This Cultivation Elevated episode primarily focuses on advanced cultivation strategies for cannabis indoors, covering topics ranging from substrate selection to irrigation strategies and environmental control.

Substrate Selection and Characteristics

Anders and Michael discuss various substrates used in cannabis cultivation, including rockwool and coco. Rockwool is favored for its consistency across batches and inert nature, making it suitable for precise nutrient control and advanced cultivation techniques under high light levels. On the other hand, coco is praised for its blend of steerability and risk mitigation, though it poses challenges due to variability between batches and potential issues with nutrient content.

Factors Influencing Substrate Choice

• Consistency and Manageability: Rockwool is highlighted for its consistent performance and suitability for advanced irrigation strategies where precise steering of plant growth is crucial.
• Steerability and Risk: coco offers flexibility but requires careful management due to variability in batch quality and nutrient content.

Plant Density and Irrigation Strategies

The conversation delves into optimal plant densities and their impact on cultivation outcomes. They emphasize the importance of tailoring planting densities to specific cultivars and optimizing them based on factors like light penetration, airflow, and irrigation needs.

Environmental Control and HVAC Sizing

A significant portion of the discussion revolves around HVAC system design and sizing. They stress the importance of basing HVAC requirements on canopy square footage rather than plant count due to the variability in plant counts during cultivation cycles. This approach provides flexibility and ensures that environmental conditions are adequately maintained regardless of changes in plant density.

Practical Tips for Growers

• Irrigation Strategies: They recommend basing irrigation strategies on substrate volume per plant and per square foot to ensure adequate moisture levels and prevent aggressive dry backs overnight.
• Microbial Management: Practical advice includes managing microbial risks during harvest, particularly with open-top coco substrates, to avoid contamination and maintain crop quality.

Advanced Cultivation Techniques

The speakers share insights into advanced techniques such as sub-canopy air circulation and under-canopy lighting to optimize plant growth and yield. They highlight the benefits of using specific substrates and configurations that support these techniques effectively.

Facility Design Considerations

The conversation concludes with considerations for facility design, emphasizing the importance of substrate choice, plant density, and environmental control systems in maximizing cultivation efficiency and yield.

Conclusion

Overall, this episode of Cultivation Elevated provides a comprehensive overview of advanced cultivation practices for cannabis, emphasizing the critical role of substrate choice, irrigation strategies, and environmental control in achieving optimal crop outcomes. Michael and Anders’ insights cater to both new growers and experienced cultivators looking to enhance their understanding and practices in indoor cannabis cultivation.

• Michael and Andres discussed Retrofitting, transitioning from single-tier cultivation to multi-tiered cultivation.
• Retrofitting is prominent in maturing markets, driven by factors like energy codes (e.g., Title 24 in California) and rebate programs.
• Incentives such as rebates facilitate the transition to more efficient technologies like LED lighting.
• Most retrofit projects involve moving from single-tier HPS to multi-tier LED setups.
• Considerations during retrofitting include adjusting airflow, humidity, and cooling capacity to accommodate the increased canopy levels.
• How it's crucial to rethink mechanical system layout and size appropriately when retrofitting.
• The importance of environmental control outside of the cultivation rooms, such as in fertigation rooms, must be considered.
• Planning and investment are necessary for successful retrofitting, but the long-term benefits include increased production and efficiency.
• The process requires careful planning, investment, and adaptation to address structural, environmental, workflow, and efficiency challenges.
• Engaging with experts and leveraging innovative solutions can optimize facilities for vertical cultivation and maximize production potential.
• Anders and Michael per usual offer themselves as resources for those considering or undergoing retrofitting projects and encourage sharing experiences for mutual learning.

The discussion revolves around the optimization of labor and space efficiency in cannabis cultivation. Anders and Michael highlight the importance of streamlining labor processes and minimizing touch-points to increase productivity and reduce costs. They emphasize the significance of time-saving measures in labor-intensive tasks, as seconds can translate to significant savings in labor costs.

The conversation delves into the transition to multi-tier cultivation systems and the challenges growers face, particularly regarding labor access to upper tiers. Solutions such as the ELEVATE® Platform System are discussed as game-changers in enabling efficient access to multiple tiers for cultivation tasks.

The complexity of engineering and designing multi-tier cultivation rooms is addressed, reframing it as a matter of familiarity rather than inherent complexity. Anders and Michael stress the importance of growers stepping out of their comfort zones to embrace new cultivation methods, which ultimately leads to improved proficiency.

They highlight the advantages of multi-tier cultivation in maximizing space efficiency and increasing yield potential. A specific example is provided where a grower plans to retrofit their single-level facility to multi-tier after experiencing the benefits. The discussion concludes with an emphasis on the role of top-line revenue in reducing costs and the commitment to providing growers with valuable information and tools for success.

Overall, the podcast provides insights into the optimization of labor and space efficiency in cannabis cultivation through the adoption of multi-tier systems and innovative cultivation methods.

Michael and Anders cover topics such as tier heights in flower rooms, considerations for tier spacing, pros and cons of different heights, ideal tier spacing, and considerations for veg and mother rooms.

Overall, they emphasize the importance of considering factors like lighting efficiency, airflow efficiency, ceiling height, plant stretch, environmental control, substrate type and volume, handling processes, and the use of inner canopy lighting when determining tier spacing in different cultivation environments. They suggest that a tier spacing of around 5.5 to 6 feet is often ideal for flower rooms, while tier spacing in veg rooms can vary depending on factors such as cultivation strategy and plant growth duration.

Tier Spacing in Multi-Tier Cultivation:

• Multi-tier cultivation or vertical farming involves spacing between grow trays and the bottom of grow lights, known as tier heights or tier spacings.
• Different tiers correspond to different stages of plant growth, such as mother, veg, and flower rooms.
• Flower rooms typically have two levels with equidistant tier spacings.
• New cultivators often worry about plant stretch and request tall tier spacings to prevent plants from growing into lights.
• Tall tier spacings (over 6.5 ft) can lead to inefficiencies in lighting and airflow, requiring lights to run at higher percentages and airflow systems to work harder.
• Ceiling height is a critical factor when determining tier spacings; maximizing rack height may not be ideal due to constraints like mechanical installations and air circulation.
• Shorter tier spacings (around 4 to 4.5 ft) can improve lighting uniformity and penetration but require precise cultivation schedules to avoid plant stretch and light burn.
• The ideal tier spacing for flower rooms is around 5.5 to 6 ft, providing a balance between efficient lighting, airflow, and environmental control.

Considerations for Tier Spacing in Flower Rooms:

• Ceiling height should accommodate the total height of racks and leave room for environmental buffer space above the racks.
• Tall tier spacings may lead to inefficient lighting and airflow, requiring higher energy consumption.
• Shorter tier spacings can improve light uniformity and penetration but require careful management of plant height and cultivation schedules.
• Inner canopy lighting can enhance light distribution and increase yields, especially in tall plant environments.

Considerations for Tier Spacing in Veg Rooms:

• Veg rooms typically have shorter tier spacings (around 3 to 3.5 ft) to accommodate smaller plants and shorter growth cycles.
• Advanced cultivators may opt for longer veg cycles (10 to 14 days), requiring taller tier spacings (up to 14 ft) to accommodate plant growth.
• Longer veg cycles may lead to stalling moments and reduced vigor if not managed properly.
• Considerations include plant density, growth medium, and cultivation strategy when determining tier spacings in veg rooms.

• Veg Timing Importance: Timing veg growth is crucial for determining plant height and structure before transitioning to the flowering phase. It directly impacts yield and performance in the grow.
• Vegetative Phase Overview: The vegetative phase involves keeping plants under an 18-hour photo period, allowing them to grow shoots and roots to establish a robust structure for flowering.
• Veg Length Determination: The length of veg directly influences plant height in the flowering phase, particularly significant in vertical farming and multi-tier growing setups.
• Optimal Veg Duration: While a 10 to 14-day veg is ideal for advanced cultivators with optimal environments, some factors like genetics and environmental conditions may extend veg time.
• Managing Stretch: Stretch refers to rapid plant growth during the early flowering phase triggered by a 12-hour photo period. Proper veg timing helps anticipate and manage this stretch to avoid issues like plants growing into lights or obstructing airflow.
• Techniques to Control Stretch: Environmental cues, such as day-to-night temperature differentials, and irrigation strategies can help mitigate stretch. Additionally, plant training techniques like topping or super cropping can be employed.
• Variability in Cultivar Behavior: Some cultivars exhibit slow veg growth but finish flowering rapidly. Understanding each cultivar's growth patterns is essential for effective cultivation planning.
• No Veg Strategy: An emerging trend in some regions involves skipping the traditional veg phase and directly transitioning rooted clones into flowering, particularly in high-density planting setups.
• Closing Thoughts: Successful cannabis cultivation requires understanding and adapting to various factors like genetics, environment, and cultivation techniques. Cultivators are encouraged to experiment, gather data, and tailor their approach to their specific growing conditions.

This conversation provides valuable insights for cannabis cultivators, emphasizing the importance of strategic planning and adaptability in optimizing plant growth and yield.