In a world where technology moves at an unprecedented pace, commercial growers require productivity and predictability in their greenhouse technology. Let's look at ways technology helps growers increase yields, improve productivity, and provide peace of mind.
Agriculture has never been a get-rich-quick venture. Even in the best of seasons, commercial greenhouse profit margins may be slim. Let's explore the factors that drive commercial greenhouses' profitability and consider what cutting-edge technological remedies can help growers operate cost-effectively.
Collecting data in your indoor grow, or greenhouse provides critical information that directly impacts your cultivation operation's success. Acquiring an extensive understanding of critical crop level and environmental data helps you grow with confidence. So let's examine ways that big data can increase yields, provide more accurate crop predictions, and furnish you with some much-deserved peace of mind.
With so many conditions to measure in a climate-controlled greenhouse or indoor grow, it can become overwhelming. Each condition has a potential impact on how your plants grow and the level of their health and ability to deliver a consistent crop. Whether you're growing tomatoes or cannabis, let's examine the importance of monitoring VPD, vapor pressure deficit.
Dr. Robert Flannery is the first Ph.D. in the United States with certified technical expertise in growing commercial cannabis. He earned his doctorate from UC Davis in Plant Biology with an emphasis in Environmental Horticulture with specific expertise in hydroponic crop optimization for cut-flower production. While working on his doctorate, Dr. Flannery began advising Cannabis cultivators throughout Northern California on modern horticulture practices. As Production Director at SPARC in San Francisco, Dr. Flannery managed the company's largest department and supervised every segment of cannabis cultivation, packaging, & delivery of the final product to retail. An overachiever for sure!
Changing seasons means it's time to reassess your lighting and watering goals for the Fall. As you know, greenhouse energy costs account for a significant share of a grow operation costs. Using available energy sources can affect your ability to harvest the predetermined crop quality and yields you forecast. And as the colder weather approaches, doing some maintenance can also save you some cold cash this winter.
What is a greenhouse?
A greenhouse is a building with walls and roof made primarily of transparent material, in which plants are grown. The interior of a greenhouse exposed to sunlight is significantly warmer than the external temperature, protecting its plants from extreme conditions.
Automation is essential to indoor farming systems to ensure all crops receive the proper light, water, and nutrients. Automating lighting, fertilization, and irrigation is a sensible and practical solution to managing your indoor growing operation.
What is vertical farming?
According to Wikipedia, vertical farming is "the practice of growing crops in vertically stacked layers. It often incorporates controlled-environment agriculture, which aims to optimize plant growth, and soilless farming techniques such as hydroponics, aquaponics, and aeroponics."
What are environmental control systems?
As any expert will tell you, a growing environment is more than just the air temperature. It's a potent combination of multiple factors that impact plant growth in a greenhouse. Typically, the main four are heat, humidity, light levels, and ventilation. But it can also be more than that.
