Revolutionizing Indoor Vertical Farming with Cannabis Grow Racks
The opportunity to make profits in the cannabis cultivation market is huge. It’s even more lucrative employing modern horticultural technology such as cannabis grow racks.
To succeed in cannabis cultivation, various factors like the growing system (indoor or outdoor), plant variety and grow medium need to be well thought out.
The US market size of the medicinal and recreational marijuana growing industry is projected to hit $22.6bn as of the year 2023. There’s an avenue to make great gains growing cannabis the right way with cannabis sales expected to hit a new high.
One lucrative method of growing cannabis is indoor vertical cannabis cultivation. The method involves growing cannabis indoors on vertical grow racks for increased and high-quality yields.
What Is Vertical Cannabis Farming?
Vertical cannabis farming is the cultivation of cannabis indoors on vertically stacked grow racks.
The method utilizes Controlled-Environment agriculture technology (CEA) to create the ideal conditions for plant growth.
For profitable vertical cannabis farming, it involves utilizing various equipment and technology such as:
- Air conditioning equipment like ACs, HVAC, Fans
- CO2 burners
- Vertical grow racks
- Irrigation system
- PH meters
- Fertigation system
- Filters
The stakes are high with vertical farming; purchasing all the aforementioned equipment as well as leasing the real estate for your indoor grow operation.
As a result, vertical farming is a high-risk venture. Having a business plan at the onset is crucial to a successful indoor grow op.
Moreover, an experienced vertical systems installation company can help you do capacity evaluations for your indoor space.
Such services can help you project the ROI of your operation, which can help you bring more clarity to your business plan.
What do you stand to gain from cultivating your crops in cannabis grow racks?
Top 5 Benefits of Using Cannabis Grow Racks
1. Maximize on Grow Space With Cannabis Grow Racks
Conventional farming involves growing cannabis on horizontal beds, same for its indoor counterpart where cultivation is on horizontal cannabis grow tables. However, this leaves underutilized overhead space.
Considering the cost of leasing real estate, indoor farming done on horizontal grow tables can hamper good profit margins.
Then again, you are utilizing high-power ACs and HVACs to service one tier of crops while they have the juice to service the entire grow space.
With cannabis grow racks, farmers can maximize their grow space and climate-conditioning equipment. Farmers can add up to 300% of grow space with vertical grow racks and save on energy costs.
Furthermore, farmers utilizing mobile carriages can utilize up to 90% of their grow space for canopies by eliminating wasted aisle space.
Their design allows you to move hundreds of square feet (in grow racks), loaded with canopies, with a single hand.
Thanks to the attached drive shafts you can manage your plants quickly and efficiently.
2. Better Environmental Control
Cannabis grow racks make it easier to provide crops with lighting requirements.
After determining the cannabis variety to grow, the vertical grow racks can be custom-built to ensure the proper distance between the canopy and lighting.
With vertical grow racks you can ensure every plant receives adequate lighting.
Moreover, the cannabis grow racks can house your irrigation systems. You need to consider how the plants will receive and drain water.
Your cannabis grow tables should be designed to drain water naturally.
Even in the case of an overflow, water shouldn’t spill because it can damage lower-tier light fixtures or become a tripping hazard.
Microclimates or “hot spots” are common in indoor farms. Vertical farming helps you make the most of the air conditioning equipment.
Nevertheless, it’s common to have microclimate form, and supplementing your grow space with oscillating fans is necessary.
Cannabis grow racks give you the flexibility to attach these fixtures where “hot spots” form to keep optimal conditions for your plants.
3. More Growing Cycles per Year
Indoor cannabis growing is independent of outdoor weather conditions. This means farmers can grow any time of the year.
Then again, the artificial growing environment allows you to maintain consistent and quality yields.
Indoor vertical farming can be likened to having a plant factory. You have increased crop production without compromising on quality or time of production.
Notably, while growing cannabis you need to induce the various stages of growth. This activity is done by regulating the light the plants receive.
For example, fast-growing cannabis plants need 13 hours a day in the vegetative stage.
When the crops mature they naturally flower by receiving 10 to 12 hours of complete darkness.
These factors are difficult to attain outdoors but quite practical when growing indoors on cannabis grow racks.
The controlled indoor conditions coupled with increased all-year production per square foot make cannabis grow racks a worthwhile investment.
4. Increased Yield Quality
Indoor farming allows you to create the ideal environment for growing a specific variety or strain of cannabis.
Farmers can manipulate climate control equipment using AI and automation to provide the plants with the right amount of CO2, airflow, and lighting to keep the buds flavorful and terpene-rich.
Indoor farms, thanks to hydroponics technology, can keep pathogens and pests at bay.
Most indoor farms operate as a closed system, making it simple to maintain a highly sanitized environment.
Furthermore, eliminating the use of soil lowers the presence of microorganisms in your grow space. This feature also helps lower the quantity of chemicals used in growing the plants.
Cannabis grow racks enable you to implement this predictable method of farming on a large scale.
Because the crops produced are low in agricultural chemicals and have a high flavor and terpene profile, you can charge premium prices for your produce.
Furthermore, since indoor vertical farming is done near or within urban areas, the produce is delivered fresh to the consumer. This improves the product quality that reaches the consumer, fetching you higher prices.
5. Better Product Tracing for Vertical Integrated Companies
A vertically integrated cannabis company owns and controls the creation (cultivation), distribution, and retail of cannabis products.
Cannabis regulation dictates the need of tracing the entire supply chain of cannabis products.
A vertical farming venture helps integrated companies keep enough stock for consumers and reduce the hassle of satisfying the legal framework on product tracing.
Cannabis grow racks enable businesses to produce high-quality yields on a large scale.
Customers are more confident getting their products from such companies because the contents are consistent.
In addition, consumers can build trust with the brand as the sole producer and retailer of the products.
Disadvantages of Using Grow Racks to Grow Cannabis
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High Initial Cost
Vertical cannabis farming requires a significant capital investment in the form of equipment.
Cannabis grow racks are expensive but don’t really have to be. You can opt to install the racks in stages until your grow space is packed.
You can plan a phased installation of vertical grow racks using a free floor plan drawing from your installation company.
Furthermore, partnering with an experienced vertical growing systems installation company lowers the risk of transitioning into vertical farming
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A Level of Complexity
A team of experts is a must-have when venturing into vertical farming.
There are numerous components that contribute to a successful indoor cannabis operation, including advanced climate technology, irrigation systems, and plant care specifications.
For a profitable vertical farming venture, you need experts to get all of these things running smoothly.
Luckily, you have MMI Agriculture to get you sorted on all technicalities around cannabis grow racks from designing the grow room to getting permits.
MMI Agriculture Cannabis Grow Racks for Your Grow Op
Are you in US states where cultivating cannabis is legal? MMI Agriculture has premium cannabis grow racks for sale.
We are experienced in the supply and installation of premium uprights backed by a 10-year warranty on parts and labor.
We create customized cannabis grow racks that optimize your space, regardless of strain or available space.
Get started with our free floor plan drawing among our other preliminary services and envision your potential vertical farm.
Contact us today for a quote.