In order to reduce the high temperatures in greenhouses, chalk and shading paints can be applied. But what many growers do not know is that it is also possible to reduce the temperature inside the greenhouse with advanced polyfilms that reduce the temperature inside without influencing the light levels. This can be of interest for growers in areas with too much light.
In the past we've talked about retrofitting your greenhouse. When retrofitting your greenhouse is not the answer a new construction expansion may be more what you need. Planning a construction project from the ground up involves a lot of details that you may not deal with on a regular basis. Don’t hesitate to use your greenhouse manufacturer and greenhouse construction company to help you with the planning process. GGS is here to help..
If you missed us at the CannaBusiness Conference & Expo in Las Vegas, here are a few highlights. Over 3000 attendees and GGS was booked solidly from start to finish. We discussed greenhouses, warehouses, irrigation, lighting, chillers vs HVAC systems, environmental controls and the value of an integrated system when looking to maximize yields. And of course everyone wanted to see our famous rolling benches. Duane was on hand to walk licensees through the build out process and share his experience as project manager for several existing operations.
Outside of how location plays a role in the security of a cannabis facility, greenhouses are also not typically designed to be high security buildings. Glass, polycarbonate, and poly walls can be penetrated much easier than a concrete block warehouse wall. All cannabis growing sites need top of the line security cameras, vaults, alarm systems, etc. Greenhouses need to add perimeter fencing and while this helps keeping thieves out, it also identifies the contents of the greenhouse.
In designing an efficient facility to grow medical marijuana, it is important that a well thought out plan is prepared and agreed to. Without this the cost of the project will escalate far above the budget. This plan needs to take into consideration all the requirements outlined in the regulations prepared by the governing body and the regulations of the municipality where the facility will be constructed.
October 1st, saw the end of Colorado’s so-called "70/30 Rule" which required that dispensaries grow 70 percent of what they sold, and only purchase up to 30% from commercial marijuana growers.
The unavoidable will soon be upon us; heating season! As unpleasant as it may be for all growers, winter is a fact of life and it must be considered long before the snow flies. Heating costs during the cold winter months are of prime concern for many greenhouse growers. Here is a quick checklist to maximise the efficiency of your greenhouse heating system:
So, you have decided to build a new greenhouse range. Presumably, you have arrived at this decision based on market demands, corporate growth projections, assessed production needs, and financial capabilities.
The acquisition of a constructed facility usually represents a significant capital investment. It also usually represents a significant time investment of management. For this reason the construction process should be kept in mind at the early stages of planning and programming.
If you are getting your benching from one supplier, irrigation from another, and lights from someone else. Who is coordinating everything? Did you make sure that the benches are being designed to suit the irrigation system you chose? Did you make sure to define all the sensors you are using, and did you make sure not to forget to qualify whether the irrigation sensors are supplied by the irrigation company or the computer company. Is the company who is installing your air filtration and cooling systems completely aware of every detail in your lights, or did you forget something that will create a difference in the heat output and throw off your whole system? The automated growing equipment available to commercial growers when properly designed as an integrated system can not only provide better traceability and uniform quality, it can increase the amount of production.
Though there are certainly crops that commonly lend themselves to healthy greenhouse production, like tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, orchids, chrysanthemum, and roses, you will find that today’s greenhouse growers are branching out into all different kinds of agriculture.