Whether you’re growing cannabis indoors or out, trellising your plants is an effective way to boost yields and increase their health. The impact of different types of trellising on your plants will vary, so it’s important to experiment and find the best method for your grow.
Outdoor cannabis plants tend to be incredibly top-heavy and require extra support to prevent them from toppling over. Using a horizontal trellis like ScrOG is one of the most common methods of supporting these big, heavy plants.
Light
The impact of different types of trellising on cannabis growth is an important consideration for any grower. Depending on your specific needs, there are numerous options to choose from. Whether you want to create a soft glow that adds a romantic touch to your outdoor space, or are looking for a dramatic focal point that will draw attention to your growing area, there is a light option to fit any need.
Choosing the right light spectrum for your needs is one of the most critical decisions you can make. There are many wavelengths, or colors, that are used for various functions in plants and if you do not choose the right ones for your crop, it can negatively affect their growth and yield.
When selecting a light source for your cannabis crop, it is best to pick a spectrum that will give your plant the most benefit at the stage of its development you are trying to achieve. For example, during seed sprouting blue 450 nm wavelengths promote elongation and biomass production, while at vegetative stages blue 660 nm stimulates stem elongation and flowering.
For optimal results, it is best to choose LED lights that offer the entire spectrum and are designed to be able to optimize each phase of your Cannabis crop’s development. Hort Americas’ technical service team can help you determine which light is best for your cannabis production and can provide recommendations based on your specific needs.
To further optimize your plant’s growth, the color of the light you use can be manipulated as well. Including a threshold level of blues, greens (also known as white) and reds is recommended to accelerate the production of terpene and cannabinoid content in your plant’s flowers.
Some research has shown that the ratio of red to far-red wavelengths in your lighting can have a positive effect on your plant’s morphology. This is because it increases the size of your plant’s leaves and allows for more light to penetrate your canopy.
In addition, the proportion of far-red in your lighting can be manipulated to increase your plant’s flowering time and overall yield. The higher the proportion of far-red in your lighting, the sooner your cannabis plant will flower and produce more cannabinoids. Currently, most lighting systems do not include far-red wavelengths and may be missing out on valuable plant growth benefits.
Space
A good trellis will not only improve airflow in the cannabis grow room, but also promote flower formation and reduce plant stress. Using a trellis to enhance your indoor cannabis garden will save you time, money and energy as well as ensuring a successful crop.
A trellis can be as simple as a wire mesh or as complex as a custom built vertical framework complete with reclaimed wood and PVC posts. It’s a great way to enclose your growing space, and is often used in commercial grow-ops where hundreds of plants are tied to the wall.
Among the most common uses for a trellis is to support flowering tops. By spreading out these follicles, your cannabis will be able to soak up more light and will produce larger and more flamboyant flowers.
It is also a great way to direct more sunlight into the lower parts of your cannabis canopy. This can make your marijuana display the envy of the neighborhood and will definitely pay dividends in bud production and yields.
The impact of a trellis on your cannabis crop will be best gauged by trial and error. The best trellis for your home grow room will be the one that suits your plant size and requirements. A trellis that’s too small can hinder your plants’ ability to produce the best possible florets and will impede overall growth. For the most part, trellising is an art form that requires some experience and a bit of forethought. Fortunately, it’s much easier than you might think to find an ideal solution for your home grow room.
Airflow
A trellis is a structure used to support vines or other creeping plants. It has many benefits and can be a great option for growers of both vertical and horizontal plants.
Traditionally, farmers have relied on staking and trellising for several reasons including increased productivity and less work. They allow farmers to plant more crops on a given space and minimize pest and disease risks.
When it comes to cannabis, a trellis provides spacing that helps flowers absorb light and nutrients. This allows them to thrive and develop fuller flowers with greater yields.
This can also help protect against bud rot and mold. Without a trellis, leaves on the interior of the plant will grow tightly together and will not receive enough light to absorb essential vitamins and minerals.
The trellis can be a simple wire fence or something more elaborate. Either way, it helps to control the direction of canopy growth and ensures that your flowers get the right amount of sun they need to bloom.
One major benefit of a trellis is that it allows you to easily prune and harvest your crops. When you’re able to prune your plants and keep them off the ground, it’s much easier to water and fertilize their roots.
Another reason to use a trellis is to increase the amount of air flow in your garden. The right airflow will not only strengthen the stems of your cannabis plant, but it will also help them produce cannabinoid-rich buds.
In addition, proper ventilation is important for controlling heat and humidity. This is because cannabis plants will give off vaporized water into the air as they are transpiring, which can cause humidity to rise in the grow area.
Fortunately, there are ways to manage this without sacrificing your indoor grow’s efficiency. In addition to the standard off-the-shelf heat pumps, standalone dehumidifiers and oscillating wall fans, there are some smaller fans that you can install in your room to help mix and circulate the air.
These fans can be placed in the ceiling or hung below tray level. You can have them on all the time or you can have them run on an intermittent basis, every 15 minutes for example.
Temperature
Temperature is a key factor in the success of cannabis growth, both in the vegetative and flowering stages. It can have a significant impact on the color of buds, the growth patterns of plants and the relative humidity in your grow area.
Aside from the obvious reasons of heat stress, excessive temperature can also decrease the quality of your cannabis. This is because cannabis is more prone to problems when it’s hot, including spider mites, white powdery mildew, root rot and nutrient burn (from water transpiration).
The temperatures needed for your plants to thrive in each stage can vary significantly, so it’s important to keep them at the right level all through their growth cycle. This is especially true of young cuttings and clones, which are in the initial phase of growth.
Cooler temperature in the early vegetative stages tends to encourage faster, healthier growth and can be more conducive to CO2 enrichment. The best temp for cannabis in this stage is 70-85degF (20-30degC).
During the flowering/budding stage, higher temperatures can actually slow down plant growth and increase stretching and wilting. This will reduce the potency and smell of your buds.
Another way that temperature can affect the growth of your marijuana plant is by altering the amount of water it needs. For example, cannabis needs more water during the vegging stage than in the flowering/budding stage. This is because the plants are able to use more water in their vegetative stage.
While it is not as easy to control the temperature in your grow room, you can ensure that it is set at the ideal levels by using a good air handling system that will ensure consistent temperatures throughout your space. Dantherm air handling units are designed to maintain the ideal temperatures for your growing area and eliminate the risk of mould, fungus and pests.
In the end, the effect that temperature has on your cannabis plants will vary depending on the type of trellising you use and the genetics you have in your seedstock. A well-designed trellising system will allow your plants to thrive and reach their maximum potential while avoiding cannabis heat stress.
