Three Secrets that Every Commercial Grower Should Know

Meeting Michigan Growers at CannaCon Detroit, 2021

1) Don’t Be Fooled: High Wattage Lighting

We have all seen advertisements from LED Lighting Manufacturers boasting about their high wattage fixtures or high light output fixtures. They advise growers to hang the light further away to “increase the canopy area” and get the job done with fewer fixtures. These recommendations are reflective of an outdated and inefficient approach, and it demonstrates a general lack of understanding in regards to the future of indoor cultivation.

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Close proximity cultivation in action with ~40″ vertical space per tier (Strain: Pineapple Fanta, Yield: ~3.25lb / 16 sqft)

As cultivators, our mission is to improve quality and yield, while reducing production costs and overall carbon footprint. We can do so by truly taking advantage of LED technology, and bringing the light source much closer to the canopy. This allows us to increase light intensity while significantly reducing the required wattage, resulting in a substantially higher yield.

Not convinced? Click HERE to download our FREE Grower’s Guide and take a look at the difference in ROI between a typical HPS operation, vs a high wattage system, vs a well engineered solution.

2) Is Bigger Really Better?

cannacon leading cannabis expo

Close proximity cultivation in action with ~40″ vertical space per tier
(Strain: Pineapple Fanta, Yield: ~3.25;b / 16 sqft)

It is a common misconception that you need big plants to produce a higher yield. Sure, a longer vegetative cycle will allow you to grow larger plants, which in turn increases your yield per plant. However, it’s important to understand that yield per plant is not the same as yield per square foot (or yield per cubic foot, the metric we use to calculate facility profitability). Furthermore, both of these values only measure yield per cycle and it does not give you the full picture of your operation’s annualized revenue.

Don’t get us wrong. There are some states with plant count restrictions that do benefit from a longer vegetative cycle. It is important to understand that there’s no one size fits all approach when it comes to determining the ideal plant size. You must make this decision based on the local regulations, revenue potential, workflow impact and optimized usage of your facility.

3) Keep An Eye On ROI

In recent years, there has been a rapid increase in consolidation within the commercial cultivation sector. All current indicators suggest that at a national level, three out of four grow operations will no longer be in business within the next 5 years due to increasing competition. This leaves roughly 25% of the remaining operations reaping in all the long term benefits.

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On-site consultation with one of our clients

To ensure success in the Commercial Cultivation sector, you must learn how to maximize the profitability of your operation, in addition to growing amazing products. This begins with a deep understanding of the various factors that contribute to your per pound production cost and how to minimize these costs.

Let’s further explore these secrets and discover two more bonus tips to help set you up for success (and, get you free money).

1 Comment

  1. Todd Dreyer on August 4, 2021 at 1:42 pm

    Will marijuana sold in New York be required to be grown in New York?

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