Automating Cannabis for the Future

automating cannabis

Whether they are retrofitting or have the ability to build to spec, growers are automating cannabis irrigation systems that are accurate, cost-effective, and time-saving.

Good Meds, based in Denver, Colorado, is one of those growers. Initially, they relied on hand-watering and fertilizing manually. With a 90,000 square foot facility — that takes a lot of employee time, and human error soon became a factor with nutrient formulations. Either the fertilizer mix was incorrect, or they couldn’t remember what nutrients had been prepared.

The decision was made that it was time to automate their fertigation system, so a Dosatron Nutrient Delivery System was installed into each growing area. The new automated irrigation and fertigation systems were installed in about three months and cost around $80,000.

The Nutrient Delivery System consists of Dosatron pumps, and four kits: starter kit, mixing chamber kit, monitor kit, water hammer arrestor kit, these contain mixing chambers, a monitoring system, and various accessories and parts. The system draws up nutrients from a suction hose placed inside the fertilizer jugs and then injects the fertilizer into the water lines based on the dial setting. This mix flows to the drippers located at each plant, ensuring precise amounts of nutrients dispersed at a set, gallon-per-minute rate.

In less than six months, Good Meds has realized a 20% to 40% increase in their plant yield and have recouped the investment they made in the Dosatron systems!

Automating cannabis has also made an impact on employee productivity. Instead of spending so much time hand-watering, they can now perform other necessary tasks around the facility.

If you would like more information on the Nutrient Delivery System, visit Dosatron’s YouTube Channel, where you can view online videos on maintenance and troubleshooting for the dosers.

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