The use of crop shading has been shown to increase yields for a variety of crops including flowers and vegetables. For greenhouse growers looking to produce cannabis, it could be a great way to boost yields while also improving the overall climate for the crop.
Crop shading is the process of using different shades of light to reduce the amount of solar gain. By reducing daily light exposure, the grower can force plants to start flowering and producing buds much sooner than they would otherwise.
Light Deprivation
If you’re growing cannabis indoors, you can use crop shading to control light exposure. This will allow you to have more harvests per year, increasing your revenue.
Cannabis plants have specific photoperiodic needs for optimum growth and potency. They flower and produce buds only when the days get shorter. By controlling this photoperiod with crop shading, you can grow a full crop of high-quality buds every two months without risking your plants’ health.
The main thing you have to keep in mind when using crop shading is that it can be a lot of work. You have to cover and uncover your plants multiple times each day, so it’s important to be consistent with the schedule. You also need to make sure that your plant is not getting too much light in the mornings. This can lead to hermaphroditic plants, which are bad for your grow.
Another thing you should remember is that you need to have enough ventilation in your greenhouse to cool the plants properly. This will prevent them from overheating and making the leaves wilt.
In addition, you’ll want to be careful not to overexpose your plants because this can stress them out and cause them to go to seed. It’s also important to be sure you’re covering your plants before the sun comes up so they can enjoy a fresh dose of air each day.
You should also be able to see the difference between the leaves on your plant in the light and the leaves in the dark. The leaves in the light will be white and shiny, while those in the dark will be darker and dingy.
Ideally, you’ll want to cover your plants before the sun rises and uncover them once it sets. This will help you maintain a consistent light cycle and ensure that your plants don’t hermaphrodite, which can ruin your entire crop.
This is a simple process that can be automated if you have an automatic system like an air conditioner or fan. However, you can do this manually if you prefer.
Temperature Control
Temperature control is a core element of cannabis cultivation. It affects the speed and efficiency of photosynthesis, transpiration, respiration, germination, and flowering. It also influences the structure of plants, their branching and internode length, and their ability to resist disease and pests.
Keeping a steady temperature in your grow room can boost yields and increase the quality of your buds. However, high temperatures can stunt your plants’ growth and increase their susceptibility to pests and diseases.
The ideal vegetative temperature for cannabis is 76 to 78degF during the day and 65 to 68degF at night. These conditions encourage strong leaf and stem development and encourage the onset of flowering, which is crucial to producing high-quality buds.
In addition to maintaining a consistent daytime and nighttime temperature, it’s important to monitor the soil temperature to ensure that your roots are not overheating. Using a soil temperature sensor is the best way to ensure that your cannabis plants are getting the optimal growing environment.
Another great option for temperature control is the use of CO2 in your greenhouse. This is an odorless gas that can be injected through your climate control systems to help your marijuana plants grow more effectively and produce healthier buds.
As an added bonus, using CO2 during the flowering phase can improve your crop’s overall production by increasing the rate of trichome formation and making it easier to dry your buds without damaging their scent.
Maintaining the perfect temperature in your greenhouse can be tricky, especially in areas with a lot of heat and humidity. Having a system that can adjust the temperature of your greenhouse by opening roof vents and doors can help you keep the right levels.
It’s also important to ensure that your cannabis crops are exposed to fresh air. Having a fan in your greenhouse is a good idea, as it will push fresh air through the cannabis plant’s leaves and into their stems.
A well-maintained temperature and humidity can boost your harvest quality and quantity, as well as reduce pest problems and increase your profitability. It’s an essential part of any commercial cannabis cultivation facility.
Water Management
Water is essential for plant growth and survival, so it’s important to ensure that the right amount of water is available to your cannabis crops at all times. This can be achieved using a range of methods, from automatic irrigation systems to manual watering with a hose or can.
Ideally, cannabis plants need water that has the proper pH and EC levels. If the water is too acidic or alkaline, it can cause problems with plant uptake of nutrients and may even kill your crop. Keeping the water at a pH of between 6 and 7 is ideal for soil-grown plants, while hydroponic growers should aim for water with a pH level of between 5.5 and 6.1.
For indoor cannabis cultivation, you’ll need to provide a constant supply of water for your crop to grow properly and produce a high quality product. This means you’ll need a water treatment system that can remove contaminants, such as chlorine and salts, before it’s delivered to your growing area.
Most growers use a reverse osmosis (RO) system to treat their incoming water before it’s fed to the plants. The RO process removes dissolved salts, chemicals, and other compounds that can hurt the health of your cannabis plants.
This water treatment system can be very cost-effective and sustainable, reducing overall costs while making the water safe for your crops to thrive in. The resulting RO-treated water is then fortified with the right nutrients and added to your growing equipment.
The benefits of this water treatment system are numerous, but some key ones are:
First, it reduces the amount of water required for your crops, as it can cut down on evaporation and humidity loss in grow rooms and other facilities. It also helps control temperature, allowing you to set the optimal growth rate for your crops without having to worry about them overheating or getting too dry.
Second, it reduces the amount of water you need to buy and deliver, as well as the frequency at which you need to water your crops. This can save you money in the long run and improve your efficiency, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, minimizing water pollution, and increasing your revenue!
Pest Control
Pests, rodents and other animals can cause severe damage to cannabis crops, whether you are growing outdoors, in a greenhouse, or indoors. The best way to keep your crop healthy is to avoid infestations by controlling pests early.
Integrated pest management (IPM) is a strategy that combines prevention, identification, and treatment with pest monitoring. It is a scientifically proven method that is effective in minimizing the spread of pests.
It is important to control pests before they become a problem, especially during the flowering process when the plant needs to be able to grow large and dense. Insects that can damage a cannabis crop include spider mites, thrips, whiteflies, and caterpillars.
Preventive measures such as sanitizing the grow room and using biopesticides are important to maintaining a healthy environment for the cannabis plants. In addition, a thorough cleaning after each harvest helps to ensure that no harmful microbes remain on the harvested product.
Another important strategy for preventing pests is to regularly evaluate drain pans, ducting and HVACD systems for water molds that can cause plant diseases that could impact your cannabis production. It is also important to check condensate lines on the HVACD system to prevent pests from entering the ducting, which may lead to mold problems that can affect your plants.
A grower should always start their IPM program a month before crops are brought into any part of the facility. This allows the grower to properly inspect the facility and make a plan of action before they bring in any new incoming crops.
The University of Massachusetts Amherst suggests that cannabis cultivators use a designated pest scout to monitor their grow rooms and greenhouses to prevent pests from spreading. A pest scout collects information about pests, their location and severity to help the cultivator assess the risk level and develop a plan for eliminating the pests.
Integrated pest management involves using a combination of biological, mechanical and chemical pest control methods to manage pest populations in an effort to minimize damage to the cannabis plants and maximize yield. It is a scientifically proven method to minimize the impact of pests on a cannabis crop.
