Category: Vertical Grow Racks

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.

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.

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!

How To Use Vertical Farming Equipment To Double Or Triple Your Indoor Cannabis Yields

cannabis plants growing indoors in Char Coir biopots on vertical farming equipment

3 Top Vertical Farming Equipment And How To Use Them

This is a comprehensive guide to help you purchase the best vertical farming equipment for your indoor cannabis farm.

The Farm Bill was passed in 2018, making it legal to grow, sell, and use cannabis and hemp in the United States. In just one year, hemp farming in the country quadrupled.

Cannabis is a resilient crop that can be planted both indoors and outdoors. Indoor production is preferred by many farmers, mainly because it allows you to provide the optimal conditions your plants need for healthy growth, thus maximizing yields.

If you’re an indoor cannabis or hemp farmer, you’ve probably heard about vertical farming equipment. These are systems that enable farmers to use the vertical space in their indoor grow rooms.

Before we look at some of the most efficient vertical farming cannabis equipment, let’s go through some of the basics of vertical farming.

Grow Your Cannabis In Multiple Tiers Using Vertical Farming Equipment

Vertical farming is a method of growing crops using vertically inclined platforms. The vertical farming equipment allows you to grow your cannabis in multiple tiers. This translates to more yields than you’d receive from planting a single level of cannabis.

Using vertical farming equipment for an indoor grow operation is an efficient and effective way of making the most of your grow space. If you’re using a garage, greenhouse, or repurposed warehouse to grow your cannabis, this equipment may help you maximize your yields by up to three times.

Three Advantages Of Vertical Farming Equipment Every Cannabis Farmer Should Know

Vertical farming has become the preferred method for many indoor cultivators looking to combat both the limited space they are faced with, as well as the seasonal changes that make growing outdoors year-round difficult, if not impossible. The American vertical farming market is expected to be worth around $3 B by 2024, with an annual growth rate of 24% between 2018 and 2024. This farming technology has many advantages.

1. It Allows You To Scale Up

Whether you have a CBD company or are growing cannabis to sell its flowers in retail, you will need to scale up at some point. As you keep growing your brand, demand for your products is bound to increase. For your business to continue expanding, you will need to match this demand.

Installing vertical farming equipment in your indoor grow room will allow you to maximize output without leasing more space.

2. Grow Cannabis All Year Round

Cannabis does well in warm, breezy regions with fertile, loamy soil. This explains why it does so well in California and other places with similar weather. If you live somewhere with extremely cold winters, the climate may affect the health of your crops. Remember, temperatures below 60 degrees Fahrenheit have been found to decrease THC potency and stunt overall growth.

Vertical farming racks have space for lighting, fans, watering trays, and more. This makes it possible for you to provide your crops with all they need to thrive. Therefore, investing in indoor farming equipment enables you to produce cannabis all year long, despite the seasonal changes.

3. It Minimizes The Use Of Chemical Herbicides And Pesticides

Indoor farming makes it difficult for pests to get into the controlled environment you create for your plants. Mold and other fungal diseases also find it hard to survive in such conditions since the humidity levels are controlled. This eliminates the need for chemical pesticides and herbicides, ultimately yielding healthy, organic plants.

What Is Vertical Farming Cannabis Equipment?

Vertical farming equipment is special multi-tiered racks onto which plants can be stacked into multiple tiers. When cultivating cannabis, every square and cubic inch of canopy matters, and a vertical farming system allows you to maximize your grow space.

When setting up an indoor vertical farm, you will need necessities such as mobile carriages, vertical grow racks, mobile carriages, grow trays, lighting, airflow, and air conditioning. Let’s examine some of the products in our catalog.

1. Vertical Grow Racks

In order to go vertical, you will need vertical racks. These racks are manufactured using 14-gauge steel to ensure they are strong enough to support all your plants and equipment. They also have an 8-bend system, made using diagonal and horizontal beams, that helps provide extra strength and support.

MMI Agriculture is a vertical farming equipment supplier that offers customizable farm technology to ensure that each farmer gets the most out of their equipment. For example, although our vertical grow racks come with top bars to hang your lights from, you could choose to leave the tops empty if you plan to use ceiling lighting.

Depending on the size of your grow operation, we have the capacity to go as high as 21 feet.

2. Mobile Carriages

These are special vertical indoor farming equipment designed to eliminate wasted space in your grow room. These carriages will provide exceptional value for your money. They have a mechanical assist gearbox with a single-spoke handle which makes moving the racks smooth and effortless.

Our mobile carriages sit atop a bar track that allows for smooth movement, access, and mobility. If you’re looking to turn the aisles in your grow room into a working and productive space, the mobile carriages from MMI Agriculture will make that happen.

3. Retractable Elevated Decking

When running an indoor cannabis grow room, space is essential. It’s crucial that you and your staff have access to all your plants, as you might need to prune them or even reposition them to receive more lighting. That is why we designed our retractable mezzanine walkway.

This walkway makes it easier to access all the plants located on higher tiers. It’s made using fiberglass grating and is therefore strong enough to support up to 300 lbs. Our retractable elevated decking will save you and your staff from having to go up and down a ladder each time you need to access the higher tiers in your indoor grow room.

3 Tips That Will Help You Pick The Most Suitable Indoor Farming System

Indoor farming equipment is a huge investment; doing your due diligence before purchasing will ensure you get the products that will most suit your indoor grow space.

When buying vertical growing systems, there are several important factors that need to be considered.

1. Quality

Strong and durable grow racks will allow you to make the most out of your indoor space without worrying about constant repairs and upgrades.

At MMI Agriculture, we are committed to providing our customers with the highest quality products in the market. All our products are backed with a 10-year warranty on labor and parts- a guarantee that they will help extend your grow operation well into the future.

2. Additional Services

If you’ve never used vertical farming equipment before, it may be overwhelming to put it all together by yourself. Before buying such equipment, consider the after-sale services a company offers to help make the process easier for you.

We understand that the world of commercial vertical hydroponic systems is quite technical. This is why we offer a free consultation where we assess the utility of the customer’s grow space. We also offer free design and floor plan services with each purchase to ensure all clients are optimizing their grow rooms.

3. What’s Your Budget?

At MMI Agriculture, we take pride in providing the highest quality products at the most affordable price in the market. Our mission is to maximize farmers’ potential by connecting as many people as possible to vertical farming technology, and our competitive price points make that possible.

Grow More, Save More!

Setting up an indoor vertical system allows you to grow more plants and harvest more cannabis flower and hemp. Indoor grow rooms are costly to maintain- the lights, fans, and air ventilation systems run for 18 to 24 hours each day.

Using vertical farming equipment to increase your yields will make it easier to offset these costs and still make great profits.

Grow more, save more. Trust us with your grow operation.