Here’s What We Cover in this Post:
- Keys to a Successful Cannabis Greenhouse
- Greenhouse Fundamentals
- Indoor Environment Growing Requirements
- Odor Control
- Allsite’s Greenhouse Tent Rentals
Cannabis production has become a big business and a significant segment of the agriculture industry. Far beyond the backyard grower or the home hobbyist, the recreational and medical cannabis market has become a multi-billion dollar business. Professional growers who want to capture a share of the growing demand must adapt their production methods to produce high-quality, high-yield crops. Successful marijuana cultivation on a commercial scale is dependent on a number of key factors, not the least of which is having a reliable, controlled greenhouse environment that can help growers optimize for successful crop production year-round. Greenhouse tent rental solutions from Allsite can help.
Keys to a Successful Cannabis Greenhouse
In such a young industry, building a successful cannabis cultivation business has been a learning experience for most growers. A lot of study, experimentation, and hands-on experience has resulted in increased quality and yields that offer a widening array of varieties and products. A key factor of course is starting with a quality seed planted in quality soil that will yield the best crops for the target market. While they may cost a bit extra, the better seeds will be more successfully grown to maturity, be more resistant to pests and produce higher quality product. Once the right seeds are on hand, the attention turns to giving them the best indoor grow environment for the best results, including higher yields that will provide ample payback for the investment.
Greenhouse Tent Rental Fundamentals
Growing cannabis to fruitful yields requires providing optimal growing conditions that include lighting, temperature, humidity, and ventilation. The best way to meet these needs is to start with a sturdy, well-designed greenhouse that provides an enclosed environment where these elements can be controlled 24/7, no matter the season. From a practical standpoint, odor control, room to manage the growing crop, and space to complete other related activities are important for an efficiently run operation. This is where greenhouse tent rentals can come to the rescue.
Container Growing
While growing in the ground may be an option, most growers opt for container plants. This allows the grower to control the quality of the soil and helps control disease by allowing any problem plants to be removed. Quality soil is a key factor and should always be fresh to avoid contamination of new plants. Containers also facilitate plant management, as they can be easily moved for trimming, harvest, or other maintenance tasks.
The typical container is a two-gallon pot with about one square foot dedicated to each plant. Typical harvest is 50 grams of dry cannabis per square foot. With careful planning and management of the growing cycle in an indoor greenhouse, growers may achieve more than one harvest per year.
The Indoor Environment
human hand using lux light meter to check light condition for growth and control quality of marijuanas or cannabis leaf. Cannabis for medical treatment. Inside of industrial cannabis farming.
A well-ventilated, opaque greenhouse, such as the Allsite Tension Fabric Structure, will let the grower set up an internal environment that optimizes growing factors. Elements that should be controlled include light, temperature, humidity, airflow, and, of course, water.
Light – Many growers are interested in optimizing the growth of their young plants and controlling the flowering cycle to increase production. By controlling how many hours of light plants receive, plants can be encouraged to flower earlier. The “darkening” process is usually set at 12 hours of light and 12 hours of dark. It’s important the “dark” hours are truly dark, without sunlight streaming in, even for a short period. A greenhouse can be lined to block out natural light and an automated lighting system installed to achieve this effect.
Temperature – especially during winter, growing plants must be kept warm. Optimal temperatures may vary according to the growth stage of the plants, but generally range between 65-80 degrees. Temperatures also affect humidity levels, so they must be carefully managed with appropriate systems to warm and cool the air, using space heaters, air conditioners, HPS lights with cool tubes, increased air circulation, ventilation, and so on.
Humidity control – Humidity is a factor of temperature, both inside and out. Humidity is essential to the health of the plant, keeping stomata open to absorb CO2 for photosynthesis. However, too much humidity will result in the growth of fungus, mold, and mildew on the plants. Humidity, emitted by the respiring plants, can increase beyond acceptable levels especially if temperatures outdoors are cold and indoors is warm. Humidity should be constantly monitored and managed with ample ventilation throughout the greenhouse, as well as fans and, in some situations, air extraction equipment. If humidity levels are too low, an automated misting or fogging system can be installed to add moisture to the air.
Airflow – Airflow is a key factor in humidity control. Too much airflow may dry out the plants and inhibit production, while too little will encourage the growth of fungal diseases. The greenhouse should be designed with appropriate ventilation throughout that evenly and gently keeps humidity and temperatures at the right levels throughout the interior that houses production plants.
Water – In a moist greenhouse environment, it is easy to overwater plants, resulting in the growth of fungus, mold, or mildew. Excessive watering will also destroy important microbes in the soil. The amount of water needed by greenhouse plants is a factor of humidity and temperature. Most growers of larger operations install automated watering systems that allow for management of the amount of water plants receive. The most accurate way to give a plant the amount of water it requires is with systems using negative hydrostatic pressure. These systems use a sensor embedded in the plant’s soil to allow the plant to draw the water it needs and no more than it needs.
Odor Control
Another factor affecting large production cannabis growers is odor control. To keep strong odors under control, the growers should install a good air filtration system, such as carbon filters or “scrubbers”. Sealed greenhouses work best to contain odors and prevent them from escaping outside with the use of fully contained climate control systems. Biofiltration, using organic materials that naturally consume and neutralize odors or chemical reactions, is a new technology that is helping to solve the issue for growers.
Allsite Tension Fabric Structure Cannabis Greenhouse
Finding a greenhouse solution is not always easy. Permanent building space, with the right characteristics the grower needs, may be hard to find in convenient locations and at the right price. Many temporary greenhouses are not sturdy enough to handle extreme outdoor temperatures or storms or to accommodate the necessary equipment needed for a large, automated operation. Some are too small for the needs of a growing commercial enterprise.
To meet the needs of cannabis growers, Allsite offers a highly stable, durable, customizable fabric building that has the strength and durability of a brick and mortar structure, but that offers the flexibility and environmentally controllable interior needed for quality grow operation.
Allsite’s tension fabric structures are durable and sturdy structures designed for short or long-term use and optimal flexibility. With various widths and custom length options, they are fully enclosed and feature heavy-duty PVC canvas walls with ventilation and entry/exit options, making them ideal as an active cannabis greenhouse solution. They provide the elements needed to create the right interior environment. The interior space is open span, that is there are no columns or other impediments in the floor space so that they can be fully built out for housing plants, supplies, equipment, and work areas.
The Allsite structure’s high ceilings provide for better airflow and can include various ventilation options, such as vents and fans. The high-strength, extruded aluminum alloy frame supports overhead truss systems, for lighting, watering, misters, heaters, fans, or other systems that may be installed. The building is HVAC-friendly and can be climatized. It can be configured to support airflow equipment, including reverse airflow systems, for both temperature and humidity management, as well as to contain or remove odors from the building.
The white PVC canvas that covers the aluminum frame reflects the sun’s UV radiation back, helping keep the interior temperature cooler on warm days for more efficient temperature control. The opaque walls and ceilings can be further insulated as needed. The building provides a light-controlled environment to support the use of timed lighting systems for optimization of the growing cycle of the cannabis crop.
Growers can work with our expert sales and installation teams to configure the right greenhouse solution and optimize the structure for productivity and efficiency of operations. With sizes ranging from widths of 20 meters (65 feet) to 48 meters (156 feet), these buildings are perfectly suited for larger grow operations. With ample open interior space, the Allsite structure interior can be broken into key operations areas, including cultivation, harvesting, lab, administration, shipping/receiving, and so on. These modular buildings can be easily reconfigured over time as needed as the business grows, moved, or removed as needed. They offer the ultimate flexibility in a dynamic business environment that may change year to year.
Give our helpful Allsite staff a call for more information on a cannabis greenhouse solution for your operations.
