With so much conversation around crop steering, but with limited information available, we wanted to research why it's become such a trend in indoor, and greenhouse cannabis grows. And as it turns out, it's all the rage because the benefits are substantial enough to encourage cultivars to experiment and dial in precise techniques. Let's get into it.
According to a recent Leafy report, American growers produced and sold almost 2300 metric tons of legal cannabis in 2020. The study confirmed that the US harvested enough cannabis to roll more than 2 billion joints.
The study didn't consider the entire cannabis crop produced in the US in 2020, though; they only included data from states with legal, adult-use cannabis sales, medical sales were excluded. Combined sales in adult-use markets totaled $6.2 billion from 13,042 licensed farms in 2020.
Alex Breeden, Growlink's Product Manager, was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri. He had an idyllic childhood with Dad Carl, who owned a security company, and mom Lisa, the director at a car rental company, and his sister Natalie. They spent a lot of time outdoors when he was growing up, enjoying nature and traveling across the country.
Crop loss for any agriculture endeavor is devastating, but the crop loss for cannabis businesses is incredibly frustrating due to its high market value. Because of the inherent risk, cultivators must examine their operating systems, design, and controlled environment equipment. Let's look at ways to mitigate the risk of crop loss.
Broad public support of the cannabis industry hasn't changed their marginalized existence. Outrageous, non-refundable license fees, risky banking options, and oppressive taxes. They make it challenging for cannabis businesses to flourish. Legislatures Merkley and Perlmutter announced the 2017 bi-partisan SAFE Banking Act, the industry had hope. Unfortunately, it's made little progress in the last five years. So let's unpack this politically charged issue and look at the current bill.
Indoor and greenhouse farming benefit from a vast array of technology. Everything from precise monitoring, automated irrigation or fertigation events, lighting controls, crop tracking, controlled environment systems, and seed-to-sale platforms, there's no shortage of new technology that improves growers’ lives. But the one thing that doesn't receive much attention is smart motor controllers. Let's examine this reliable workhorse and how it can improve your grow operation.
Have you considered the nutrient source you are feeding your plants? There are so many things to consider when planning your grow strategy, and nutrients play a significant role in the success of your plan. The two primary sources of fertilizer or nutrients are organic or synthetic. It can be further broken down as either plant or animal-sourced nutrients. Deciding whether to use plant or animal-based products can be based on price, plant yields, absorption rates, your personal preference, or any combination of criteria. Sustainability may not play a part in your decision, but maybe it should. Let's examine the most current research to get to the heart of plant nutrition basics around sustainability.
Born and raised in Sacramento, California, Tim Crowell is a cannabis educator and crop advisor still living and working out of his hometown. After earning his BS in Sustainable Environmental Design at UC Davis, he earned a second degree in Remote Sensing (drones). He's been actively working in cannabis cultivation for a little over twelve years. Before starting his crop advisory business, Tim recently held an Assistant General Manager position at Connected California and Alien Labs.
Vapor pressure deficit (VPD) and its function in plant growth can be used as a tool for increasing your harvest. VPD isn't new, but historically farmers relied on the natural climate. Only more recently, with the rising popularity of indoor commercial farming and greenhouses, it's become possible to precisely control environmental conditions, including VPD. With the best genetics and nutrients globally, your plants can't reach their potential without dialing in humidity and temperature. Knowledgeable cultivars manipulate VPD to encourage the stomata on their plants to open, allowing them to take up as many nutrients as possible, resulting in increased growth.
When temperatures rise, you're not the only one who feels the heat. Plants suffer when temperatures rise, especially if it's for an extended time. It can cause irreversible damage by way of plant function or development. Heat stress isn't simply droopy leaves; it can show up as things like stunted growth, leaf drop, leaf scald, failure to flower. Let's look at strategies to avoid heat stress in your indoor growing environment.
