.

For example, fast-growing cannabis plants need 13 hours a day in the vegetative stage. 

When the crops mature they naturally flower by receiving 10 to 12 hours of complete darkness. 

These factors are difficult to attain outdoors but quite practical when growing indoors on cannabis grow racks.

The controlled indoor conditions coupled with increased all-year production per square foot make cannabis grow racks a worthwhile investment.

Cannabis grow racks enable you to implement this predictable method of farming on a large scale.

4. Increased Yield Quality

Indoor farming allows you to create the ideal environment for growing a specific variety or strain of cannabis.

Farmers can manipulate climate control equipment using AI and automation to provide the plants with the right amount of CO2, airflow, and lighting to keep the buds flavorful and terpene-rich.

Indoor farms, thanks to hydroponics technology, can keep pathogens and pests at bay. 

Most indoor farms operate as a closed system, making it simple to maintain a highly sanitized environment. 

Furthermore, eliminating the use of soil lowers the presence of microorganisms in your grow space. This feature also helps lower the quantity of chemicals used in growing the plants.

Cannabis grow racks enable you to implement this predictable method of farming on a large scale.

Because the crops produced are low in agricultural chemicals and have a high flavor and terpene profile, you can charge premium prices for your produce.

Furthermore, since indoor vertical farming is done near or within urban areas, the produce is delivered fresh to the consumer. This improves the product quality that reaches the consumer, fetching you higher prices.

A vertically integrated cannabis company owns and controls the creation (cultivation), distribution, and retail of cannabis products. 

5. Better Product Tracing for Vertical Integrated Companies

A vertically integrated cannabis company owns and controls the creation (cultivation), distribution, and retail of cannabis products. 

Cannabis regulation dictates the need of tracing the entire supply chain of cannabis products.

A vertical farming venture helps integrated companies keep enough stock for consumers and reduce the hassle of satisfying the legal framework on product tracing. 

Cannabis grow racks enable businesses to produce high-quality yields on a large scale. 

Customers are more confident getting their products from such companies because the contents are consistent. 

In addition, consumers can build trust with the brand as the sole producer and retailer of the products.

Disadvantages of Using Grow Racks to Grow Cannabis

  • High Initial Cost 

Vertical cannabis farming requires a significant capital investment in the form of equipment.

Cannabis grow racks are expensive but don’t really have to be. You can opt to install the racks in stages until your grow space is packed. 

You can plan a phased installation of vertical grow racks using a free floor plan drawing from your installation company.

Furthermore, partnering with an experienced vertical growing systems installation company lowers the risk of transitioning into vertical farming

  • A Level of Complexity 

A team of experts is a must-have when venturing into vertical farming.

There are numerous components that contribute to a successful indoor cannabis operation, including advanced climate technology, irrigation systems, and plant care specifications. 

For a profitable vertical farming venture, you need experts to get all of these things running smoothly.

Luckily, you have MMI Agriculture to get you sorted on all technicalities around cannabis grow racks from designing the grow room to getting permits. 

We create customized cannabis grow racks that optimize your space, regardless of strain or available space.

MMI Agriculture Cannabis Grow Racks for Your Grow Op

Are you in US states where cultivating cannabis is legal? MMI Agriculture has premium cannabis grow racks for sale.

We are experienced in the supply and installation of premium uprights backed by a 10-year warranty on parts and labor. 

We create customized cannabis grow racks that optimize your space, regardless of strain or available space.

Get started with our free floor plan drawing among our other preliminary services and envision your potential vertical farm. 

Contact us today for a quote.

Top 5 Features For an Effective Vertical Grow Shelf System

At the core of indoor farming are vertical grow shelf systems that help maximize land use per square foot by helping you grow vertically.

The Vertical Grow Shelf System Checklist For Growing Cannabis Indoors

We live in a rapidly urbanizing world, which necessitates the agricultural sector to develop innovative solutions, such as a vertical grow shelf system, to supply fresh produce in urban areas.

With high pollution levels and the resulting inhospitable conditions for crop cultivation, arable land is becoming scarce.

Industries and Agtech are leading research into indoor crop cultivation. The practice is commonly known as Indoor farming or precision agriculture. 

Indoor farming entails creating artificial conditions for plant growth that mimic outdoor conditions.

This agricultural method is also known as precision agriculture because it uses AI and automation to allow farmers to grow crops to a specific taste and quality.

At the core of indoor farming are vertical grow shelf systems. These are vertical systems that help maximize land use per square foot by helping you grow vertically.

A vertical grow shelf system is a multiple rack system you can use to cultivate your cannabis plants.

What Is a Vertical Grow Shelf System

A vertical grow shelf system is a multiple rack system you can use to cultivate your cannabis plants.

These systems come in various designs in terms of materials and accessories. 

For example, a light-duty tabletop caster unit comes with caster wheels for easy mobility between rooms. On the other hand, we have heavy-duty mobile carriages that have a lever system to move loads of crops within a given grow space.

Then again, we have materials used in the construction of a vertical grow shelf system. 

High-quality systems are manufactured with steel to give them rigidity and curtail the spread of pests and diseases. Steel is also a material that is easy to clean and can withstand the moist conditions of a commercial indoor grow room.

A vertical grow shelf system helps farmers grow crops all year round. Because indoor cannabis farming is not dependent on outdoor conditions, you can grow in any season, whether winter, summer, or spring.

5 Advantages of a Vertical Grow Shelf System

Increase Production Capacity

A vertical grow shelf system helps farmers grow crops all year round. Because indoor cannabis farming is not dependent on outdoor conditions, you can grow in any season, whether winter, summer, or spring.

Moreover, with the year-round cultivation, the increased tiers can allow you to run like a manufacturing facility due to increased and consistent yields.

Maximize Vertical and Horizontal Grow Space

Vertical growing systems not only help increase vertical grow space but also horizontal space. 

For example, mobile carriages help eliminate static aisles. These vertical grow racks are mounted on a carriage system, which allows you to move the shelving systems side to side and hence you can create aisles when necessary.

Most vertical grow shelf systems are made to integrate with conditioning and lighting equipment from most companies.

Easy to Integrate Conditioning Equipment

The cannabis vertical growing systems need to be sturdy to carry both the weight of crops and environmental conditioning equipment. The vertical grow racks need to carry the irrigation systems and lighting systems. 

Moreover to help overcome the formation of microclimates they may need to carry some light-duty HVAC equipment. Most vertical grow shelf systems are made to integrate with conditioning and lighting equipment from most companies.

Reduce Energy Costs

Vertical grow systems help you save on energy costs by having your powerful ACs run at optimal capacity for a given space.  When compared to horizontal systems, one AC can serve more crops per square foot.

Moreover, by incorporating IoT sensors into your vertical farms you can regulate the environmental equipment and maintain optimum conditions.

Customizable to Any Grow Space

Vertical growing systems installation companies prepare floor drawings allowing them to create customized systems. The customized systems ensure your space is well utilized.

In addition, the systems can be customized to facilitate the cannabis variety you are growing to ensure high efficiency. 

With customized vertical grow shelf systems, you can also compute the capacity evaluations for your space, hence you can better project the expected gains.

Top 5 Considerations For a Reliable Vertical Grow Shelf System

Using steel on our mobile carriages means they can carry up to 1400 pounds per carriage foot. This can comfortably carry your crops, grow medium and lighting equipment.

1. Durable Construction Material

Vertical growing racks are commonly made of steel. Steel is a material that offers, rigidity, durability, and ease of cleaning. 

A vertical grow shelf system is an expensive purchase and so it has to be durable to ensure a good ROI. 

In addition, the indoor growing environment needs to remain clean to ensure optimum conditions for plant growth.

Using steel on our mobile carriages means they can carry up to 1400 pounds per carriage foot. This can comfortably carry your crops, grow medium and lighting equipment.

You also need to consider the quality of grow trays. They have to be sturdy to hold up the weight of grow medium and crops planted. 

Our grow trays are made to withstand temperature fluctuations and the wear of daily agricultural use. They also have rounded edges for easy cleaning and drain channels to ensure your crops aren’t waterlogged.

Remember to have the trays fit perfectly to your grow systems. Hence, it may be prudent to buy both your vertical systems and grow trays from the same installation company.

It's important to obtain your vertical grow shelf system from a reputable company.

2. An Experienced Installation Company

It’s important to obtain your vertical grow shelf system from a reputable company.

A reputable company ensures a smooth transition into vertical farming with mitigated risks.

There are various perks to partnering with an experienced vertical systems installation company;

    • Free floor plan drawings to ensure your grow space is optimized.
    • Capacity evaluation which allows you to have a definite business plan
    • Seismic calculations. The safety of your employees and operation is crucial. Vertical growing systems need to be designed and fortified to overcome seismic complications.
    • Warranty on parts and labor. A good warranty from an installation company keeps you easy as you can identify the longevity of your vertical growing equipment. For example, at MMI Agriculture we offer a 10-year warranty on parts and labor to get you started and prosperous in your operation.
  • Permit acquisition

When choosing a vertical growing systems installation company ensure they have the above features to support your vertical farming efforts.

However, there are a few key points you should consider right away when purchasing a vertical grow shelf system for each cannabis variety:

3. Customization Support (For the Cannabis Variety)

Are you growing cannabis Sativa, Indica or Hybrid in your indoor vertical farm? Then you need to consider the different growing requirements for each of these cannabis strains.

In our article “Indoor Cannabis Growing: Cannabis Indica vs Sativa vs Hybrid” we’ve gone in-depth on what each strain demands.

However, there are a few key points you should consider right away when purchasing a vertical grow shelf system for each cannabis variety:

  • Indica. It’s a short and bushy cannabis variety. Their stature can allow you to have more tiers. However, they have dense buds making them prone to diseases. Good ventilation is a must for high and quality yields.
  • Sativa. They are a tall variety with a longer maturity cycle. They can lower the number of tiers and increase energy costs due to the long maturity cycle
  • Hybrid. These varieties give you the best of both worlds. The dense buds and short growth cycle of the Indica and mold resistance of the Sativa. The dominant variety will influence the number of tiers you can install for your grow space.

The advantage of having a vertical grow shelf system for your indoor cannabis operation is that you can install it in phases.

4. Phased Vertical Grow Shelf System Installation

The advantage of having a vertical grow shelf system for your indoor cannabis operation is that you can install it in phases.

Notably, vertical farming is a capital-intensive venture. 

With this in mind, you can devise a strategy for installing your indoor grow systems in sections/phases. In due time, you can add more systems hassle-free as there are floor plans to give direction and clarity on your project goals.

Furthermore, if you have a midsized operation you can leverage tabletop caster units to grow your crops.

The vertical grow shelf systems platforms shouldn’t be too wide. They should make it easy for workers to tend to each plant.

5. Ergonomics

The vertical grow shelf systems platforms shouldn’t be too wide. They should make it easy for workers to tend to each plant.

The workers should have an easy time reaching for crops on top tiers. There’s an option for workers to use ladders. However, when harvesting, they may need to move loads of plant material and their safety can be a concern.

Fortunately, there’s innovations such as the retractable elevated decking you can assess using a scissor lift or ladder. The decking runs through the entire span of your vertical system, allowing your workers to save time and energy working on the top tiers.

Moreover, the mobile carriages are fitted with drive and handle capabilities allowing your workers to move loaded systems with one hand and access the crops.

Our expertise allows us to help support cannabis companies in their transition to vertical farming by supplying high-quality vertical systems all over the USA. 

Grow Higher With MMI Agriculture Vertical Grow Shelf Systems

At MMI Agriculture we specialize in vertical grow shelf systems installation. 

Our expertise allows us to help support cannabis companies in their transition to vertical farming by supplying high-quality vertical systems all over the USA. 

We partner in the success of your farm by providing 10 years warranty on parts and labor. Moreover, we have support services such as capacity evaluations and free floor plan drawings. 

Ready to make the shift? Contact us today for a quote.