GREENHOUSES I SHADE NET I HYDROPONICS I AQUAPONICS
Growing Greenhouse Cannabis – THE BASICS Cannabis grown in a greenhouse can be set up in either one of two ways. The grower may grow the plants in separate containers or pots, or plant them straight in soil. There are advantages and disadvantages for both options, but basically it depends on what fits best for the producer’s production site and his business strategy.
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y choosing the container route, it makes it easier to move the growing plants whenever necessary. This is particularly handy as one can simply move the plants elsewhere. Another reason to move the container-grown plants might be if the greenhouse or shade net structure needs replacement. Should the grower wish to plant cannabis directly into the ground on the other hand, the plants will produce much better when they are left alone for a longer period of time (such as a week). Naturally, this is only to be expected if the soil they are planted in was properly prepared with the necessary nutrients and remain at the right pH level. Another option exists for more innovative greenhouse growers: hydroponics. Producers who used this method in a greenhouse have had big success, making it a potentially good idea if it suits your lifestyle and experience. Of all the growing methods, hydroponics is known to provide the highest potential yield. If done right, growing marijuana in water indoors can maximize your plant’s growth. Cannabis genetics The most important advice is to buy high-quality cannabis seeds. It is worth the extra financial outlay to be assured
of setting up for a successful growing season. Should the grower obtain poor quality seeds instead, then he may not achieve the same level of success, no matter how much effort and time is spent on caring for the plants. Buy high quality seeds to get best result One of the best things about really intensive greenhouse growing is that it can be highly automated. In other words, it can be much easier for the grower because they don’t need to do as much day-to-day care for their plants. One such automated system is a watering system that delivers water to the plants automatically, or with little effort on the grower’s part.
Automatic irrigation in the greenhouse (Pic GPN news) A grower may want to consider installing some automated systems of your own if he is technically innovative and enjoys planning such things ahead of time; if he has a high enough budget for it, and if he don’t enjoy the daily tasks of cannabis plant care as much as the setting up process. Important: Security A good way to keep the cannabis plants safe from detection if the greenhouse is not located in an inconspicuous or private location, is to paint the exterior with
16 Undercover farming I September/October 2021 I Volume 18 No 5
white shading paint. You can find this at a garden centre, and it serves the dual purpose of preventing the greenhouse from getting far too hot on the warmest days during the summer. When you have a painted greenhouse, people will not be able to peer inside and identify what you are growing. Start early To truly take advantage of growing cannabis plants inside a greenhouse, try starting the growing season early this year. This is possible as greenhouses get much warmer than the outside temperature once the sun is out fully. More sun makes it possible to start growing earlier Since the growing season is started earlier, the producer has more time for the vegetation phase of the cannabis plants. When you have more time for the vegetation phase, your cannabis plants will be bigger and stronger for the flowering phase. As a result, your harvest at the end will be much better. The key to doing this successfully is not to allow the greenhouse to get too cold at night during the early part of the season. You can do this by installing greenhouse heaters, found at your local garden centre, to be run during cold nights. This ability to lengthen the growing season for cannabis plants is one big reason why, and an increasing number of cannabis growers are opting to grow
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