The production of medical cannabis is becoming an increasingly important part of many growers’ businesses in both the US and Europe. It is therefore a necessity that production runs as optimally as possible – to get the best harvest of the plant’s green flowers.
The important parameters in medical cannabis cultivation – and how to manage them!
Light management
The cannabis plant is a short-day plant, where it needs a long day during the growing period and a short day during the flowering period. Light management is therefore one of the important parameters in cultivation.
As mentioned, it’s important to be able to control that the plant gets the right amount of light for the different stages of growth. Many people choose to use LED lamps, and with our products you get the following benefits:
- The spectral composition – which in DGT by Senmatics LED lamps is controllable – is important. In addition to the red light stretching the plant and the blue making it more compact, the blue light also has the advantage that it affects the oil content of the plant. This means that by combining the spectral distribution with more blue than red light, you can increase the oil content of the cannabis plant and thereby achieve a better quality.
- The LED lamp emits less heat than HPS and therefore requires less cooling, which ultimately saves resources.
- Using LED ensures a bright light with fewer luminaires than using HPS.
- Our LED lamps have controllable spectral distribution and light intensity, and settings can be based on the needs of each variety to achieve the right size plant for the best oil content.
To control the natural light, blackout curtains are used so that the day length can be adapted to the needs of the plant. To control both the light and blackout curtains, our climate controller LCC4 is used.
LCC4 controls many of the important elements throughout the cultivation of medical cannabis
Temperature and ventilation control
The temperature in a greenhouse can come from several different heat sources. This is controlled by the LCC4, which can control the room temperature regardless of whether it comes from a waterborne system (e.g. heating pipes) or other heat sources.
It is also possible to control the temperature in a closed room, where much of the heat comes from the lit grow light. During the dark periods, heat is added. The climate control with the large shifts in light on and off places great demands on the LCC4 climate controller, as it must switch on and regulate the cooling machine, dehumidifier, heat source, light and Co2.
Ventilation has an impact on the environment in the greenhouse and is controlled by LCC4 via an outdoor weather station. LCC4 ensures that the windows are opened and closed as needed. The loading side is opened as much as needed and then the wind side is opened. Cascading window control provides effective ventilation in the greenhouse even with small opening percentages.
When growing in closed spaces, the climate controller’s Super Step program is used to control the cooling machine. This uses the cooling machine as a “window”.
Moisture and Co2 management
Humidity control
Controlling humidity is another very important parameter in the cultivation of the cannabis plant. RTFC-7 is a sensor that, together with the LCC4 climate controller, controls the humidity in the greenhouse through ventilation, among other things.
In an enclosed space, humidity is controlled through the LCC4 software, which controls the grow room’s ventilation and dehumidification system.
Co2 control
To ensure optimal growth, the amount of Co2 must be correct. Via a Co2 sensor in the RTFC-7, the Co2 content in the growth chamber is read. Based on the entered set-point, Co2 is dosed. LCC4 naturally knows the difference between day and night, so Co2 is only used when the grow light is on or when the greenhouse is exposed to sunlight.
Automate climate control to save resources and avoid waste
The more precisely you are able to control the climate in your greenhouse, the more beneficial it is for you and your plants. Accuracy comes with automation.
Automation is key to improving efficiency and saving resources as more processes and adjustments are handled automatically by the climate computer – when they are most needed.
Automatic climate control further eliminates multiple manual errors through continuous monitoring, accurate control and the ability to alert you if errors occur. The accuracy, controllability and error prevention help you save energy, water and nutrients because the system automatically adapts to certain conditions – or alerts you to inappropriate conditions.
General benefits of electronic climate control
As described, the LCC4 climate controller is able to manage and control many elements in the climate zones – and there are of course many more options than those mentioned. But overall, the main advantages of electronic climate control are the following:
- Increase production yields
- Ensure higher plant quality
- Improve efficiency and save resources
- Controlling energy consumption
- Improve growth through precise control
- Ensure minimum errors with user-friendly and data-driven climate controllers
Nutrients and irrigation – get the best results using the AMI Penta mixer
AMI Penta irrigation and fertilizer mixer
Fertilizing and watering is of course also essential for growing medical cannabis, and this can be controlled through our AMI Penta irrigation and fertilizer mixer.
- AMI Penta controls the composition of fertilizers from stock solutions to optimize nutrients and result in ideal growing conditions.
- The watering time is controlled for the cultivation zones so that the amount of water for each plant is correct.
- The water from the tables or cultivation gutters can be reused so that irrigation in production becomes a closed system. This saves on water and fertilizer.
- Water reuse requires water purification with UV light to avoid the spread of infection. Calculation and dimensioning of the UV system is important in relation to the efficiency of the system so that the water is cleaned of disease. We can of course help you with this calculation.
As a grower, you are of course aware that growing medical cannabis – and other cultures – requires control of the many elements in the greenhouse. For this and to achieve optimal production, professional control tools are required – such as our climate control, LED lights and fertilizer mixer.
We have contributed to several different projects in cannabis production and therefore have a broad experience in the composition of products in relation to the individual production needs. We have participated in projects with both individual components and turnkey solutions where all equipment has been installed. We are also happy to help you find the best tools for your production.
DGT by Senmatic is at the forefront of advanced products for medical cannabis production – contact us and let us show you how to get improved output – and value for money!
