Category: Vertical Farming

Vertical Farming: The Future of Growing Cannabis Indoors

cannabis plant leaf growing in char coir bio pots indoors.

How Does Vertical Farming Work? Learn Why Up Is The Way To Go

How does vertical farming work? Is it any beneficial?

The most significant challenge to an indoor farming enterprise is space. The growing demand for cannabis products necessitates expansion. More room, like a domino effect, means expensive real estate leasing, higher utility, labor costs, as well as a plethora of other potential obstacles.

Vertical farming may hold the secret to limiting the growing expenses of expansion by maximizing space. This farming strategy allows you to maximize space without sacrificing quality or productivity.

Cannabis farming has seen slow technological progress, though it basically pioneered sunless cultivation. However, vertical growing companies are at the forefront of revolutionizing the industry.

What Is Vertical Farming?

Vertical farming is the production of crops on vertically stacked tiers.

The plants are cultivated on vertically stacked layers and fitted into structures like a refurbished warehouse.

The method utilizes controlled environment agriculture technology (CEA) which employs indoor farming techniques. CEA involves the artificial control of temperature, humidity, and light.

The primary aim of vertical farming is to maximize crop yields in a limited space.

There are two main types of marijuana vertical cannabis farming.

1. Stacked Vertical

Stacked vertical is a common method where multiple racks are stacked on top of each other around a central light or with lights on each shelf. The setup allows you to use the space between the floor and roof, maximizing space.

The plants need to be kept short and bud heavy when using the system. Hydroponics and soil-based vertical grow systems are suitable for this approach.

2. True Vertical

True vertical is the advancement of the stacked method. The stacked model is more or less 2-3 horizontal farms built on top of each other.

In true vertical growing, plants grow out the side of a column; nutrients and water are drip-fed to the plants from the top.

The method utilizes aeroponics and the nutrient film technique (NFT), which entails the direct application of nutrient water to roots.

How Does Vertical Farming Work? 4 Important Factors To Consider When Setting Up Indoor Vertical Grows

The following 4 factors are critical to the process of vertical farming.

1. Lighting

Since most vertical farms are built indoors, it’s critical to keep an eye on the amount of light in the area. Farmers can use natural lighting, artificial lighting, or a combination of the two.

Artificial lights play a significant role in achieving the proper light balance for your plants. Cannabis plants, for example, require 18 hours of light during the vegetative stage and 12 hours during the flowering stage. It’s impossible to rely on natural lighting to maintain each plant stage. Fortunately, automated lighting can assist in creating the ideal conditions.

2. Physical Layout

The physical layout entails designing your grow room. Vertical farming involves stacking plants vertically. Therefore, you have to consider tower-like structures in your design. These structures could bring a different dynamic when allocating positions for associated equipment like air conditioners, dehumidifiers, lamps, etc.

3. Growing Medium

A grow medium is anything that allows plant roots to develop and take water and nutrients. The grow media you use significantly influences the quality of your plants. Aeroponics, aquaponics, hydroponics, and soil are viable growing medium solutions.

In addition, there are other unconventional organic materials used in vertical farming, like coconut husks and peat moss.

4. Sustainability

The major advantage of vertical farming is the maximization of available agricultural space, increasing the output of existing resources.

In addition, vertical farms are more efficient than traditional methods because they use only 5% of the water.

Six Reasons Why You May Want To Switch To Vertical Farming

1. Less Water And Space

When compared to traditional farming, vertical farming uses 70 – 95% less water to produce crops. This is owing to the advancements made in vertical farming design.

Additionally, there are more freshwater savings when farming on a large scale, impacting overall production costs.

2. Increased All-Year-Round Production

Vertical farms allow more crops to be grown in the same amount of space. According to a Columbia University report, 1 acre of indoor space is equivalent to 4 – 6 acres of outdoor space.

CEA technology’s controlled indoor environment allows for plant production all year in summer or winter. All the necessary conditions are present in the grow room for cannabis growth.

3. Eliminates Environmental Impacts

Flooding, drought, and severe rainfall can be devastating to crops grown outdoors. Furthermore, these conditions are becoming more common and severe due to global warming.

On the other hand, indoor vertical farms remain sheltered from the elements, assuring a plentiful harvest regardless of the season or weather.

4. Increase In Organic Hemp Production

The hemp is grown in a controlled environment, eliminating the need for chemical pesticides or herbicides.

5. Preparation For Urban Migration

Vertical farms are viable for cultivating cannabis in urban locations where space is limited and demand is high.

6. Environmental Friendly

Animals or vegetation in the wild remains undisturbed, encouraging biodiversity.

Likewise, workers remain safe from work hazards experienced with typical farming like heavy machine-related injuries and exposure to harmful chemicals.

Three Main Challenges Facing Vertical Indoor Cannabis Farming

1. High Initial Investment

Overall, vertical cannabis farming is great value as you can grow more cannabis in a smaller horizontal space. However, buying quality equipment can raise the cost. Also, acquiring skilled labor and purchasing associated equipment for climate control and additional equipment like ladders and sensors can drive up the cost.

2. Safety And Compliance Issues

As the racks go up, new hazards emerge, as technicians might need scaffolding or ladders to tend the plants. In such cases, you need to comply with OSHA regulations which can be restrictive for monitoring the structural stability of mobile racking systems exceeding two tiers.

3. Climate Control

Maintaining the ideal temperature, humidity, and air circulation in vertical farms can be difficult since the number of factors to monitor grows with stacking.

Microclimates develop, raising the challenge of keeping the same conditions at the top and bottom of the vertical systems with increased plants.

The situation will demand advanced climate control systems for every cubic foot to preserve the weed.

Four Quick Steps On How To Start Vertical Cannabis Farming

1. Choose Your Vertical Grow System

Quality should guide your decision when choosing a vertical racking system. You should consider irrigation pressure, drainage, electricals, and the plant’s actual weight. A sturdy vertical rack with cross and diagonal beams keep your plants secure and your workers safe.

It’s also vital to have the option of customizable racks in order to have something that fits your available space. Another consideration is whether you need stationary or mobile racks.

Mobile racks ensure that you are maximizing your grow space and utilizing every inch of your operation. Stationary racks, while they do require more space due to the need for more aisles, are an affordable alternative to mobile racks.

MMI Agriculture offers the most robust customizable uprights on the market, which are available in our online store.

2. Select Your Grow Lights

There are various grow lights available such as LED and HIDs grow lights.

Each type has its advantages and disadvantages; for example, LEDs are costly yet have low power usage. HIDs are less expensive, but they generate too much heat.

The type of product you strive to grow determines the light to use. For most marijuana plants, broad-spectrum is sufficient. Pink light helps develop exotic buds as it gives you control over the quality of buds.

3. Automate Your Environmental Controls

There are many pieces of equipment used to ensure good climate control. Vertical systems can make your grow room dense, introducing microclimates in your grow room. To solve this, invest in sensors to automate your climate control equipment.

For good airflow, push the fresh air down the open spaces of your racking system and pull it out the other end.

4. Pick A Production Method

Space is limited in vertical grow systems; hence, you need to limit the plant height. Your plants should grow to a maximum height of 4 feet and remain in the vegetative stage for a short time.

Going vertical also means you’re doubling or tripling your previous yield.

With the short plant cycle and increased output, you must rethink your strategy. You are transforming into a manufacturing facility where your goods have to move quickly.

Tips For Growing Cannabis Vertically

There are several aspects to check before purchasing vertical equipment.

How the grow racks fit, ensuring good workflow and maximum space utilization.
Proper light spacing and distance from the canopy are good for adequate light coverage
Proper sanitization procedures and surface material to prevent contaminants.
If a beginner, start with two tiers stacking systems.
Understand the microclimate within your grow space for better climate control.
Choose the proper strain. Short cannabis strains are preferred.
Plan out your grow room. Your workers need adequate space to tend to the plants higher up, which necessitates ladders or scaffolding. There should also be room to remove trays for cleaning or replacement.
Clean your pipes regularly and manage wastewater.

Ready To Make The Switch?

Vertical farming systems are the way to go to make the most of your grow space. MMI Agriculture offers high-quality racking that is backed by an industry-leading 10-year warranty to ensure that your operation runs smoothly for years to come.

Step By Step Guide On How To Set Up A Cannabis Grow Room

guide to set up indoor commercial grow. indoor facility has led and wall fans.

8 Steps To Set Up A Perfect Cannabis Grow Room

Congratulations! you have finally decided to grow your cannabis indoors rather than outside. Great choice! Now comes the next challenge; how to set up a grow room.

When setting up a cannabis indoor grow room, there are many factors to consider. For a start, you have to figure out the number of plants you want to grow, the types of growing mediums to use, the lighting needed, and how to supply the electrical needs to the indoor space.

This guide will help you save money and time by showing you exactly what you need to know to set up an adequate and well-thought-out indoor grow room.

First, let’s look at some of the benefits of growing cannabis in a controlled, indoor environment.

4 Advantages To Growing Weed Indoors

Growing marijuana indoors allows you to maintain control over your crop’s life cycle, resulting in consistently bountiful yields. Here are some of the reasons why growing cannabis indoors is the best way to go.

1. High-quality Cannabis

You have complete control over the environmental parameters in which your plants grow, resulting in high-quality cannabis. Although it requires a lot of money and resources, it allows for more control than growing outdoors, resulting in premium cannabis.

2. Increased Crop Yield All-year-round

You can grow in the summer or the winter and obtain the same yield. Furthermore, you have complete control over when the plants flower, when harvested, and when you want to cultivate another batch.

3. They Are Not Affected By Harsh Weather

In grow rooms, you supply the appropriate growing media, nutrients, water, and temperature for the plants to thrive. In contrast, plants grown outdoors depend on the weather for growth which is more random and volatile.

4. Confidentiality And Security

Growing your plants indoors gives you more alternatives for keeping them safe from looters. You will also be able to remain undetected, avoiding the judgemental eye of your neighbors.

8 Steps To Setting Up A Commercial Grow Room (What Makes A Good Grow Room)

Here is a checklist of everything you need to set up a beneficial commercial cannabis grow room.

1. Select An Ideal Space

Have a dedicated space for the hemp plants so that you can limit the amount of times the plants are moved. Because weed can have a strong odor, especially during flowering, windows are beneficial for excellent air circulation as they help redirect the odor.

It is also important to consider how much space the equipment required to keep the plants healthy, such as lights and fans, will take up.

Because the plants double in size as they grow, you’ll need to make sure there’s enough room for them. In addition, the plants must be cared for, so leave room to work on them.

2. Light Proofing

Light Proof your grow space by ensuring that no light enters through the window or door frames from the outside. When the plants are in the dark, aluminum foil tape can ensure that light from the outside does not damage them.

You can also use materials that reflect room light onto your plants while blocking light from the outside to cover your walls and windows.

3. Ensure Fresh Air Circulation

Your grow room requires constant airflow and fresh air for the plants to flourish. There is a variety of equipment that can assist in keeping the air in your grow room fresh.

High Output Fans

These remove stale air from the room and replace it with fresh air. They bring in the bulk of the air in your rooms, therefore choosing the proper fan for the size of your space is critical.

Oscillating Fans

These aid in the circulation of the air drawn in by the high-output fans.

Carbon Filter

This cleans the air carried in by the high-output fans, ensuring that it is free of particles that can clog the stomata.

Window Vents

These cover windows enabling ventilation of the rooms hence controlling air that comes in and out the window.

On filters and high-output fans, it’s essential to look at the CFM (cubic feet per minute) value. The CFM helps you decide the size to buy so that you don’t give your cannabis too little or too much air.

4. Set Up An Irrigation System

When setting up a commercial grow room, it’s not practical to have workers watering the plants. An irrigation system will save you money by delivering the proper amount of water. It also allows your staff to concentrate on other critical activities.

Uniform irrigation results in consistent quality and yield.

5. Install Grow Room Lights

During the vegetative and blooming periods, marijuana plants require varying quantities of light. For instance, your plants will typically need 18 hours of light during the vegetative stage and 12 hours during flowering. They begin to flower when the number of light hours per day is reduced.

As a result, it’s critical to automate or set timers for lights to ensure that your plants receive the right amount of light at each stage.

On the other hand, you must determine the ideal light for your grow space. Consider the strength, coverage area, and light intensity when picking a light source.

The various types include:

HID (High-intensity discharge) grow lights provide the wavelengths that plants require to develop. HID bulbs generate a lot of heat, suitable for large spaces. To help with temperature regulation, you may need to put exhaust fans or air-cooled reflector hoods on the bulbs.
Fluorescent grow lights are useful for illumination because they don’t generate as much heat as HIDs. However, they take up a lot of room and are inefficient, producing up to 30% less light per watt of electricity.
LED grow lights provide your plants with the necessary amount of light while using less than half the energy of HIDs. Furthermore, they do not produce heat, reducing the risk of overheating. As a result, they’re a good option. The most significant disadvantage is that they are more expensive than other lights. They’re also intense, which raises the risk of bleaching the plants.

6. Regulate The Climate (Temperature And Humidity)

Your grow room setup must consider several aspects of climate control. The first is temperature. The lighting system already generates heat in addition to the environment outside your grow space, warranting the need for an air conditioner.

Humidity is the second factor to consider. Plants only take in a small amount of water and expel the rest into the atmosphere through transpiration. This mandates using a dehumidifier (which removes moisture) to keep the humidity levels in check.

It’s crucial to keep track of variations in humidity and temperature using measurement equipment such as a thermometer for room temperature, an infrared thermometer for leaf temperature, and a hygrometer for humidity.

Regulating Humidity

Cannabis plants need about 40% relative humidity. Humidity is the amount of water vapor in the air. You can control humidity in your weed grow room using:

Humidifiers– They are equipment that helps increase moisture levels.
Water– Mist plants with spray bottles in the absence of humidity adjusting equipment.
Airflow– Regulating airflow aids in moving moisture in and out of the grow space.

Regulating Temperature

Cannabis plants need to be kept at an average temperature of 700 F. The lowest temperature is 580 F (with lights off), and the highest temperature at 850 F when lights are on.

You can adjust several factors to manage the temperature.

Lights– As previously stated, LED lights emit less heat than HID lights. As a result, use lighting that is appropriate for your needs. Furthermore, change the temperature at the canopy level by raising or lowering the lights.
ACs– If your grow space is too hot, an air conditioner can effectively cool it down.
Heaters– These are useful when lights are off and you need to raise the temperature.
Airflow– Utilize airflow to bring in fresh air while removing warm air.

7. Install The Growing System

Establishing the growing media and equipment for your marijuana plants is equally vital.

There are several media options available, including potting soil and hydroponic trays. Consider investing in high-quality potting soil that is rich in nutrients for your cannabis.

Also, examine the ideal growth containers. These will be determined by the grow media, system, and plant size. Cloth bags, plastic, air, or smart pots are all options.

High-density vertical racking systems help indoor growers utilize the space they have available to them, both horizontally and vertically. These racks are also mobile, allowing them to move back and forth on tracks. By going mobile, growers are able to have only one aisle for an entire system, rather than multiple aisles for systems that aren’t mobile. Fewer aisles equals more space to grow!

8. Grow Room Flooring And Care For Plants

Take the time to inspect your plants for bugs, mold, and nutrient deficiencies. Inspect the leaves for pests such as spider mites or discoloration caused by nutrient insufficiency. Also, look for pests hiding in the medium.

To prevent disease transmission, grow rooms must be kept clean. A smooth surface, ideally concrete with drains, should be used for the floor. Water spills, debris, and disintegrating leaves are easier to clean on a flat surface.

Turn A Regular Room Into A Commercial Cannabis Grow Room

You don’t need a large garden to cultivate cannabis; all you need is a dedicated room and specialized equipment to establish the ideal atmosphere for your cannabis plants.

Also, since you’re going commercial, you’ll need to accomplish the following:

1. Consult A Lawyer

A lawyer can assist you in understanding the cannabis regulations in your state.

2. Create A Development Team

Having a team of experts on your side increases the likelihood of getting state approval. Physicians, horticulturists, and operations managers are among the people you should consider hiring.

Partner With A Vertical Farming Equipment Supplier & Grow Your Yields

At MMI Agriculture we offer vertical racking systems for your plants equipped with a retractable mezzanine walkway so you can easily tend to your crops. Furthermore, a 10-year parts and labor warranty guarantees the quality of our products. Check out this and other fantastic items in our store.

7 Things You Need To Know to When Selecting Your Vertical Shelving Provider

vertical farming for vertical grow racks from MMI Agriculture USA.

The Top Qualities That Every Vertical Shelving Provider Should Have

Vertical farming is the future. It has proven to be an efficient way to increase both your yields and profits. But what is vertical farming, and how do you choose the right vertical shelving provider?

Vertical farming is a way to utilize all the space in your indoor grow operation. Vertical shelving helps you grow up and out, maximizing the number of plants you can have in that space. This allows you to double or triple your cannabis yields and overall profits.

Indoor vertical farming systems allow for efficient use of all utilities, from lighting and airflow to irrigation. By utilizing vertical farming systems, you can take complete control over your grow environment

At MMI Agriculture, we provide several types of vertical shelving equipment, including mobile carriages, vertical grow racks, a retractable elevated decking, trays, and table top caster units that fit all operation sizes.

For your cannabis indoor farming operation to run smoothly for a long time, you need high-quality equipment and an innovative and supportive vertical racking provider. In this article, we go through the top 7 things you need to know when selecting your vertical racking provider.

The Key To Building Your Indoor Vertical Farming Operation

If your grow is to be successful, you will need vertical shelving equipment from a company that provides lots of pre and after-sales services, an extended warranty, and availability to provide solutions when things don’t go as planned.

Here are 7 things to consider when choosing a vertical farming equipment supplier.

1. Quality And Reliability Of Their Vertical Shelving

Quality matters. To avoid replacing parts regularly, get a product that can last a long time. You need robust bulk racking frames, cross and diagonal beams for added strength and rigidity, as well as rebars or wire decking for lighting to be suspended from.

MMI Agriculture’s vertical Grow Racks are made using 14-gauge steel with an 8 bend design for extra strength. Cross and diagonal beams are also made using 14- gauge steel with interlocking tabs for added rigidity and easy installation.

Our bulk racking is also powder-coated to ensure durability and stability.

We offer a 10-year warranty on parts and labor, which is the longest and best in the industry. This long warranty speaks for itself regarding the quality of our products.

2. Innovation

Is the company innovating? Is the provider coming up with new ways to improve their systems or help you get more yields? While vertical agriculture is a relatively new practice, a good racking provider should invest in creating new solutions and coming up with new ways to improve current vertical shelving.

MMI Agriculture is leading the charge to provide new tools and equipment that will either enhance yields or make the current models safer, more efficient, or easy to use. An example of this is our Retractable Elevated Decking.

Our retractable elevated decking is a retractable mezzanine walkway that makes it easier for your employees to access plants located on higher elevations. Employees no longer have to make countless trips up and down ladders to tend to plants. This makes it safer and less time-consuming than any other decking on the market.

3. Expertise To Help Optimize Space

One of the main advantages that vertical indoor farming technology offers is the ability to make maximum use of the available space to increase yields. Therefore, a good vertical racking provider should have the expertise to help you use space efficiently.

At MMI Agriculture, we offer professional design and CAD services for all clients and prospective clients to ensure they optimize their respective grow spaces. Our design experts utilize the latest CAD software to create systems that meet each grow’s specific and unique needs.

We also provide capacity evaluations and site surveys. We can send one of our representatives to your site to measure your grow space and ensure all measurements are accurate.

4. Lead Times

How fast can you get your indoor grow operational? First, you need to consider how quickly you can receive your racking and get it all installed. Once the racking is in place, then the rest of the components can be put in place and the growing can start.

You need to be sure that the provider can design, ship, and install the system in a reasonable amount of time. Our vertical racking systems are made locally in the USA, reducing lead times. We have a nationwide installation crew to ensure every system is correctly installed on time.

5. The Solutions For An Operation Your Size

Not everyone has a large grow space that can handle mobile or vertical rack systems. If your operation is somehow restricted for space, we have just the product for you.

MMI Agriculture Table Top Caster Units are designed for spaces that don’t have room for mobile and vertical rack systems. They sit atop caster wheels so they can be moved from room to room, swivel, and lock in place.

6. Can Their Indoor Vertical Shelving Solutions Scale Up?

Indoor vertical farming allows you to maximize yields by optimizing the existing space. But what if you need to scale up? Do the solutions you use allow you to add more tiers? Can it be rearranged to reclaim unused space?

If you plan to scale up your operation, you should use providers like MMI Agriculture, whose vertical farming systems can be expanded as needed. Our uprights are available up to 21’ high and can go higher upon customer request.

Our mobile carriages eliminate wasted space and turn it into a more functional and effective growing space. These carriages sit atop flange wheels that can support up to 1,400 pounds per linear square foot! The mobile carriages can also extend up to 56 feet, enabling the use of every available inch.

7. What Other Services Do They Offer?

Indoor vertical farming is more than buying and installing vertical shelves. You need to partner with a vertical farming solutions provider to ensure your setup runs smoothly.

At MMI Agriculture, we are with you every step of the way. Offering services such as permit acquisition, seismic calculations, site surveys, floor plans and drawings, capacity evaluations, and installation, our team is also available for any questions and support.

Ready To Switch To Vertical Shelving? Partner With MMI Agriculture Today And Maximize Yields

MMI Agriculture ticks all boxes in our list of things to consider when selecting the best vertical racking provider. First, we offer customized products and services to meet your specific needs.

Whether you are in the market for high-density mobile carriages that are capable of doubling your yields, vertical grow racks that help your operation reach new heights, or table top castor units that can optimize your grow in restricted spaces, we have it all.

We also offer a retractable mezzanine walkway that allows easy access to sections located in higher elevations safely and in a less time-consuming way.

We trust our products’ quality and reliability. That’s why we offer a 10-year warranty on labor and parts while other providers offer only one year.

7 Benefits Of Using Mobile Vertical Growing Racks To Grow Cannabis Indoors

MMI Agricultural retractable mezzanine vertical racks in cannabis facility.

Learn How Mobile Vertical Growing Racks Can Benefit Your Cannabis Grow

Since the cultivation, purchase, consumption, and selling of cannabis was decriminalized in 2018, cannabis has become one of the most profitable crops in America. According to reports, farmers across 39 states in the US planted about 465,787 acres of hemp in 2020 alone, increasing the number of hemp growers by 27% from 2019. As such we’ve seen an increase in demand for mobile vertical growing racks.

Marijuana and hemp are easy to cultivate; they grow vigorously, developing dense foliage in as little as 3 months. This makes it a crop you can cultivate in numerous seasons throughout the year. But what if we told you there was a way to make your indoor grow room even more productive?

Over the past few years, many commercial cannabis growers have incorporated vertical farming equipment into their grow operations, resulting in great success and more bountiful yields.

This article will offer insight into some of the benefits of using these mobile vertical growing racks. Before we get into that, however, let’s look at the basics of vertical farming.

What Is Vertical Farming?

Vertical farming is a method of farming in which crops are planted in vertically stacked tiers. This allows growers the opportunity to take advantage of all the space in their grow room. Space is a limiting factor for most indoor cannabis farmers. Vertical grow racks enable you to grow multiple layers of crops in the same room, thus doubling, and even tripling your yields.

Investing in mobile vertical grow racks is a great way of scaling up as a commercial marijuana farmer. Such a system increases output and ultimately results in higher cannabis profits. What’s more, this equipment can be customized to suit each grower’s unique needs and specific grow space.

What Are Mobile Vertical Grow Systems?

There are many different types of vertical farming equipment on the market today. These include mobile vertical grow racks, table top castor units, and mobile carriages. Mobile carriages have an axle and spoke that allows you to move the racks back and forth. These mobile grow systems utilize aisle space without forcing you to compromise on plant access.

Benefits Of Using Vertical Farming Equipment To Grow Your Cannabis

Cannabis and hemp can thrive both indoors and outdoors. While there are some benefits to growing these plants outdoors under natural sunlight, some farmers, especially those that want to grow year-round and have to combat the seasonal climate change, opt to go with an indoor operation.

Vertical farming is the future of cultivating marijuana and hemp. If you have yet to set up a mobile vertical grow system, here are some reasons as to why you should.

1. Grow Racks Eliminate Wasted Space

A typical one-tier system wastes a lot of space, both horizontally and vertically. By utilizing the mobile capabilities that these systems offer, farmers are able to maximize their potential yields by eliminating unwanted aisles. These systems can often stand over 24′ high, which also helps to utilize all the vertical space that often goes to waste.

2. Grow Racks Allow You to Make the Most of Your Capital Costs

Running a commercial grow room comes with several costs. You will need to set up lighting equipment, heating equipment, air conditioning and more. You will also spend quite a bit on energy costs. If yours is a one-tier grow room, you aren’t getting the most out of the capital you put in.

Successful businesses are those that get the most value from their capital costs. This translates to larger profit margins.

3. Vertical Farming Technology Creates A Controlled Environment

One of the biggest benefits of practicing vertical farming in an indoor space is that you get to create a controlled environment. Cannabis plants require specific optimal conditions to grow healthy and productive, and indoor vertical farming helps meet these needs.

An indoor vertical farm helps you set up conditions such as temperature, humidity, and airflow in a way that best suits your plants. This results in healthy crops and eventually more yields. Vertical growing racks are equipped to support all your lighting and ventilation accessories, making it easy for you to provide your plants with good growing conditions.

4. Mobile Vertical Grow Racks Make it Easier to Expand Your Own Business

As your business continues to progress over time, you will need to scale up. Traditionally, you’d have to expand your grow space to grow more crops- especially when farming outdoors. This makes it very expensive for you to scale up.

However, going vertical and utilizing vertical growing technologies will allow you to increase your canopy space without needing to expand on your overall space. Growing out is exponentially more expensive than growing up; vertical growing racks make it possible to increase your yields, which in turn improves your sales, thus making your operation more profitable.

5. Vertical Farming Equipment Creates A Safer Grow Room

Many farmers that run single-tier grow operations tend to fill the space with as many plants as they can. Such a room will become overcrowded pretty quickly, making it hard for you and your staff to maneuver around. This lack of access will make it difficult to provide all your crops with the maintenance and care they need.

Vertical indoor farms, on the other hand, are typically very well planned out and organized. Since they utilize vertical space, you won’t need to save room by creating smaller aisles. This will provide you with enough access to all your plants.

Being that these systems sit atop mobile carriages, it’s possible to eliminate all the wasted aisle space created by a non-movable system. A mobile system only needs enough space to create one aisle. This aisle is then created whenever access to a certain section of the unit is needed.

6. Grow Racks Helps Use Utilities More Efficiently

As we’ve mentioned above, running an indoor marijuana grow room comes with certain needs and costs. You will need to provide resources such as light, heat, humidity control, and even a ventilation system.

A single-tier grow room utilizes only a small percentage of available space, yet you’re paying to heat up the entire room. This has negative implications on energy use and is a step back for climate control. Installing vertical farming equipment ensures you’re utilizing the entire space and that you’re using your resources and utilities more efficiently.

7. Mobile Vertical Growing Racks Have Great ROI

Purchasing vertical growing racks is a great way of investing more capital back into the business. Vertical grow racks make it possible for you to scale up in production, thus helping you create more revenue for your business. Although these systems have significant upfront costs, they more than pay for themselves in the long run.

Vertical farming equipment comes with a great return on investment. If you’re looking to expand your business, these racks will be a great place to start.

How Do I Start An Indoor Vertical Farm?

If you’re looking to convert your commercial cannabis grow room into a vertical farm, we’ve got you covered.

You’re probably wondering how much vertical growing racks cost and how long they last. Our products are manufactured using 14 gauge steel and are therefore very durable and strong. What’s more, they come with a 10-year guarantee and warranty, demonstrating our confidence in their quality.

We offer free consultations and computer-aided design services to all our clients. If you aren’t sure if your grow space is ideal for vertical farming, we can appraise it for you.

We’re dedicated to ensuring every commercial indoor grower gets the most out of their space and the equipment they purchase. Contact us for a free quote, and trust us with your grow operation.

Top 10 Features for Ideal Cannabis Grow Rooms

Close-up of medical marijuana plant in bloom, growing in cannabis grow rooms.

A Complete Guide To Setting Up Ideal Cannabis Grow Rooms

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

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

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

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

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

What’s In The Ideal Cannabis Grow Room?

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

1. Lighting Your Grow Room

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

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

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

2. Make Sure The Temperature Is Just Right

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

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

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

3. Setting Up Vertical Farming Equipment

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

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

Mobile Carriages

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

Vertical Grow Racks

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

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

Tabletop Caster Units

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

cannabis hemp mobile grow rack with casters for sale. vertical farming technology and vertical grow rack systems for sale.

4. Choosing Pots For Your Cannabis Plants

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

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

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

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

5. Can You Access All Your Plants?

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

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

6. Ventilation And Air Circulation

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

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

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

7. Provide A Reflective Environment For Your Plants

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

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

8. Let’s Talk Humidity

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

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

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

9. Provide Adequate Carbon Dioxide

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

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

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

10. Keep Your Indoor Grow Rooms Safe and Tidy

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Vertical Farming Systems Are The Key To Growing Cannabis Profits

cannabis hemp plants showing that vertical farming systems are the key to growing profits

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Why Most Cannabis Growers Prefer Indoor Farming

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

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

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

Reason?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2. They Help Get The Most Out Of Your Resources

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

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

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

3. They Provide Better Conditions For Your Plants

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

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

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

image of marijuana plant cola growing on vertical farming technology and mobile vertical growing racks.

4. Combine Vertical Racks And Mobile Carriages For Maximum Flexibility

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

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

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

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

5. You Can Grow Cannabis Anywhere, Including Urban Areas

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

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

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

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

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

Is Vertical Growing the Future of Cannabis?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Vertical Farming is The Future of Cannabis Growing

Vertical steel grow racks with trays in cultivation facility

9 Essential Vertical Farming Equipment That You Should Know

Vertical farming is exponentially replacing the traditional way of growing cannabis today. According to Grand View Research, the global vertical farming market is expected to grow by 25.7% by 2027.

There is huge potential in the vertical farming market for cannabis and the need to transition into vertical agriculture arises if you plan on scaling your cannabis business.

With more and more states going forward with the legalisation of cannabis, there is even more incentive to utilize vertical farming. In the future, there could be more demand for cannabis than the supply chain can meet.

Therefore, adopting the vertical cannabis farming approach breaks the aforementioned barrier, as you would have the opportunity to increase your growing capacity, which in turn improves your yields.

Are you a cannabis farmer growing indoors, and looking to maximize your space and yields? Look no further!

This article is aimed to demystify your understanding of vertical farming for cannabis, the associated technology, and the equipment required to maximally reap from vertical farming benefits.

What’s Vertical Cannabis Farming?

Vertical cannabis farming is a sustainable system of cultivating cannabis, together with other types of fruits, flowers, and vegetables. It uses nearly 100 percent less space, up to 95 percent less water, and harvesting 80 percent more per unit area, year-round when compared to the traditional cannabis growing methods.

With vertical growing systems, you’re not only optimizing your canopy space but also reducing your labor costs and growing time through automation and standardization.

Moreover, it also serves as a suitable alternative to the costly real estate for large-scale cannabis-producing farmers.

Vertical cannabis farms exist in unique shapes and sizes, from shipping containers to abandoned buildings, and employ one of the three soil-free systems to provide growth nutrients to plants: hydroponic, aeroponics, or aquaponics – owing to their potency, eco-sustainability, and economic benefits.

What’re the Merits of Vertical Cannabis Farming?

Vertical farming companies have been on the rise today owing to the merits vertical cannabis growing affords.

The advantages include:

Helps to optimize and maximize production capacity within a limited growing space.
Provides the avenue to grow other consumable plants along with it.
Allows for efficient use of utilities, through LED lighting, and closed-loop irrigation systems that capture and reuse water.
Provides a sustainable cultivation platform for multi-state operations to streamline, standardize, and improve outputs.
Eliminates the need to acquire another growing space as the demand increases, by maximizing the existing space available.
Enhance employee safety and ergonomics through platforms and lifts that harmonize to optimal work height.
Increases horizontal canopy space via elimination of stationery aisles, by developing a more vibrant growing space.
Helps to improve efficiency and return on investment (ROI).

What is The Technology Employed in Vertical Cannabis Farming?

Vertical cannabis farming integrates a variety of state-of-the-art technologies, including mobile vertical grow racks, specialized LED lights, and air-flow systems. More often than not, they are combined into fully integrated systems.

Understanding Essential Equipment for Vertical Cannabis Farming

With the upsurge in the competitive cannabis market, maximizing your efficiency and return on investment (ROI) should be your competitive advantage. Identifying and choosing the necessary vertical farming equipment is the beginning of your success.

Below are vertical farming equipment needed for successful vertical cannabis growing:

1. Vertical Grow Racks

The skeleton of every vertical farm is a mobile vertical grow rack system. It’s the most effective and essential solution to successful vertical farming.

MMI Agriculture’s vertical grow racks help you expand your available grow space horizontally, presenting you with more than enough spaces and multiple levels for your cannabis farming.

Our uprights are available up to 21′ high, allowing for dual-level access. We have the ability to go higher upon customer request. We utilize cross and diagonal beams resulting in one of the strongest uprights on the market.

Our bulk racking is made of 14-gauge steel with an 8-bend design for extra strength. Our step beams are also 14-gauge steel with three interlocking tabs per upright for additional rigidity.

Using our vertical grow racks not only affords you the opportunity to optimize your unused spaces and boost your overall yield, but also offers you vertical grow racks that have maximum strength and durability in a high-humidity environment.

2. Mobile Carriages

While it’s important to choose the right racks, it is also essential to choose and correctly install the mobile carriages the racking sits on. While the grow racks function as the skeleton, the mobile carriages are the muscles, providing locomotion to the bones (the grow racks).

MMI Agriculture’s mobile carriages are manufactured in-house, giving us the competitive advantage to design and customize every system to serve each unique grow operation.

Our carriages can extend up to 56 feet, sit atop flange wheels with the capacity of supporting nearly 1,400 pounds per linear square foot.

Be informed that the right mobile carriages must conform to ADA compliance standards. They need to ensure worker safety and should be corrosion and oxidation-resistant.

At MMI Agriculture, we can get you covered and help you with customized mobile carriages with the aforementioned standards hassle-free.

3. Grow Trays

Once the vertical grow racks are built, the next is to fill them with grow trays. Grow trays provide bedding from which your cannabis plant grows, enjoy lighting, air circulation, and plumbing.

An acceptable grow tray must be durable, with UV stability, anti-microbial, anti-fungal, and have a built-in trough that facilitates easy drainage to ensure a sanitary vertical growing environment.

4. LED Lights

Vertical farming employs the use of LED lights on each growing tier. Lighting, in addition to air and water, provides cannabis with the necessities required to grow healthy, vigorously, and yield higher concentrations of cannabinoids, flavonoids, terpenes, and other active compounds.

When selecting LED Lights for your vertical cannabis farm, ensure the spectrum, intensity, and layouts fits your need, commonly between 750 and 1500 PPFD.

The lights must be rated IP65 or IP66 for wet environments, must be easily dimmable, and with the capacity of delivering an even distribution of PPFD across the entire rack.

4. Air Flow System

Vertical farming requires unique air circulation. This is attributed to the restrictions and obstructions caused by infrastructure and the multiple tiers of cultivation. As a result, microclimates might form.

Ensuring sufficient airflow and fresh air exchanges are indispensable to cannabis health, as they help in controlling pests and pathogens throughout your entire facility.

5. HVAC System

The HVAC system provides entry for fresh air and allows exit for used air via the ventilation system. It ensures the air is clean, circulating, and well-regulated within the minimum temperature and humidity that support your cannabis growth.

When selecting an HVAC system, it’s crucial to select one that facilitates adequate cooling and heating loads specific to your production plan. Dehumidification needs and irrigation rates are necessary features to also consider.

Furthermore, your HVAC system should always be clean and sanitary, as it allows for normal, fresh-treated air exchange and eliminates the growth of mildew, mold, bacteria, and other air pathogens around your vertical farm.

6. Irrigation and Fertigation Systems

Some vertical cannabis companies are known to provide irrigation and fertigation systems and controls to commercial cannabis farmers worldwide.

It’s an automated irrigation system that facilitates efficiency, reduces water consumption, and eliminates costly and strenuous labor frequently linked with hand watering and manual fertilizing.

7. Grow Sensor and Monitors

Grow sensors and monitors are one of the high-tech, data-driven evolutions in cannabis growing today.

These tools permit you to have a macro and micro view of your entire cannabis grow operation, with in-depth analytics such as the air temperature, humidity, VPD, soil temperature, pH, lighting, and substrate moisture, etc.

Open API and integration with other systems and controls are what you should consider when purchasing grow sensors and monitors for your vertical cannabis farming.

8. Mobile Carts

Since you have optimized the cultivation aspect of cannabis growing, extending such to processing and drying is also a no-brainer. There are mobile drying, storing, and transportation carts that help to ease workflow on your cannabis farm.

When opting for a mobile drying cart, confirm its durability, flexibility, and hanging options (such as cantilever-style finger attachments).

Security cages, nesting bases, antimicrobial and antifungal coatings are some other features you should check.

9. Storage Lockers

Investing in high-quality storage lockers assures your employees that their belongings are safe.

Remember without their helping hands, you may have difficulty going a long way even when your farming operations are automated.

Ready to Shift to Vertical Cannabis Farming? Partner with MMI Agriculture Today!

At MMI Agriculture, we offer affordable/accessible pricing, a 10-year warranty on parts and labor (one of its kind in the industry), and free design services to all our clients to ascertain you are optimizing your available grow space.

Features and benefits of our products include:

Our mobile systems can help you double or triple your expected yields.
Nationwide installation services to ensure every system is installed and operated properly.
Easy integration with all types of lighting.
We offer a retractable mezzanine walkway that facilitates easy access to crops on high elevations.
We also offer tabletop caster units that are a little more restricted for space and don’t necessarily require a large-scale mobile cultivation system.

Presently, we provide services within the states that have legalized cannabis medicinally or recreationally or both, including Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Washington D.C., Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington.

Ready to grow and save more? Trust us with your grow operation by learning more and/or getting a quote now!