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How To Build a 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 Costs

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 Control

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. Shelving

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 Efficient

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

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 System

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 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 Systems

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?

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 System

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 Systems

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 System

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 Lights

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 Up

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.

Ready To Level Up? How To Scale Your Cannabis Grow Operation

6 Top Factors To Consider When Scaling Your Vertical Growing Cannabis Operation

Scaling an enterprise in the vertical growing cannabis sector can be challenging, but that doesn’t mean entrepreneurs shouldn’t explore it. While starting and sustaining a cannabis business requires a significant amount of time and effort, scaling a cannabis cultivation facility is an entirely different experience that requires not only capital, but also intellect, strategy, and tenacity.

What Do We Mean by Scaling Your Vertical Growing Cannabis Operation?

Before you can scale your vertical growing operation, it’s important to understand the difference between growing an operation and scaling an operation.

Spend journal describes the growth in a company as when a business or operation adds new resources which result in revenue increases.

Scaling, however, is when revenue increases without a substantial increase in resources. For example, sending an email to a group of ten or ten thousand requires a similar effort when utilizing email marketing software.

Notably, in both processes, there’s an investment in new resources (like capital, employees, and tech). However, the goal is to reduce production costs as much as possible to enhance income without sacrificing output or product quality.

Key Challenges In Scaling A Company

• Capital

Deciding to expand your indoor operation means an investment in equipment, real estate, technology, and skilled labor, which are all costly.

• Increased Demand In Skilled Labor

As you advance from a mid-sized operation to a full-on commercial enterprise, you need to be knowledgeable in various disciplines of indoor cultivation.

You need to be acquainted with municipal regulations, ventilation systems, lighting, vertical growing systems, and cultivation techniques. You’ll need to grasp every aspect of these indoor farming fundamentals. This could create a knowledge and skills gap that needs to be filled with training or hiring new employees.

• Lack Of Standards

Because the cannabis sector is quite new, there are no established industry standards or best practices, which puts entrepreneurs at a disadvantage. Indoor growers must rely on standards like ASHRAE, which are designed for human habitation. As a result, cannabis growers are forced to rely on design work based on guesswork and ideas borrowed from other industries.

• Misapplication Of Traditional Equipment

Horizontal farms can work effectively in small enterprises, but vertical farming systems become more cost-effective when expanding into a warehouse. If you already have a warehouse and want to scale yields, vertical grow racks can help you enhance output for a given area by leveraging overhead space. You should also upgrade your environment control equipment like HVAC systems and low heat emitting grow lights like LEDs.

• You Need A Scalable Process

Many internal procedures may not be structured to accommodate the expansion as you strive to scale. You’ll need contingencies for problems you may encounter during the scaling process, so you’ll need to develop a strategy that will last and propel you through the process.

Here are some factors to think about when you scale your cannabis business for increased yields and profits.

Six Factors To Consider When Scaling Your Vertical Growing Cannabis Operation

1. Does Your Company Have the Capital to Scale?

Increased operation costs, such as utility bills, new labor costs, and equipment expenditures, are incurred during expansion.

Cannabis production appears to be a profitable business in the grand scheme of things, but it is not without its obstacles, particularly when it comes to legalization. Companies must pay a lot of money for permits, with some jurisdictions requiring a deposit of $100,000 before beginning a commercial operation.

There’s also the history of cannabis as an illicit narcotic, making it difficult to enter into a new market, such as a state that has recently legalized medical cannabis sale. There is a need to have some cash on hand to keep the business afloat throughout the unprofitable months of the launch.

2. Do I have The appropriate Space To Scale My Vertical Growing Operation?

The alternative to acquiring more real estate is to maximize the available space that you have vertically using a vertical grow racking system.

Vertical farming is planting crops in vertically stacked shelving to increase the output per square foot.

This decision demands relatively inexpensive capital investment in vertical grow racks or mobile carriages, which will provide mobility while also saving space.

When compared to horizontal farms, vertical grow racks allow you to stock plants on multiple tiers, increasing canopy cover per square foot by two to three times.

In vertical farming, it’s recommended to plant short cannabis varieties or shorten the vegetative stage to reduce the size of shoots. This strategy results in a manufacturing setup that fosters faster processing of crops, thus resulting in higher yields every season.

One downside of a vertical grow system is you may need to grow short cannabis plants and deal with the development of microclimates.

3. How Can I Avoid Microclimates In My Grow?

Microclimates are miniature ecosystems formed by plants in an indoor vertical system mainly due to poor airflow. Farmers use vertical farming methods to maximize available grow space by increasing canopy cover across different levels, making effective ventilation difficult.

The formation of microclimates in particular sections of your shelving exposes your crops to unfavorable conditions for plant growth which in turn can damage them.

Growing cannabis in tiered facilities has become much easier thanks to the introduction of sophisticated HVAC systems and cool-running LED grow lights. However, the proximity of plants to your grow lights generates airflow blockages, which is a problem. With each tier added, the proximity also increases transpiration, leading to high humidity and the creation of microclimates.

The solution to dealing with microclimates includes installing test points that help identify vulnerable spots. In addition, use environmental monitoring software connected to your HVACs to moderate conditions since it detects fluctuations in temperature and humidity and adjusts your HVAC settings accordingly.

Also, simply taking a walk in your grow room helps you identify areas with a dip in temperature. These dips in temperature can be remedied by placing fans in those areas.

4. How Will I Be Able To Access Those Crops On Higher Elevations Safely?

When you decide to use tier system farming to scale your operations, your workers may have difficulty securely reaching those crops located on higher elevations.

MMI Agriculture’s retractable mezzanine walkway is a vertical system solution designed to improve worker safety and convenience while working on higher elevations.

It’s an ingenious solution that can be installed at any height and accessed through the front aisle via ladders or scissor lifts. It is made of fiberglass and resin composite and is designed to handle heavy traffic while keeping your workers safe.

Moreover, the anti-tip systems fitted on our mobile carriages ensure worker safety while tending plants on shelving or preventing them from falling over in the event of seismic activity.

5. Will There Be Enough Demand For My Scaled Operation To Be Profitable?

Enterprises established in states where medical marijuana is legalized are likely to have a better bottom line.

Furthermore, as the cannabis leisure industry expands, sales are expected to improve. However, when the potential of a cannabis business is realized by more and more of the population with sales expected to soar, competition will become more intense as more people compete for licenses and space.

Cannabis businesses looking to scale need to focus on ensuring quality and consistency in their products. Mislabeling is a huge issue with cannabis products. Using improved cultivation methods like cloning will provide the uniqueness, and consistency consumers seek.

Transforming your company to be a vertically integrated cannabis operation that includes cultivation, manufacturing, and retail can help you command higher prices by cutting out the middleman.

6. Will I Have Enough Employees To Appropriately And Efficiently Care For My Increase In Crops?

Even though scaling is all about cutting expenses, it doesn’t mean you should stop hunting for qualified employees. They could be crucial in helping you increase your operational efficiency; as the saying goes, “a team is what grows a business.”

Cannabis software can assist smooth out operations by automating them. Cannabis software, such as seed-to-sale, ERP, and POS, can help streamline processes from cultivation to sale.

Moreover, with AI and machine learning development, cultivation on mobile vertical growing systems is more profitable. Because of the vertical systems, there is already a greater canopy, which is being perfected using machine learning technologies that constantly monitor crop behavior to increase quality and yields.

Check out our post “4 Top Vertical Farming Trends and Solutions for 2021,” in which we discuss the importance of automation in enhancing indoor cannabis growing.

Scale Your Vertical Growing Cannabis Operation Fast With Reliable Vertical Farming Systems

Scaling a cannabis business isn’t easy, but with the appropriate tools and strategies in place, you can get your business to where you want it to be.

MMI Agriculture assists businesses in scaling by delivering high-density vertical farming systems. We give our clients a peace of mind knowing that we have professionals ready to help with all aspects of scaling your operation, from a team of drafters who can design the layouts, to our nationwide install team who can install the system and ensure all is working and running smoothly.

Moreover, we back our service and equipment with a 10-year warranty as insurance on the posterity of your investment.

Let’s talk about how we can help you scale your grow operation today.

Airflow: The Bedrock Of A Lucrative Vertical Farming Operation

Proper Vertical Farming Airflow; Why You Need It

Several elements determine the effectiveness of your grow room. One essential but often overlooked factor is adequate vertical farming airflow, one of the many regulated environmental conditions necessary in an indoor grow operation.

The passage of air into and over each rack in a vertical farm provides unique obstacles that must be overcome. Poor airflow management in a grow room can result in crop death or poor quality buds, resulting in low yields.

Air movement controls various other environmental conditions like humidity and temperature. Proper systems help regulate these conditions in all your tiers resulting in predictable yields.

Why It’s Important To Have Good Vertical Farming Airflow In Your Cannabis Grow Room?

Indoor growing confines your plants to a restricted setting, denying them access to the breeze that cannabis plants require. The airflow strengthens the stems, allowing them to support the weight of cannabinoid-rich buds while also keeping pests at bay. There are a number of different ways that proper airflow helps plants reach their full potential.

1. Controlling Temperature And Humidity

An effective ventilation system provides good airflow, which helps manage heat and humidity levels. Humidity builds up as a result of plant transpiration and irrigation system evaporation.

Too much humidity raises the temperature in a grow room, making it ideal for pests and diseases to thrive. The installation of dehumidifiers is required to deal with high humidity levels. This equipment has a variety of applications that affect airflow in your warehouse, which we’ll go over later.

2. Structural Strength Of Plants

Just as we need to work out our muscles in the gym to make them stronger, plants need the same stress on their stems. The stress aids in developing the cannabis plants’ capacity to hold both their blooms and their own weight

3. Protection Against Pests And Mold

Mold and spider mites thrive in stagnant, damp environments. Wet topsoil attracts pests, which can cause problems for your crops. Their reproductive cycle can be slowed by using fans to dry the soil. On the other hand, a continuous breeze produces an unfavorable habitat for bugs in the first place. You may need to sterilize the contaminated soil using hydrogen peroxide.

4. Control CO2

CO2 is required for plants to produce nutrients and consequently flourish. If you keep your plants indoors, they will eventually deplete the CO2 in the space. Proper ventilation aids in bringing in the valuable material from the outside and distributing it to the plants, resulting in increased growth and yields.

For proper airflow in your grow room, you’ll need a good ventilation system. A ventilation system utilizes several components that work in conjunction with one another to allow you to grow your plants indoors.

Four Main Components Of A Cannabis Indoor Grow Room Ventilation System

The main parts of an efficient ventilation system include: Cannabis Indoor Grow Room Ventilation System. Vertical racks and mobile carriages for commercial indoor cannabis grow rooms.

Grow room fans– These include intake fans and oscillating fans, which bring in air and circulate it around the grow room
Exhaust system– The system includes ducting, carbon filters, and fans. They eliminate stale air and excess heat while bringing in cool, fresh air.
CO2 burners– These are carbon dioxide generating machines.
Dehumidifiers and ACs– This equipment removes excess moisture hence stabilizing temperatures in a grow space.

A ventilation system also entails calculating the CFM, active and passive air intake, all of which we’ve looked into in detail in our article Ventilation for Your Grow Room: The Beginner’s Guide.

What Is Airflow In Vertical Farming And What Is Its Effect

Airflow involves moving air from the crown to the canopy in vertical farming systems.

Indoor gardening involves the process of bringing outside settings within. Stimulating these natural conditions encourages the establishment of a vigorous plant that is disease resistant.

Growing plants in an indoor room, contrary to popular belief, does not totally prevent the possibility of diseases and pests infecting your crops. Airflow ensures that air passes through filtering devices, which help keep the facility free of germs.

Vertical airflow is also important for plant nourishment. Good airflow circulates CO2, which supplies the plants with a nutrient necessary for growth.

Plants also require nutrients from either the soil or a nutrient solution. The action of roots taking more nutrients from the grow medium is necessitated by transpiration, which is the loss of water by plants. Efficient air circulation balances humidity levels, thus allowing plants to absorb more nutrients for their growth.

Air should move in a laminar fashion within your grow room. This means air should be regulated to flow at a particular speed and direction with no crossover of air streams. This helps to keep temperatures optimal, CO2 levels high, and humidity levels low.

Air turbulence, caused by air friction with surfaces in the space between your canopies and grow lights, is an enemy of optimum airflow. Customized vertical grow racks aid in the creation of adequate space between these surfaces, lowering the likelihood of air tumbling and affecting vertical airflow quality.

Another prevalent environmental problem in cannabis grow rooms is the development of hotspots and heatsinks. The heat released by grow lights causes hotspots on your shelving. This necessitates the use of low-heat emitting lights, such as LED lights. However, they do produce heat, which may call for the installation of fans that blow through your vertical systems.

The best way to monitor good airflow is using test points. The test points help determine the speed to set the fans.

Airflow directly impacts your indoor cannabis farm’s productivity and yield. Improving airflow in your vertical farming operation might be as simple as incorporating professional advice and useful tips.

Key Components And Tips On Ventilation Systems And How They Affect Airflow

Geoff Brown, VP of operation at Quest, shared some key nuggets in Cannabis Business Times on what to look out for when checking airflow in your cannabis grow room:

The air supply and return shouldn’t be located above the canopy. The conditioned environment would be far from the crops causing poor airflow.
You should aim to balance the supply and return rate to avoid stratified air mass. Indoor grow room airflow needs to be uniform. Therefore, if you have a low supply, then have a high return to allow for good air mixing. Having similar levels makes it difficult to mix the air.
For the supply ductwork, have the supply hung or in the ceiling and return low to draw air through your cannabis plants. Alternatively, you can supply air below tray level and draw it up through the plants into ceiling returns.
Fans are mistakenly used to compensate airflow in grow rooms with supply and return at the same level, compensating for a stratified environment. The air supply from your HVAC system should be enough to remove the need for fans. Geoff recommends achieving a canopy velocity of 3 to 5 feet per second without using rotations fans.

Nevertheless, it’s nearly impossible to achieve perfect airflow. Fans should come in when a particular space in your grow room has a dip in temperature. The dip can be identified by taking a walk in your grow space and identifying problem spots

Some components key to good vertical airflow are dehumidifiers or ACs.

Dehumidification

Dehumidification is aimed at maintaining humidity levels. Some key areas to look out for include:

For an end to end ventilation, don’t place the dehumidifier near a ventilation duct as it sucks out dry air, which defeats its purpose.
Position your dehumidifier high up in the center of your indoor grow room. They can also do well on the ground, but better results are achieved when dehumidifiers are located on high levels.
Incorporate air scrubbers which can help clean the air of spores that could affect your plants.
There’s an effect on running a fan-only feature in dehumidifying products like your AC on vertical airflow. A dehumidifier pulls moisture into its coils when running and condensing.

For example, when an AC stops its cooling function, all other systems like the evaporator and condenser shut down, leaving the fan running over the coils. This action will have moisture being pushed back into your room. Therefore, it’s advisable to remove the fan-only feature from your dehumidifiers.

Improve Vertical Airflow In Your Indoor Vertical Farming Systems

Good airflow is essential to a successful and profitable indoor cannabis operation. As you scale your operation using vertical farming systems, it’s important to ensure efficient airflow that contributes to optimum temperatures, low humidity, and high CO2 levels that result in higher yields.

MMI Agriculture equips you with the right vertical growing equipment that sets the proper foundation for installing the ideal ventilation system.

6 Top Ways To Cultivate Cannabis Profits With Vertical Grow Racks

cultivate profit with vertical grow racks

Scale Cannabis Cultivation Profits With Vertical Grow Racks

The use of vertical grow racks is gaining popularity as a viable method for urban marijuana cultivation. Vertical farming refers to the practice of growing crops in vertically stacked shelving.

This cultivation method allows you to better use your available overhead space and get more bang for your buck.

Cannabis farming has been one of the main beneficiaries, if not the pioneer, of this farming method, allowing growers to make the most of their available indoor grow space.

Vertical farming enables you to grow plants in the confines of your apartment, warehouse, or skyscraper. Whatever indoor space you’ve designated, there’s a vertical system solution to help you maximize your return on investment.

Vertical grow racks are essential components in improving your cannabis cultivation profits.

Six Top Ways Of Cultivating Cannabis Profits With Vertical Grow Racks

Primary ways vertical farming increases your cannabis operation profits include:

1. Eliminates Wasted Space

Renting or buying a warehouse to start an indoor cannabis grow operation can be expensive. Because of the cost, you must ensure that you are utilizing every square inch of available grow space so that you are getting the most out of your money.

Vertical racks help to optimize space both vertically and horizontally by creating additional levels of plants and eliminating empty aisles between tables.

Stationery racks create static aisles, which are valuable grow spaces. Using mobile vertical grow rack systems allows you to condense your systems together, creating only one aisle in your grow space.

Moving these racks to create aisles is made simple thanks to our mobile components. These mobile components include; carriages atop flange wheels, a bar track that the carriages sit on that allows for smooth movement and mobility, an aluminum shaft that runs the length of the carriage, and a mechanical gearbox with three different gear ratios.

MMI Agriculture mobile carriages have a single-spoke mechanical assist handle that allows your staff to quickly move the mobile carriages to create aisles and get work done.

Additionally, vertical grow systems can be customized to have as many grow tiers as needed, depending on design, demand, and municipal regulations. The multiple levels increase the canopy cover per square foot by two to three times compared to horizontal farms. They make use of available overhead space that would otherwise be idle.

2. Vertical Grow Racks Save On Climate Control Costs

The high costs of vertical farming are due to utility bills such as electricity and water bills. These utilities are critical in powering systems that simulate the outdoor environment required for proper cannabis plant growth.

For example, you need to install ventilation systems, including ACs, exhaust systems, exhaust fans, and CO2 burners. These systems are installed in your space to provide the air quality required for canopy growth.

With well-managed aisle and overhead space using vertical systems, the electricity that powers these systems, cooling and heating your entire facility, could be better utilized.

Vertical grow systems fill this underutilized space with canopies, putting your heavily invested ventilation infrastructure to good use.

Hydroponic trays are also used in vertical systems. Hydroponics farming is a type of soilless cultivation that uses 90% less water than traditional methods. A hydroponics irrigation system uses nutrient-rich water to meet the nutrient requirements of the plants. The systems recycle water and nutrients, saving money on fertilizer and water.

Moreover, the irrigation is automated so that the plants can be watered easily. The systems also employ an ebb and flow irrigation method, which is low-cost and requires no technical setup. It conserves both water and electricity.

When used in conjunction with MMI Agriculture vertical grow racks, this system ensures that you continue to save on operating costs, while maximizing profits from your marijuana plants.

3. Better Growing Conditions

Growing marijuana indoors with vertical farming systems creates a better growing environment for your marijuana plants than growing outside. The indoor environment is not limited to seasons such as winter and summer, nor to changing levels of sunlight.

Vertical systems should be housed in sanitized environments that give your crops the best chance of growing without being affected by diseases or pests.

Your crops are grown in closed environments where the soil is rarely used. If soil is used, it is sanitized to prevent plant contamination. Hydroponic farming entails planting crops in coconut husks and then allowing the roots to thrive in nutrient-rich water, keeping fungi and pests at bay.

Ventilation systems also reduce the possibility of unintentional pollination. When female plants are pollinated, they can degrade the quality of their buds.

Furthermore, you should avoid vertical wood shelving because it can harbor disease-causing molds and pests.

Consider MMI Agriculture steel racks; unlike wood, they do not provide a conducive environment for pests and disease to thrive.

Because of the increased coverage per square foot, you can allow for more space between your marijuana plants, allowing your canopies to flourish.

Good spacing and disease prevention ensure that you harvest high-quality cannabis buds from your operation.

4. Increased Yields And Profits

Standard outdoor farms allow their farmers to grow crops on large expanses of land spread out horizontally. Vertical farms, however, allow their farmers to expand their horizontal grow space vertically, giving them significantly more square footage to grow off of.

The additional grow space going up increases your canopy coverage for the same area of land, resulting in higher yields.

Growing crops in an indoor operation using a vertical grow system provides a unique opportunity to plan out your farmland. It gives you a clearer picture of what to expect from your investment…but how so?

Our drafting team, using the most up-to-date CAD technology, will create a layout based on your available grow space. By using our drafting team to create your layout, you are ensuring that your grow operation is maximizing both your grow space and your investment.

The vertical farming technology leverages Controlled-environment agriculture (CEA) to create the ideal environment for your canopies to grow. CEA is so effective it can help you determine the terpenes and color of your cannabis plants, giving you control over the end product.

Moreover, cannabis software technology allows you to monitor your plant growth in real-time, ensuring compliance and quality.

Overall, CEA technology, combined with the convenience vertical farming systems provide in tracking your products, can help improve your bottom line from cannabis cultivation.

5. Safer Workplace

Vertical racks improve worker safety in an indoor farm while also helping you meet OSHA standards. A pleasant working environment aids in the retention of skilled workers, thereby increasing productivity and, as a result, profits.

MMI Agriculture offers mobile carriages equipped with anti-tip features that prevent shelving from falling over, ensuring the safety of your workers in the event of seismic activity. This also helps you stay in compliance with regulations in areas more prone to seismic activity where you’ve set up your grow space.

We also provide an optional ADA ramp to eliminate tripping hazards. This enables your employees to have smooth access to the carriages via carts or ladders.

Vertical grow system manufacturers have developed solutions that have resulted in increased worker productivity and made access to plants located on high elevations easier. For example, at MMI Agriculture we have a retractable mezzanine walkway. This patent-pending product enables your staff to reach the upper decks comfortably and tend to the plants.

The walkway can be installed at any height and accessed via ladders or scissor lifts through the front aisle. It is made of fiberglass and resin composite to withstand heavy traffic while keeping your workers safe.

Furthermore, the shelving is braced with diagonal and horizontal beams to support the weight of your plants and employees.

Vertical systems are designed with worker safety in mind, giving your staff the peace of mind they need to focus on caring for your canopies.

6. Allows For Automated Farm Operations

A skilled labor shortage has plagued the market, causing production delays and inefficiency, leading to loss of money. Indoor vertical farming establishes a platform for automating your cannabis cultivation, filling labor gaps, and increasing productivity.

In our article on four trends in vertical farming, we cited that incorporating Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automation robots into your vertical farming to produce crops results in a more than 200 percent yield increase.

AI and machine learning allow machines to study your crops’ development and, over time, modify the conditions and nutrients available to your plants. This advancement has the AI producing unique high-terpene and flavorful marijuana plants for your customers.

The robots tend to your plants 24 hours a day, seven days a week, providing you with a dependable workforce and thus improving your bottom line. The vertical systems are made ready to receive these additions with sturdy frames and tracks, and hydroponic trays to accommodate automated irrigation.

Alternatively, you can deploy sensors and timers to control the various equipment in your grow room. This automation frees up your staff to focus on pruning, inspection, and harvesting your crops.

Automating operations on your vertical rack systems will give you a competitive advantage in labor output, thereby scaling up your profits.

Install The Right Vertical Grow Racks To Help You Cultivate Cannabis Profits

MMI Agriculture is a leading manufacturer of vertical farming systems custom-designed to fit your growing space. They are designed with safety in mind and to work with any hydroponics system and type of lighting.

Whatever your vertical system requirements are, we have the experience and equipment to assist you in creating your ideal cannabis grow space.

Maximize ROI For Urban Cannabis Agriculture With Vertical Growing Equipment & Expert Customer Service

Maximize ROI with vertical growing equipment

Scale Cannabis Cultivation Profits With Vertical Grow Racks

The use of vertical grow racks is a new cultivation trend that aims to increase production in indoor cultivation facilities. The system allows you to maximize unused vertical grow space by multiplying the yields per square foot. A successful indoor operation is not a guessing game; you must know what to buy, what it will solve, and how it will provide a return on investment.

Here are some of the essential vertical farming tools and services that the ideal cannabis grow room needs to get started.

1. High-Density Vertical Grow Racks

Vertical grow racks house your cannabis plants. They must be strong enough to support the weight of all the components of a cultivation system, which include, but are not limited to plants, lighting, drainage, and an air filtration system.

Vertical grow racks also help increase your grow space, allowing you to maximize your production. Notably, they help utilize overhead space that would otherwise go unused with horizontal farms.

MMI Agriculture manufactures multi-level vertical grow racks to help you maximize your horizontal and vertical space. We build them with cross and diagonal beams to provide the necessary strength to support your plants. Furthermore, they are made to last and are resistant to corrosion from the humid environment.

One important consideration in using uprights is the development of microclimates with the increased canopy cover, which will necessitate an automated and efficient ventilation system.

2. A Qualified Design Team

Because each grow space is unique, a layout designed to organize your grow space is required for maximum utilization of available resources.

When installing your grow racks, you’ll need a team to assess the space and create drawings that maximize the available capacity. Because no two grow space is the same, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to acquiring a vertical system for your operation.

We walk with you in the design phase, using the latest CAD and drafting technology to ensure that your grow operation is getting the most out of your available space.

A good design helps you create a reasonable budget for the vertical systems you’ll need to install. Our 3D models give clarity eliminating the possibility of costly rearrangements.

3. Hydroponic Grow Trays

Grow trays serve as a home for your marijuana plants. It is the platform where your plants will receive nutrients and water as they grow. The proper trays ensure proper root growth and thus higher yields.

You can grow your plants in a variety of trays, including reservoir trays with holes, reservoir trays without holes, and mesh trays.

Trays with holes and mesh trays are ideal for ‘automated’ water drainage for your plants. However, they can be risky when there’s lighting equipment attached to lower shelves in your grow racks. You need to monitor your drainage with these types.

On the other hand, trays without holes help reduce the chances of water leaking the floor and affecting equipment attached to your racks. They have deep bottom channels to prevent overwatering your plants.

Please read our article on Everything You Need to Know About 1020 Trays to learn more about hydroponic trays.

4. Tabletop Units On Caster Wheels

For a midsized operation, our tabletop caster units are the ideal solution for your operation. These types of uprights allow you to move your crops in between rooms.

They are designed for spaces where vertical rack systems aren’t feasible. Consider our tabletop caster units if you think of repurposing that guest room or extra apartment space to grow marijuana.

Thanks to their caster wheels, these units can be easily moved.. If you’ve decided on a location for your plants, you can lock the caster wheels to prevent them from moving.

Moreover, our units can house multiple tiers to accommodate as much canopy as possible. The caster units are easy to use when turning in tight spots or spaces, and they make your plants easily accessible.

Also, if you have a commercial operation, tabletop units are ideal for growing seedlings. The uprights’ mobility allows you to move the plants to a location where they can be transplanted to your shelving.

5. Mezzanine Walkway

Have trouble reaching for crops on the higher levels of your vertical systems? Our retractable mezzanine walkway is a piece of equipment built to solve this problem.

The mezzanine walkway is a patent-pending solution developed so that employees can safely and efficiently tend to plants located on higher elevations. The mezzanine is a heavy-duty fiberglass grate that is permanently installed with the system. When an aisle is created, the mezzanine extends out and locks into place, creating a safe aisle for employees to use. The mezzanine then slides back under its adjacent grow tray and lays dormant until the aisle is opened up again.

The retractable walkway improves worker safety and efficiency by providing a stable and sturdy platform to work while tending to the plants. They are made of fiberglass grating that supports continuous traffic up and down levels of the vertical systems.

The convenience of our retractable elevated decking and the time it saves employees makes it a worthwhile investment.

6. Air Filtration System

Air quality is often overlooked in indoor cultivation. Ventilation systems are designed to remove stale air from the grow space and replace it with fresh air from outside.

Most mold and fungi that can lower your marijuana yields are transmitted through the air. Moreover, poor-quality air can harbor harmful bacteria and unwanted pollen, all of which can impact the quality of your canopies.

Then again, cannabis plants are known to emit a strong odor, which isn’t harmful but can be bothersome to neighbors. These odors released by the plants or fertilizer are known as VOCs (Volatile organic compounds).

Air purification is the most effective way to remove odors and harmful plant pathogens. Popular equipment used in the air purification of a grow room include:

Intake filters– They clean the air taken into the grow room from outside.
Stand-alone filters– They filter and recirculate air within the grow space.
HEPA purifiers– They are small-scale air purifiers used on small grow room systems, for example, closets and cabinets.
Photocatalytic purifiers- These use specialized catalysts that create powerful oxidizers which can destroy molds and bacteria, ensuring clean air in your grow room

We’ve delved more into ventilation systems here in Ventilation for Your Grow Room: The Beginners Guide

7. LED Lighting

When establishing a grow room, you must create the ideal artificial environment for your plants to thrive. Lighting in the grow space mimics the effect of sunlight on your plants.

There are various types of grow lights like HIDs, fluorescent, and LED lights. LED grow lights are preferred as they save on electricity. Also, they emit a lower temperature compared to HIDs and fluorescent grow lights. The low temperature prevents the scorching of your crops and reduces the workload on your ventilation system.

Moreover, LED grow lights have the ideal color spectrum and light intensity. These lights provide a broad light spectrum that can aid in the transition of your cannabis plants from growth to flowering.

They are outfitted with diodes, allowing you to generate any light spectrum. As a result, LED lights provide a consistent environment for plants to grow naturally without the color of the light changing abruptly.

ION lighting is a leading LED grow light manufacturer specializing in designing the best LED lights for your canopies.

8. Mobile Components

Moving vertical racks loaded with canopies on wheels can be a difficult task. Unless you want to hire the Hulk, you’ll need solutions to lighten your employees’ workload.

By integrating mobile capabilities with our bulk racking, our heavy-duty systems are easily moved back and forth, helping to create an aisle so you can access your plants. MMI Agriculture provides three types of equipment to assist you in moving your carriages:

Tracks – We offer tracks with anti-tip capabilities with an optional ADA ramp to eliminate tripping hazards.
Stainless steel wheels with precision bearings – Our carriages roll on stainless steel wheels fitted with precision bearings to keep them held on the tracks
Drives and handles – The stainless steel drive shafts in our carriages are resistant to rust and corrosion. You have three handle options. Our standard option is a single-spoke mechanical assist handle.

You can move entire loads with MMI Agriculture mobile components smoothly and effortlessly. We make the mobile carriages even more user-friendly by including three gear ratios.

9. Vertical Grow Racks Installation Service

After you’ve purchased your equipment, it’s imperative that you get it installed correctly. What should you look for in a good installation service?

Insurance and licensing – Is the company licensed to install uprights? Are they also insured to cover any damages that may occur?
Experience– MMI Agriculture has a long history of installing vertical systems. An experienced installer can handle any problems that arise during installation.
Knowledgeable – The company should be able to address your concerns and put you at ease.
Reliable – A reliable company stands behind the products and services it provides. For example, MMI Agriculture provides a 10-year warranty on products and labor after installation.
Trustworthy – You will most likely be allowing installers into your home or warehouse and even giving them your hard-earned money. You need to know they have a good reputation, so you don’t have to be looking over your shoulder

Partner With the Right Vertical Grow Racks Installation Company

MMI Agriculture is an experienced, dependable, trustworthy, and knowledgeable provider and installer of vertical farming systems and equipment.

We collaborate with commercial cannabis farmers to design seamless indoor farms that make the most of every inch of available grow space. We have the best uprights on the market, whether you need a tabletop caster unit for your apartment grow space or vertical grow racks for your warehouse grow room.

Four Top Vertical Farming Trends And Solutions For 2023

MMI vertical racking with mezzanine growing cannabis

Vertical Farming Trends That Will Cultivate The Future Of Indoor Cannabis Farming

Are you aware of these four vertical farming trends that are revolutionizing the cannabis sector?

By 2050, the global human population is expected to reach 9.7 billion. Two-thirds of that population is expected to be in cities. This migration creates a need for innovation to improve sustainable food production to feed the world’s growing population. The problem, however, is a scarcity of arable land and natural resources in urban areas.

Vertical farming is one emerging agricultural trend that is helping to bridge the food demand gap in urban areas.

Cannabis indoor farmers are adopting vertical farming to help double or even triple their yields.

Vertical farming increases crop yields using 99 percent less land and 98 percent less water than conventional farming.

Vertical farming is managed by CEA (controlled environment agriculture) technology, which can be done almost everywhere, from skyscrapers to warehouses, or shipping containers. This progression is because indoor farms are stacked vertically rather than running horizontally on a plot of land.

Furthermore, the market for vertical farming is expected to grow from $3.1 billion in 2021 to $9.7 billion by 2026.

Notably, four vertical farming trends are influencing this innovative farming method and the agricultural scene as a whole.

1. Vertical Farming Operations Are Embracing Multi-Tier Grows Instead of the Standard Single Tier

Vertical farming equipment is essential for effective commercial indoor farming. These structures serve as farms, with plants stacked in trays on shelves.

A multi-tier rack system makes better use of unused cubic feet in overhead space. Going up means you won’t need to buy more land to grow more.

The racks are custom made and built with up to multiple tiers depending on state regulations, effectively doubling or tripling your available grow space.

MMI Agriculture is a market leader in multi-tier grow rack systems that are long-lasting and dependable. The mobile systems are custom designed to meet the client’s needs, providing flexibility and cost savings based on available space and size of the operation.

The vertical systems made with multiple tiers filled with plants to capacity can become cumbersome to move when installed on wheels.

MMI Agriculture mitigates this problem with a rolling bar system that holds your shelving in place and allows you to single-handedly move the racks. The mobile carriage will enable you to create or close aisles as needed.

Furthermore, as hydroponics takes center stage in the cannabis vertical farming space, MMI Agriculture has built vertical systems that accommodate these resource-saving cultivation methods, ensuring an efficient indoor farm.

Vertical farming, like any other solution, presents a challenge. Vertical farming must account for the emergence of microclimates. More tiers create various environments for each plant at various heights.

This problem introduces us to our second trend in vertical farming, artificial intelligence, which allows for microclimate management.

2. Artificial Intelligence (AI) For Vertical Farming

Other vertical farming trends to check out for in 2023 is the use of AI.

Incorporating artificial intelligence into vertical farming can increase productivity by 400%. Plenty, a San Francisco-based Ag-tech company, has used artificial intelligence to boost production and productivity.

Although the farm is only 2 acres, it produces 720 acres worth of fruit and vegetables. Vertical farming and production management with robots and artificial intelligence have made this possible.

The AI monitors light, temperature, and the environment of the plants. As a result, you can grow high-quality crops faster.

Furthermore, AI in agriculture is designed to help address labor shortages by incorporating smart irrigation and farming systems and other AI-based robots and technology. It reduces the need for personnel in a grow room. AI tools are also more accurate and faster.

The AI-powered robots are self-sufficient and can work 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This results in a better workforce to meet rising cannabis demand.

AI is also being used in farming to assist with data analytics. The tool can provide insights in real-time.

This action assists farmers in determining how to control pesticide application, indoor weather, irrigation, and fertilization. They can also accurately determine excess or missing nutrients in your growing medium.

This analysis is due to the AI’s ability to receive data from IoT (Internet of things) sensors that monitor climatic, environmental, and visual information from crop grow medium. The data is then used to train deep learning models, which predict the likelihood of disease occurrence.

The data also helps in predictive analytics. By analyzing market demand, farmers can forecast prices and determine the best time to plant and harvest their cannabis plants. This means that farmers can manage crop failure and business process risks. The data contributes to a new trend known as precision farming.

3. Precision Farming

The average American farm increased from 140 acres in 1935 to 434 acres by 2012. And the acreage continues to increase with modern farms of today.

Farmers use heavy machinery to cultivate large tracts of land. This situation presents a problem because they treat every acre of land the same. This type of farming is known as industrial agriculture. Although it boosts productivity, it comes at the expense of environmental devastation due to excessive tillage and input application.

Precision farming helps solve this problem. At the heart of precision farming is digital technology like IoT, GPS, cloud computing, automation, robotics, and sensors.

Precision agriculture uses digital technology to achieve optimal agricultural efficiency by measuring and adapting the variations in a crop’s environment.

The agricultural method brings in an information-based decision-making approach to farm management. This allows you to accomplish more with less.

The farming method has been critical to the expansion of vertical farming. The technology assists in analyzing the requirements of individual canopies, then it provides the best climatic conditions for their development.

Blockchain technology is also coming into the picture; the technology helps increase transparency in the supply chain. Consumers can understand the quality and origins of the products they purchase.

Blockchain tech complements precision agriculture as the consumers can appreciate the technology and build trust with the products. Knowledge of a commodity’s history also promotes best farming practices, which leads to environmental protection.

The key advantages blockchain technology bring to vertical farming are:

Transparency– Products are tracked from the farm to the retail shelf.
Security– Food safety has improved, and counterfeit items have been eliminated.
Streamlined Operations– You can easily keep up with regulations present in the cannabis industry.
Analytics– Intelligent market data is available to help with decision-making.
Customer Engagement– Through feedback, the farmer can better understand what consumers want.

4. Safety In Vertical Farming

The towering nature of vertical farming systems introduces the need for safety measures to be taken in their construction and use. There’s a push to enhance worker safety when tending to crops and remaining OSHA-compliant. The vertical equipment also needs to stay durable in a consistently damp and corrosive environment.

For regions with seismic activity, vertical farms are fitted with anti-tip systems that keep the rolling vertical grow racks from falling over.

MMI Agricultures takes the lead in worker safety by including the above features with more innovations like our patent-pending retractable mezzanine walkway.

The walkway is a lightweight, portable deck that allows your staff to access upper levels of MMI Agriculture’s high-density vertical rack systems. It eliminates the risk of climbing ladders to reach shelving higher up.

The retractable platform integrates seamlessly with the rack system for optimum productivity and safety. When done, it neatly tucks it into the racking system out of view and out of the way.

In addition, whether you have any of our new or existing racks, the mezzanine walkway fits perfectly.

Get Started On Vertical Farming

Vertical farming is the key to sustainable commercial cannabis farming, particularly in urban centers. Partnering with a reputable vertical systems provider will put you on the path to a profitable indoor operation.

MMI Agriculture is a vertical systems provider that works with you throughout the design and installation process to ensure your satisfaction.

We have cutting-edge vertical equipment and a nationwide installation team ready to build your dream cannabis vertical indoor grow room.

A Comprehensive Look Into Indoor Marijuana Growing Systems

cannabis plants growing with indoor marijuana growing systems.

4 Must Know Indoor Marijuana Growing Systems

This post will highlight the most common types of indoor marijuana growing systems that every commercial cannabis farmer should be aware of.

The methods of how we store and cook food have evolved throughout time. This shift is due to technological advancements in the manufacture of refrigerators, microwaves, ovens, and other appliances. Similarly, plant cultivation has changed with the development of indoor growing systems.

Indoor marijuana growing systems enable people to cultivate high-quality cannabis and other plants. This is because these systems give you complete control over the plant and what you put in it. Furthermore, indoor grow systems allow you to grow virtually anywhere, from a small apartment to a commercial warehouse or greenhouse.

Benefits Of Indoor Marijuana Growing Systems

1. Environmental Control

Are your plants getting the right amount of sunlight, CO2, or humidity for good growth? With indoor marijuana grow systems, you don’t need to have such concerns.

Indoor systems include installing grow lights, ventilation systems, and CO2 burners, all automated to ensure optimal plant growth conditions. Timers can also be used to determine when the plant’s cycle should be in the vegetative or flowering stage.

2. Optimize Your Yields By Having Control Of Everything

When you grow plants indoors, you create the environment they require, including the grow medium, such as soil. You will also be controlling the plants’ nutrition, water, temperature, and humidity. This control aids you in determining the grade of cannabis and yields you will harvest in the end.

3. You Can Go Multiple Tiers and Double or Triple Your Available Canopy Space

Indoor growing introduces a new cultivation method known as vertical farming. Vertical farming is the production of crops on vertically stacked tiers. This practice converts your grow room overhead space into revenue by increasing your available grow space.

4. Eliminate The Possibility Of Severe Weather And Animals Damaging Or Destroying Your Crops

Indoor growing comes with an added level of security. Your plants are contained within the confines of walls and doors that you can lock. This helps to deter potential vandalism or destruction by animals.

Furthermore, your crops are completely safe from the effects of severe weather conditions, such as strong winds or a scorching sun.

5. In Areas With Seasonal Changes, You Can Grow Year-Round

Unlike outdoor growing, the sun or seasons do not influence indoor cultivation. Your yields are consistent, whether it’s summer or winter. Furthermore, you have complete control over your marijuana flowers, in terms of when they are harvested, and when to plant another batch.

Four Types Of Cannabis Indoor Marijuana Grow Systems You Should Be Aware Of

Space is an important consideration when deciding on the indoor cannabis grow system to use. The amount of space available will determine whether you use a grow box, a closet, or a tent growing system.

Indoor growing is a low-cost method of growing marijuana at home. Furthermore, most grow systems are automated, making them suitable for even inexperienced farmers.

The systems are unique in size and features, catering to every situation: whether you’re growing cannabis commercially in grow rooms or using your closet space.

There are a number of growing systems to consider. Choosing the right one all depends on the size of your operation.

1. Marijuana Grow Tents System

A grow tent is a fabric box lined with light and heat reflective material. You need to equip it with light and ventilation to allow you to plant indoors year-round. A grow tent is perfect for people in apartments or homes without yards who want to grow medical marijuana.

The reflective material ensures your plants receive full light once the grow lights are on. The fabric cover helps insulate your garden’s temperature and humidity levels. A grow tent system gives you control over your garden’s environment.

A tent consists of a frame and fabric cover. The frame holds the cover and gives the tent its square or rectangular shape. The cover zips up to enclose your grow.

Who should use a grow tent? It’s suitable for small-scale cannabis grow, especially those restricted by minimal grow space.

What should you consider when buying a tent?

• Size of Your Tent

Grow tents come in different sizes. You need to know how many plants you want to grow, which will determine the tent you should purchase. You don’t want it to be too big or too small. The sizes range from a 2x2ft tent that fits two plants. Or a 10x10ft that can hold 30 plants.

• Available Space

Tents are portable and, according to the size you have purchased, can fit in whatever space you purchased, can fit in whatever space you have available to you, be it a basement, closet, or entire room.

• Plant Segregation

What you harvest is determined by the sex of the plants. Female cannabis plants are grown for their buds, whereas male cannabis plants produce materials used to produce hemp fiber.

In addition, pollination of the same plants results in females producing seeds, which may degrade bud quality. As a result, you may need to consider purchasing two or more tents to separate the plants.

• The Cover

The cover should be tough and without perforations to ensure that light does not leak into your plants when it should be dark.

There are two types of materials that are commonly used. The first is the oxford cloth, which is water-resistant, tear-resistant, and wrinkle-resistant, ensuring that light reflects appropriately. The other material is canvas, which is thick, tough, and water-resistant.

2. Cannabis Grow Box/Cabinets Indoor Growing System

A grow box is a self-contained environment for cannabis cultivation. The grow box includes all nutrients, lights, and air conditioning.

A grow box is smaller than a tent, allowing it to fit more naturally into a room.

Grow boxes are a stealthy way to grow weed because they are disguised as a cabinet. As a result, they are also known as grow cabinets.

When you buy a grow box system, it comes with all necessary equipment, all automated. There are also high-end boxes that include a CO2 enhancer and a plant tracking app.

When purchasing a box, you should know whether you want to use hydroponics or soil as a growing medium. You’ll also need to know which tray to plant in.

Grow boxes can be purchased, but one can also build their own. A homemade system necessitates a lot of upkeep, whereas purchased systems come fully equipped with timers to automate the growing process.

3. Marijuana Closet Indoor Growing System

A closet grow system is space in a closet, cupboard, or wardrobe repurposed and equipped to provide conditions necessary for growing marijuana.

You’ll need to restructure your closet to accommodate the plants. To get your grow closet up and running, do the following:

Paint the inner walls white to allow for as much light reflection as possible
Set up the lighting
Have your growing trays or pots in place
Set up the exhaust system
Determine the growing medium
Grow your cannabis seeds

You can also choose to buy a grow closet. They are small growing spaces with pre-installed ventilation, grow trays, and other essential growing equipment. These types also include smart controls that allow you to automate the environment and monitor the growth of your plants.

You can cultivate in a closet as small as 36 inches wide by 24 inches tall. Fortunately, most full-sized closets have larger dimensions.

Notably, the grow space can be pretty small, so you should keep the plant height under control. You can choose auto-flowering varieties that grow less than a meter tall. You can also control the plant’s stretch by adjusting the phosphorus levels.

4. Greenhouse/ Warehouse/ Commercial Grow Room System

When you invest in a greenhouse or warehouse to plant your cannabis plants, you are going big. Before you do anything else, you should get a cultivation license because that massive structure will undoubtedly attract some attention.

Farming in a commercial grow room can be expensive because every component required to create the ideal growing environment will have to be high output equipment.

The first step in setting up a commercial grow room is to zone it to accommodate the various stages of the marijuana plant’s life cycle: seeds, vegetative, and flowering stages. Each of these stages requires a different environment, such as varying light and humidity levels.

Moreover, whether you own or rent the space, you should strive to maximize the available grow space. Mobile shelving systems allow you to stack your plants up to multiple tiers high, doubling or tripling the amount of space set aside for growing.

Then again, their mobility allows for only one aisle per system, as opposed to static, non-movable units, which require an aisle for each section of shelving. Because you only need one aisle, you can save up to 50% of unused plant space.

Get Started With An Indoor Marijuana Growing System

Join the marijuana home grow revolution with grow tents, closets, or cabinet indoor grow systems. For a mid-sized or large-scale operation, grow rooms are your best bet.

Companies like MMI Agriculture are here to smoothen your indoor grow experience with our array of products like high-density mobile carriages, tabletop caster units, and ABS grow trays.

7 Must-Haves For Rolling Vertical Grow Racks For Your Cannabis Grow Room

Rolling Vertical Grow Racks commercial cannabis grow operations grow rooms

Rolling Vertical Grow Racks; A New Way To Stack More For Your Space

If you have the wrong grow room supplies, your operation was doomed long before you bought those tiny dark-brown cannabis starting seeds.

There are many components needed to have a successful and efficient grow operation. We are here to make sure that none of these components gets overlooked.

One of the most essential components of any indoor grow operation is racking, specifically, high-density mobile shelving racking and rolling vertical grow racks.

Why Do You Need Mobile Shelving Systems for Your Grow Operation?

Vertical farming aims to help you save space by building an agricultural space vertically rather than the conventional horizontal method.

Rolling benches are the new alternative to mobile benching/racking…but what’s the difference?

Mobile benches are basically multi-tier racks on wheels. Rolling benches, in contrast, are the same multi-tier rack but now on a rolling bar.

Using a rolling bar allows for one worker to easily move benches that are sometimes spanning up to 100 feet. This feature helps increase speed, efficiency, and worker safety when tending plants.

Also, the mobility of the racks helps provide significantly more grow space in your operation. Whereas with static, non-mobile units, you need an aisle for every section of shelving. By going mobile, you only need one aisle total. By going mobile you turn your aisles into yields.

The vertical racks are made unique to suit the farming system you have running.

Three Types of Vertical Farming

1. Hydroponics

Hydroponics is the growing system most commonly used in vertical farms. It involves growing plants in a nutrient solution free of soil. The cannabis roots are submerged in the solution, which is (in most cases automatically) monitored and circulated to ensure a correct chemical composition is maintained.

How is water supplied to the tower? A typical vertical racking will have a reservoir tank at the bottom. The tank is attached to a special hydroponic pump that propels water to the topmost point of the tower.

For a steady flow of water across the tower, the system relies on gravitational force to bring the water back to the reservoir after a full circulation.

2. Aeroponics

Aeroponics was developed by NASA in a bid to find practical ways to grow crops in space. The mission of these brilliant minds was to find a way to grow plants in an air/mist environment with no soil or very little water.

Aeroponics consumes 90% less water, levels that even the most efficient hydroponics system could only dare dream about.

Moreover, plants grown through aeroponics have been shown to take up more minerals and vitamins, making them healthier and potentially more nutritious.

3. Aquaponics

Aquaponics is a diverse system that incorporates plants and fish in the same ecosystem.

Fish are hosted in indoor ponds, producing nutrient-rich waste that’s food for plants. The plants then filter and purify the wastewater, which is recycled to the fish ponds.

The nature of aquaponics makes it uneconomical for commercial vertical farms; however, it can work well for small-scale farming.

Five Benefits of Having Rolling Vertical Grow Racks For Your Cannabis Grow Rooms

Rolling vertical grow racks bring new dynamics to a grow room that set it apart from other systems.

1. Watering And Caring For Plants Is Simplified

Mobile systems allow you to move racks back and forth to create aisles as needed for easy plant maintenance.

Moreover, these systems can come with a retractable mezzanine walkway that helps employees access those plants located on higher elevations

2. A Simple Approach To Increase Your Revenue By Making Extra Space On the Fly

This means you can turn your warehouse overhead space into revenue by providing more plant-growing area. You can also relocate entire rows of plants next to each other to maximize the growing area.

3. Higher Yields

High-density vertical grow racks can accommodate multiple levels of fans, plants, lighting, and irrigation equipment, allowing for higher yields.

4. Code Compliance

Commercial cannabis cultivation is still a new concept, and stakeholders are still working on local building codes. Having your operation backed by a reputable company ensures your systems are built to meet all the necessary regulations.

5. Improved Ergonomics

Rolling vertical grow racks often come in widths of 4′, allowing for convenient access to every plant across the expanse of the trays.

The mobility of the systems allows for aisles to be created with ease, with employees being able to freely walk back and forth between the 3′ aisle to tend to their plants.

Six Qualities Of A Good Rolling System

As you choose the best cultivation system for your commercial cannabis grow room, there are various factors to consider.

1. Anti-corrosive

The atmosphere in a grow room can be harsh on the materials used in vertical racks. The air is humid, and a variety of chemicals are being handled. To endure the extreme conditions, the materials used in the construction of the racks must be anti-corrosive and rust-free. This feature also impacts the shelf’s durability or longevity.

2. Strong, Durable Material

Vertical racks can be made from a variety of materials. However, stainless steel and aluminum are the most prevalent and recommended materials. These materials are strong while being lightweight. This ensures the security of your crops while minimizing the load on your building.

Because of the robust materials, the systems can withstand seismic complications, guaranteeing the safety of your workers and keeping your operation running efficiently.

3. Customization Options

You need to select a system that is appropriate for your project. Depending on the dimensions of your room, the system must be installed differently, either horizontally or vertically, to fit precisely.

Furthermore, whether you are performing hydroponics or aeroponics, each type has distinct requirements that your service provider needs to consider.

4. Installation Services

A good rolling systems installation provider does more than just fix the racks to your grow room. The shelves must be nicely integrated into the overall design of the area. Detailed floor layouts and tailored drawings are required to help maximize capacity.

Also, because no two green operations are the same, the systems ought to be tailored to the exact requirements of your grow space.

5. An Automated Rolling System

Manual rolling shelves are safe to use and work well. Then again, an automated system benefits your staff, especially when your cannabis plants grow, increasing the load on the shelving.

6. Anti-tip System

For those operations in seismic zones, an anti-tip system should be the priority. This helps to keep the shelves stable and prevents them from falling over.

The load of the plants on the shelves can be substantial, especially as the levels increase. This component is often installed at the base rail and activates when shelves begin to topple.

Equip Your Grow Room With the Best Rolling Vertical Grow Racks

Rolling vertical grow racks helps your grow operation be more efficient and profitable. The rack, when properly installed, enhances flexibility, flow efficiency, and the ergonomy of your operation. Overall it helps beef up what you can do in the available space, turning in quality and higher yields.

The key to working rolling vertical grow racks is an experienced installation provider. MMI Agriculture is a high-density vertical grow rack manufacturer located in Ellenville, NY. We specialize in designing, manufacturing, and installing high-quality and durable mobile, vertical grow rack shelving systems for the indoor agriculture industry.

Everything You Need to Know About 1020 Trays

Image of man using 1020 Trays to grow cannabis indoors.

An In-Depth Look At 1020 Trays For Your Cannabis Plants

You’ve got the ideal grow room with a top-notch ventilation system to match it. You also have the sterilized soil or growing medium of your choice, as well your premium cannabis seeds.

What’s next?

Germination trays (also known as seed trays).

Yes, there are a variety of germination trays that come in all sizes. However, there’s a common type used by greenhouse farmers known as 1020 trays, or referred to as the “standard” size tray.”

“These trays, which are also called ‘flats’, are available everywhere from hydroponic stores to Amazon and eBay.”

But there’s so much to know about these trays before getting your grow operation running as it should.

How are they used? What are the different types?

We shall look into all that and more.

What Does 1020 Mean?

The term 1020 alludes to the tray’s length and width, approximately 10 inches by 20 inches.

In terms of metric measurements, it’s 25 by 51 cm.

The standard size tray is frequently larger than its 1020 dimension by an inch on both sides. The extra inches come in handy when adding pots to separate seeds in your tray; it provides more space at the edges to catch the overflow and extract the pots.

The planting trays can be utilized to create a large “field” of potting soil mix or divided into separate cells for individual plants — the distinct cells aid in making room for the roots of your cannabis seeds.

Moreover, in the case of propagating plug plants, seedlings sprouted and grown in single units; they are easier to transplant when planted in cells.

Because each seedling is in its own enclosure, the roots of the plants do not become entangled, safeguarding your plants’ roots when transplanting.

What Material Are 1020 Seed Trays Made Of?

Most 1020 seed trays are made of heavy-duty plastic. The plastic makes them light and durable at the same time.

The trays come in different colors, with black being the most popular. Others may prefer white or brightly colored flats to reflect light rather than absorb it, as in the case of black trays. The reflected light can benefit the plants.

Due to the material the flats are made of, 1020 trays are mostly sold wholesale to make economic sense for the manufacturers.

Moreover, for safety measures, consider checking for BPA-free food-safe polypropylene plastic.

BPA-free material is plastic manufactured without bisphenol A associated with various health conditions.

Plastics made without BPA are FDA-approved for food contact, otherwise known as food-grade plastic.

How Deep Should A Seed Tray Be?

The depth of 1020 greenhouse trays depends on what you grow and when you intend to transplant. Trays typically have a depth of 2 to 3 inches.

The idea is to avoid using too deep trays if you want your crops to drain properly. Otherwise, you’ll have waterlogged soil, which can lead to root rot, an irreparable infection that reduces crop yield.

For starting seeds, your 1020 germination tray needs to be deep (about 3 inches). The depth allows for more area for soaking the soil. The allowance also aids in keeping water from pouring over the edges.

Furthermore, if you’re planting in a grow room, the trays need to provide adequate space for the roots to spread out.

Good depth also gives you more time to transplant your cannabis plants to larger pots or your garden.

1020 Trays Are Classified Into Three Types

Trays are classified according to their drainage features. There are three standard trays.

1. Reservoir Tray Without Holes

Trays without holes are useful for an indoor operation, especially if you have a vertical growing system. They help reduce the risk of water leaking onto the floor or contacting the light below.

Such flats come with deep bottom channels to help prevent overwatering.

However, because of their waterproof design, which even retains runoff, you must be careful not to overwater the plants.

2. Reservoir Tray With Holes

If good drainage is a priority, a germination tray with holes is your best bet. Such trays are ideal for cultivating cannabis plants on our tabletop caster unit.

However, these flats create a challenge in managing excess water flow when growing plants in an indoor grow room. Therefore, drainage is something you really need to consider when using this type of 1020 greenhouse trays.

3. Mesh Tray

Mesh trays are similar to trays with holes, but their grid structure of perforations makes them excellent for hydroponic propagation.

Hydroponic cultivation is a type of cannabis growth that employs nutrient-rich water as the growing medium.

This 1020 tray type, as the name implies, has many holes that regulate the free flow of water, allowing your plants to receive all of the nutrients they require.

How Are 1020 Trays Used? Learn About These Top 5 Ways

1020 seed trays are made to accommodate various methods of planting your cannabis plants. Here are 5 ways you can use 1020 trays.

1. Planting Directly

The propagation trays can be used as one large tray with no cells to separate the seeds. You only need potting soil mix. This method saves time because you don’t have to transplant into pots. There is enough space between the crops to grow into robust shoots.

Additionally, since you only need the buds from your hemp, you can uproot the plant and replant it in the same position once you’ve harvested your buds.

2. Grouping In Pots

Keeping your plants in pots arranged within the trays makes it simple to transport them. On the other hand, pots come in various sizes and forms, often taking up a lot of space, thus limiting you to only planting a few crops.”

As a result, this method of growing may not be cost-effective for large-scale farming.

3. Planting Seedlings (In A Seedling Cell Tray)

Seedling cell trays are useful for growing your seedlings. When growing cannabis, you can choose to transplant seedlings into pots or your farm.

For the same 1020 tray, a seedling cell tray has up to 125 dividing cells. The cells aid in the separation of seedling roots for easier transplanting.

4. Growing In Punnets

Punnets are rectangular containers with drainage holes at the bottom that can be filled with soil to grow your plants.

They are available in various sizes to match the needs of your cannabis plants. The 1020 greenhouse tray can hold roughly ten of the regular-size punnets.

The punnets make cultivation easy as they are not monolithic like the seedling cell. Therefore, you can easily extract any punnets for a closer look at the plant or to remove any unhealthy ones.

5. Organizing Square Pots In A Grid

Unlike punnets, square pots fit nicely in a 1020 tray and allow for more seedlings. They are also custom-fitted and have ample space for roots to flourish. They are, however, not as large as punnets.

Twenty average-sized pots fit in the standard-size tray. The pots leave some space between them, making it easy to remove the pots off the tray.

The square pots make it simple to care for your plants and keep your workspace tidy.

How Long Can Seedlings Stay In A Tray?

The amount of time plants can be in the tray and remain healthy is highly dependent on the potting system you’ve chosen.

The potting system will determine the capacity of your roots. The faster the roots can occupy the available space, the sooner you have to remove the plants from the trays.

For example, if you plant seeds in a 200 cell tray, crops that grow quickly are ideal as there is plenty of space for a robust root system. However, as soon as the crops sprout, they’ll have to be transplanted to larger pots. If you choose a 128 cell tray, the partitions are larger, allowing the plants to stay in for a little longer.

Alternatively, you could opt for a 72 cell tray. The partitions have larger capacities, allowing your crops to thrive in the 1020 tray for up to 3 months before needing to be transplanted.

Fewer cells equal more time in the trays for your crops. Additionally, if you use punnets or square pots, your cannabis plants will be able to mature comfortably.

The number of plants you can grow in your trays is also determined by how well you have set your grow room ventilation.

How To Clean Your 1020 Trays

If you have purchased heavy-duty 1020 trays for your operation, then they are reusable. Here are tips to ensure your trays are clean for every growing season.

Remove any leftover dirt and root matter.
Spray the trays with high velocity to remove stubborn debris.
Wash the cleaner trays in hot soapy water or use your dishwasher.
Rinse your trays with clean water and allow them to air dry.
You can further sterilize with H2O2 or a mild bleach solution. H2O2 stands for hydrogen peroxide, an organic compound used in soil sterilization.

Improve Your Grow Room With Heavy-Duty 1020 Trays

Using 1020 trays in your grow room will help ease your workflow and keep the room neat. Their design makes them durable and reliable for your cannabis plants. Whether you have starting seeds or fully grown marijuana plants, 1020 trays will serve the purpose.

MMI agriculture offers vertical growing solutions that will complement cannabis cultivation efforts. Contact us for an assessment of your grow space as well as installation services. Also, check out our retractable elevated decking that is sure to help you optimize your grow space.