HVAC for Indoor Cannabis Growing Facilities
Back to Basics – Most of you reading this are well-steeped in this industry and know this acronym – HVAC, to mean, Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning; then, for the refrigeration industry, we add the R, thus HVAC/R.
In this current day and age of the ever-increasing discussion and actual work being done within the Cannabis Cultivation space, we now add a D for Dehumidification.
Why the emphasis on the D?
Well, as it turns out, a big part of the growth cycle of the cannabis plant is deeply rooted in the ability of the plant to absorb and rid itself of water vapor.
Any time we are dealing with an increased level of RH (relative humidity) and the controlling of it, dehumidification becomes a very critical point in the overall conversation.
One unique aspect in this scenario is that the bulk of the “humidification” of the plant stems from the water delivery means.
While all of the usual components of the typical vapor compression cycle are required (Compressor, Condenser, Metering Device and Evaporator) for Direct Expansion (DX) Climate Control or with the same desired results via a Chilled Water Coil utilized:
The ability to remove vast amounts of latent heat, in the form of water vapor, at key and opportune times is paramount.
Basic Principles
If you are new to the discipline of cannabis cultivation as it pertains to the use of HVAC, like the majority of us are, there are a few basic principles to consider in regard to the climate and the growing environment.
Seed then sprouts, then vegetative to flowering. These are the rudimentary phases of the plant’s life.
In order to follow that cycle in a healthy and productive way, a few needs must be met. Soil, water, sun (light, natural or artificial), and nutrition.
OK, what part do we play as an industry?
Our main objective as an HVAC/D practitioner is to remove the water from the environment that the plant has absorbed through its root system and control the ambient temperature.
The plant will readily emit this water, and we need to have ventilation and a cold coil surface to help the process along.
Below we will step through the growing life cycle of a plant.
💡 Key Word: Transpiration – to emit or give off waste matter, watery vapor, etc., through the surface, as of the body or of leaves. (Source: Webster Dictionary)
Back to Basics – We will begin our journey into the typical life cycle, although there are several schools of thought of best practices with a seed.
The seed lies dormant until it is exposed to warmth and moisture.
Seeds
Seeds are planted in a starter mix, covered with plastic, and placed on a heat mat.
Once the seeds have sprouted, two seedling leaves will be the first to appear.
Placing the seedlings in a grow-light environment, about two inches from the top of the plants for 18 hours per day, will get the process off and running.
This is a delicate time during the plant’s life cycle, as, during this time, the seedlings are focusing their energy on growing roots and foliage.
Because the roots are so small, care must be given to ensure they are not overfed or overwatered.
After a few weeks as seedlings, the plants will really start to grow, demanding more food and light.
The roots and foliage are growing rapidly during this stage, thereby allowing the plant to take in more nutrients and carbon dioxide.
Growth rates of 2” or more a day are not unusual in properly controlled environments.
Vegetative
At this vegetative stage, you will be able to identify whether you are growing an Indica or Sativa, the two dominant strains of cannabis cultivation.
Indica’s tend to be short and bushy, while Saliva’s are lanky with less foliage.
These strains can be traced back in history to 8,000 years or so.
You will also be able to identify the sex of your plants.
About four weeks into the vegetative cycle, pre-flowers start to appear.
By six weeks in, you should be able to determine whether those new buds are male or female.
Most growers remove the males from their garden so they don’t pollinate the females and cause seeds to form.
Flowering
Now we enter the Flowering stage.
At this age, the growing plants need varying levels and amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
Silicon is also beneficial at this stage because it helps to build strength in the stalk and stems, which is needed to support the buds that will soon grow.
You imitate autumn in your garden when you reduce the light to 12 hours on and 12 hours off by altering the type of artificial light provided.
This triggers the cannabis plants to start blooming so they can procreate before they die at the end of the season.
The flowering stage lasts six to ten weeks, depending upon the strain being grown.
During this time, dense buds covered in resin will form on the plants.
This resin is where the THC and terpenes are found; therefore, growers are trying to achieve the maximum amount of these two substances possible.
Following the growth cycle come the harvesting, curing, trimming, and packaging. These, too, have specific and unique climate considerations.
Back to Basics – OK, now that we have a general idea of the life–growth cycle of the plants, there are many variations to this very simplistic representation.
You can see below how the HVAC&D piece of the growing environment comes into play.
Listen to the most recent episode of my podcast: Cannabis Grow Rooms A Mechanical Science w/Jake Anzaldua
Temp and Humidity Settings By Grow Room Type
🌲 Mother Room
Typically used as a genetic ‘bank’ to preserve Cannabis varietals in the case of pest or pathogen contamination in the Propagation, Vegetative, or Flowering Rooms.
- Temperature: 75°F
- Relative Humidity: 60%
🌲 Propagation / Clone Room
Typically comprised of cuttings taken from plants in the Veg Room that are in the process of sprouting roots of their own and becoming a genetically identical plant to the plant the cutting was taken from.
- Temperature: 80°F
- Relative Humidity: 90%
🌲 Veg (Vegetative) Room
Once the cuttings have established a healthy root system, they are moved to the Veg Room to grow to roughly ¾ of their eventual size prior to flowering.
- Temperature: 80°F
- Relative Humidity: 70%
🌲 Flowering Room
Fully established plants are moved from the Veg Room into the Flowering Room, where the photoperiod is reduced to 12 hours and the plants begin producing flowers – the part of the plant used in recreational and medicinal products.
- Temperature: 70-80°F
- Relative Humidity: 40-60%
Lighting choices, the desire to fully express plant genetics with low temp/humidity, and budget all play important roles in this decision.
🌲 Curing Room
Once the Cannabis flowers are fully mature, they are cut down and moved into a Drying Room. Special care is needed here to preserve terpenes – temperature and light are the most effective oxidizers for the essential chemicals that we are attempting to preserve during this process.
- Temperature: 65°F
- Relative Humidity: 45%
🌲 Trim Room
Depending on the cultivator, trimming can take place before or after drying. The Trim Room is where fan leaves around, and in between, the Cannabis flower are removed.
- Temperature: 75°F
- Relative Humidity: 50%
🌲 Packaging Rooms
Packaging Rooms are used to individually package dried Cannabis flowers for distribution and retail.
- Temperature: 75°F
- Relative Humidity: 50%
Final Thoughts
As we began this conversation, there are many variables, as well as opinions, techniques, and styles, to all of these cycle periods, lengths, as well as the chronological order in which the final steps must occur.
The constant remains that the environmental conditions that are required for each phase of life and process are key to productivity, as measured in the yield of product, and are indeed germane to the commercial success of the industry and the HVAC-D communities’ ability to serve the ever-growing industry well.
Special thanks to InSpire Transpiration Solutions for the keen insight and data points related to this article
