Cannabis is a super resilient plant that can grow and flourish in many places. But only specific environmental conditions can bring out the plant's full potential. In other words, only in an optimal climate, you can get the harvest of the best quality from the plant. For cannabis grown on a large scale in greenhouses, creating such an optimal climate is quite a challenge. In fact, for healthy plant growth, 3 crucial elements need to be considered. What these are, and how they influence the quality and yield of the crop you can find out in this blog.
The 3 crucial climate drivers for healthy plant growth
The three most important elements for creating an optimal climate in the greenhouse, besides optimum lighting conditions, are temperature, humidity, and airflow.
Temperature
The temperature of the leaf and around the leaves is a crucial factor in the development of the plant. The optimum temperature for growing cannabis is around 25 ℃ during the day with up to 30 ℃, with night temperatures down to 18 ℃. When the plant is exposed to abnormal temperatures for a longer period of time, it inhibits development and weakens the immune system, making the crop more susceptible to disease.
Evenly cooling, and when necessary heating, greenhouses with traditional climate systems cost a lot of energy. Fortunately, there are innovative solutions today that can save up to 90% energy (depending on the climate conditions).
Humidity & the VDP zone
Plants grow best in optimal relative humidity. If the humidity in a greenhouse is too high, the plants are susceptible to mold. Humidity levels that are too low hinder growth. Since the plants perspire more as they grow, the humidity must be continuously monitored and regulated.
The VDP zone (vapor pressure deficit), also called the comfort zone of the plant, is a combination of temperature and humidity. The optimal growing conditions for the cannabis plant are in a VDP zone between 0.5 kPa - 1.5 kPa. The ideal point in the VDP zone depends on which growth stage the plant is in. When designing an appropriate greenhouse climate system, this often proves to be the biggest challenge.
Click here for more information on why optimal air humidity is important for your crop and what technology helps you achieve this.
Airflow
Airflow distribution in a greenhouse is essential for plant growth and development. Without airflow, air pockets form under the leaves, hindering the transpiration of the plant, which in turn is not conducive to plant growth. Airflow that is too heavy is also detrimental to plant development. With an airflow of under 0.5m/s, the plant's growth rate is maximized. It is also important to consider the angle at which the air is blown in when adjusting the ventilation in the greenhouse. The ventilation must be designed in such a way that there is an even distribution of air throughout the greenhouse.
Energy-efficient indoor climate control for your greenhouse
In conclusion, the temperature, humidity, and airflow distribution are crucial for a healthy crop with maximum yield. Therefore, it is essential to apply an appropriate climate solution in greenhouses. We are happy to help you create the optimal climate in your greenhouses. With our patented two-stage adiabatic cooling technology, you are assured of constant temperatures, regulated humidity, and good airflow distribution. All at a fraction of the cost of traditional cooling technologies. Check out what our two-stage adiabatic technology can do for your cannabis or contact us directly using the form below:
