Temporary Climate Control at Each Step of the Cannabis Crop Cycle

In 2018, the US cannabis market size was valued at 11.3 billion dollars, according to Grand View Research. As more states legalize cannabis and the market becomes more and more competitive, the quality of the crop is becoming more and more important to consumers. Exacting conditions at different steps in the growing process is very important. Temporary climate control can help growers from when cannabis plants are seedlings, all the way to harvest time and the drying process. Having the right equipment can give growers a serious advantage as they work hard to cultivate a high-quality product.

Cannabis Crop Life Cycle

As with any plant crop, cannabis has a life cycle with multiple stages. The seed germinates, grows into a seedling, grows further into the vegetative stage, then forms flowers, at which point it is time to harvest the buds. The whole process can take anywhere from 14 to 32 weeks. But over that period of time, different stages require different conditions, particularly temperature and humidity. Let’s take a look into the ideal conditions at each step for most strains of cannabis.

The Seedling Stage

Cannabis plants are typically in the seedling stage for 2-3 weeks. This is the point where higher humidity should be welcomed. 70% relative humidity is recommended, along with lots of light and a temperature range between 68 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit. This is the first stage after the seed germinates, so rapid growth is the goal.

The Vegetative Stage

Cannabis plants grow their main stem and sprout leaves for 2-8 weeks before flowering. This is known as the vegetative stage. It’s essential that the plant is surrounded by dry, circulating air. This is also the stage where the water and nutrients provided are of the utmost importance. Relative humidity in the air should be reduced to 50% and light exposure should be reduced to 12-18 hours. The temperature can remain between 68 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit.

The Flowering Stage

The flowering stage is all about the formation of buds, which will later be harvested and sold. Bud formation requires more phosphorous and less nitrogen in the soil. Medicinal qualities in the bud can be increased by reducing light exposure, as well as lowering the humidity below 50%. The temperature can be allowed to increase up to 82 degrees Fahrenheit during this stage.

The Harvesting Stage

Finally, after a long and successful growth, it’s time to trim the buds from the plant and dry them. Obviously, relative humidity cannot get too high for the buds to dry. It’s also vital to keep humidity low during the flowering stage and harvesting process to avoid mold growth, which can completely ruin the product.

What is Temporary Climate Control?

Temporary climate control is the use of heating, cooling, dehumidification, and monitoring to exact the climate of space for a specific function. Depending on where you are growing cannabis, you could need any combination of equipment to achieve the right conditions for different stages in the cannabis life cycle.

Polygon: Always By Your Side

Polygon stands ready to help growers cultivate the highest quality end product in order to help them in the increasingly competitive cannabis market. We can equip your grow facility with an engineered solution that gives you control over the climate. With different stages requiring different temperatures and relative humidity, it’s important that growers have a full understanding of conditions in the facility and have the ability to alter them and ensure the health of their plants and the quality of their end product.

To learn more about our heating, cooling, dehumidification, and remote monitoring systems, contact our team of experts today!

Source: Visual Capitalist, https://www.visualcapitalist.com/anatomy-cannabis-plant/