8 Steps To Set Up A Perfect Cannabis Grow Room
Congratulations! you have finally decided to grow your cannabis indoors rather than outside. Great choice! Now comes the next challenge; how to set up a grow room.
When setting up a cannabis indoor grow room, there are many factors to consider. For a start, you have to figure out the number of plants you want to grow, the types of growing mediums to use, the lighting needed, and how to supply the electrical needs to the indoor space.
This guide will help you save money and time by showing you exactly what you need to know to set up an adequate and well-thought-out indoor grow room.
First, let’s look at some of the benefits of growing cannabis in a controlled, indoor environment.
4 Advantages To Growing Weed Indoors
Growing marijuana indoors allows you to maintain control over your crop’s life cycle, resulting in consistently bountiful yields. Here are some of the reasons why growing cannabis indoors is the best way to go.
1. High-quality Cannabis
You have complete control over the environmental parameters in which your plants grow, resulting in high-quality cannabis. Although it requires a lot of money and resources, it allows for more control than growing outdoors, resulting in premium cannabis.
2. Increased Crop Yield All-year-round
You can grow in the summer or the winter and obtain the same yield. Furthermore, you have complete control over when the plants flower, when harvested, and when you want to cultivate another batch.
3. They Are Not Affected By Harsh Weather
In grow rooms, you supply the appropriate growing media, nutrients, water, and temperature for the plants to thrive. In contrast, plants grown outdoors depend on the weather for growth which is more random and volatile.
4. Confidentiality And Security
Growing your plants indoors gives you more alternatives for keeping them safe from looters. You will also be able to remain undetected, avoiding the judgemental eye of your neighbors.
8 Steps To Setting Up A Commercial Grow Room (What Makes A Good Grow Room)
Here is a checklist of everything you need to set up a beneficial commercial cannabis grow room.
1. Select An Ideal Space
Have a dedicated space for the hemp plants so that you can limit the amount of times the plants are moved. Because weed can have a strong odor, especially during flowering, windows are beneficial for excellent air circulation as they help redirect the odor.
It is also important to consider how much space the equipment required to keep the plants healthy, such as lights and fans, will take up.
Because the plants double in size as they grow, you’ll need to make sure there’s enough room for them. In addition, the plants must be cared for, so leave room to work on them.
2. Light Proofing
Light Proof your grow space by ensuring that no light enters through the window or door frames from the outside. When the plants are in the dark, aluminum foil tape can ensure that light from the outside does not damage them.
You can also use materials that reflect room light onto your plants while blocking light from the outside to cover your walls and windows.
3. Ensure Fresh Air Circulation
Your grow room requires constant airflow and fresh air for the plants to flourish. There is a variety of equipment that can assist in keeping the air in your grow room fresh.
High Output Fans
These remove stale air from the room and replace it with fresh air. They bring in the bulk of the air in your rooms, therefore choosing the proper fan for the size of your space is critical.
Oscillating Fans
These aid in the circulation of the air drawn in by the high-output fans.
Carbon Filter
This cleans the air carried in by the high-output fans, ensuring that it is free of particles that can clog the stomata.
Window Vents
These cover windows enabling ventilation of the rooms hence controlling air that comes in and out the window.
On filters and high-output fans, it’s essential to look at the CFM (cubic feet per minute) value. The CFM helps you decide the size to buy so that you don’t give your cannabis too little or too much air.
4. Set Up An Irrigation System
When setting up a commercial grow room, it’s not practical to have workers watering the plants. An irrigation system will save you money by delivering the proper amount of water. It also allows your staff to concentrate on other critical activities.
Uniform irrigation results in consistent quality and yield.
5. Install Grow Room Lights
During the vegetative and blooming periods, marijuana plants require varying quantities of light. For instance, your plants will typically need 18 hours of light during the vegetative stage and 12 hours during flowering. They begin to flower when the number of light hours per day is reduced.
As a result, it’s critical to automate or set timers for lights to ensure that your plants receive the right amount of light at each stage.
On the other hand, you must determine the ideal light for your grow space. Consider the strength, coverage area, and light intensity when picking a light source.
The various types include:
- HID (High-intensity discharge) grow lights provide the wavelengths that plants require to develop. HID bulbs generate a lot of heat, suitable for large spaces. To help with temperature regulation, you may need to put exhaust fans or air-cooled reflector hoods on the bulbs.
- Fluorescent grow lights are useful for illumination because they don’t generate as much heat as HIDs. However, they take up a lot of room and are inefficient, producing up to 30% less light per watt of electricity.
- LED grow lights provide your plants with the necessary amount of light while using less than half the energy of HIDs. Furthermore, they do not produce heat, reducing the risk of overheating. As a result, they’re a good option. The most significant disadvantage is that they are more expensive than other lights. They’re also intense, which raises the risk of bleaching the plants.
6. Regulate The Climate (Temperature And Humidity)
Your grow room setup must consider several aspects of climate control. The first is temperature. The lighting system already generates heat in addition to the environment outside your grow space, warranting the need for an air conditioner.
Humidity is the second factor to consider. Plants only take in a small amount of water and expel the rest into the atmosphere through transpiration. This mandates using a dehumidifier (which removes moisture) to keep the humidity levels in check.
It’s crucial to keep track of variations in humidity and temperature using measurement equipment such as a thermometer for room temperature, an infrared thermometer for leaf temperature, and a hygrometer for humidity.
Regulating Humidity
Cannabis plants need about 40% relative humidity. Humidity is the amount of water vapor in the air. You can control humidity in your weed grow room using:
- Humidifiers– They are equipment that helps increase moisture levels.
- Water– Mist plants with spray bottles in the absence of humidity adjusting equipment.
- Airflow– Regulating airflow aids in moving moisture in and out of the grow space.
Regulating Temperature 
Cannabis plants need to be kept at an average temperature of 700 F. The lowest temperature is 580 F (with lights off), and the highest temperature at 850 F when lights are on.
You can adjust several factors to manage the temperature.
- Lights– As previously stated, LED lights emit less heat than HID lights. As a result, use lighting that is appropriate for your needs. Furthermore, change the temperature at the canopy level by raising or lowering the lights.
- ACs– If your grow space is too hot, an air conditioner can effectively cool it down.
- Heaters– These are useful when lights are off and you need to raise the temperature.
- Airflow– Utilize airflow to bring in fresh air while removing warm air.
7. Install The Growing System
Establishing the growing media and equipment for your marijuana plants is equally vital.
There are several media options available, including potting soil and hydroponic trays. Consider investing in high-quality potting soil that is rich in nutrients for your cannabis.
Also, examine the ideal growth containers. These will be determined by the grow media, system, and plant size. Cloth bags, plastic, air, or smart pots are all options.
High-density vertical racking systems help indoor growers utilize the space they have available to them, both horizontally and vertically. These racks are also mobile, allowing them to move back and forth on tracks. By going mobile, growers are able to have only one aisle for an entire system, rather than multiple aisles for systems that aren’t mobile. Fewer aisles equals more space to grow!
8. Grow Room Flooring And Care For Plants
Take the time to inspect your plants for bugs, mold, and nutrient deficiencies. Inspect the leaves for pests such as spider mites or discoloration caused by nutrient insufficiency. Also, look for pests hiding in the medium.
To prevent disease transmission, grow rooms must be kept clean. A smooth surface, ideally concrete with drains, should be used for the floor. Water spills, debris, and disintegrating leaves are easier to clean on a flat surface.
Turn A Regular Room Into A Commercial Cannabis Grow Room
You don’t need a large garden to cultivate cannabis; all you need is a dedicated room and specialized equipment to establish the ideal atmosphere for your cannabis plants.
Also, since you’re going commercial, you’ll need to accomplish the following:
1. Consult A Lawyer
A lawyer can assist you in understanding the cannabis regulations in your state.
2. Create A Development Team
Having a team of experts on your side increases the likelihood of getting state approval. Physicians, horticulturists, and operations managers are among the people you should consider hiring.
Partner With A Vertical Farming Equipment Supplier & Grow Your Yields
At MMI Agriculture we offer vertical racking systems for your plants equipped with a retractable mezzanine walkway so you can easily tend to your crops. Furthermore, a 10-year parts and labor warranty guarantees the quality of our products. Check out this and other fantastic items in our store.
Contact us today to learn more and/or to get a quote. Trust us with your grow operation!
