Hydrolife Magazine October/November 2016 (USA Edition)

enjoy
Let’s step back for a moment to
differentiate between greenhouse
strategies. Many cannabis greenhouses
are seasonal; they provide added
protection for a crop during the normal
outdoor season, but close down over
winter. Other growers use greenhouses
to achieve year-round production
for vegetative or flowering crops, or
supplement part of a larger year-round
operation. In many cases, a grower may
use a growroom for cloning and as a
veg room, and then move plants to the
greenhouse for the flowering stage.
Controlling the photoperiod for
flowering crops requires both
supplemental lighting and light
deprivation systems. Artificial
lights extend the short days of the
winter, and light dep systems allow
for a 12-hour photoperiod during
long summer days. Some growers
note that adding a light dep system
increases the cash outlay for a
greenhouse compared to growroom.
However, due to the avoided costs
of running lights, it is one that is
quickly recouped.
“MOST HYBRID
greenhouses can
be rated for any
wind load or snow
load, making them
well-suited for
growers in harsh
winter climates.”
Overall, greenhouses have often been
seen as a more natural growing method,
but one that sacrifices some control over
the growing environment.
THE NEXT WAVE
OF GREENHOUSES:
HYBRID STRUCTURES
To accommodate for these drawbacks,
a new variation of greenhouse has
emerged. Part warehouse, part
greenhouse, hybrid greenhouses
combine insulated walls with standard
glazed roofs. From the outside, the
greenhouse looks like a warehouse
and is nearly as secure. Constructed
with metal framing, they are also as
durable as a standard commercial
building. Most
hybrid greenhouses
can be rated for
any wind load or
snow load, making
them well-suited for
growers in harsh
winter climates.
Beyond security
and durability,
hybrid structures
are far more
energy efficient
than standard
greenhouses. An
insulated wall
typically has an
R-value of 10-
20. Most glazing
materials, in
comparison, have
an R-value of less
than two. Replacing glazing with a
durable, insulated structure creates a
vastly more energy-efficient structure
and more stable temperatures for
year-round production.
For these reasons, hybrid greenhouses
are emerging as a new niche in the
spectrum of growing options–one that
is more high-tech and controlled than a
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grow. heal. live. enjoy.
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