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In this special report, Fluence delve into the important role of lighting in cultivating cannabis for future cannabis growers.<\/strong><\/h2>\nThe pro-cannabis laws sweeping across many EU states are already creating a new wave of growers and investors, many who will be competing in the cannabis industry for the first time. Cannabis is a plant with very particular needs, and even the slightest change to a crop\u2019s environment can produce undesired results. Cultivating cannabis is not as easy as growing it indoors alongside your standard perennials, and requires precision to yield high-quality, consistent buds.<\/p>\n
So then, what does a new wave cannabis grower or investor need in their toolbelt to produce viable, high-quality cannabis plants and buds?<\/p>\n
Lighting considerations for facility types<\/strong><\/h3>\nYour first order of business in setting up your cannabis operation should be evaluating the right lighting technology partner that fits your facility\u2019s needs. Cultivating cannabis indoors, of course, requires a light source other than sunlight, while growers considering a commercial greenhouse strategy must factor in supplemental lighting, which also enables year-round cultivation.<\/p>\n
Given current energy conditions in Europe, many investors and cultivators will likely opt for greenhouse facilities, which have the added advantage of harvesting natural sunlight. During the summer months, supplemental LED lighting usage will be minimal as cultivators can capture more sunlight during longer days. During winter, however, supplemental light will be a greenhouse\u2019s primary light source. With year-round production now achievable, cultivators can focus on identifying the right lighting strategy\u2014the combination of light intensity and spectra\u2014that maximises yield and quality.<\/p>\n
Selecting a lighting partner for cultivating cannabis <\/strong><\/h3>\nIdeally, growers will select an LED lighting partner that also has deep horticulture expertise to offer. The insight and guidance a lighting partner can give growers regarding the nuances of lighting in cannabis cultivation is crucial. While you may expect to experiment with lighting and other environmental settings in the cultivating cannabis process, expert advice can ensure plants reach their full potential faster. Fluence has a specialised services team and a growing body of research on the impact of light spectrum (the wavelengths of light from far-red to UV) on cannabis production, yield and bud quality, and light intensity (how much light is delivered to a plant canopy, measured in \u00b5mol\/m2<\/sup>\/s and known as photosynthetic photon flux density, or PPFD).<\/p>\nThe best lighting providers, however, will also have a deep understanding of how lighting strategy affects every other aspect of a controlled environment. Strategic partners and solutions providers, for instance, should understand optimal environmental parameters specific to an individual operation, and knowing how to keep existing environmental conditions aligned is the key to raising successful cannabis crops. That trickles down into understanding the specific impact of CO2<\/sub>, nutrient uptake, air temperature and more on cannabis crops. Finding knowledgeable partners can take the guesswork out of calibrating these factors. As commercial cannabis growers evaluate potential cultivation partners, identifying and selecting those with demonstrated experience and expertise in cultivating cannabis will be crucial to success in Europe\u2019s budding cannabis industry.<\/p>\nLight spectrum<\/strong><\/h3>\nTime and time again, Fluence research has shown that most cannabis cultivars prefer broad-spectrum (white) light. Some cultivars can tolerate narrow-band red+blue light without significant loss of yield or potency, but when applied at commercially relevant intensities, this will almost always result in severe photobleaching. It also introduces increased risk for significant photobleaching across the plant canopy, which affects aesthetic and, as a result, marketability to the consumer.<\/p>\n
Your first order of business in setting up your cannabis operation should be evaluating the right lighting technology partner that fits your facility\u2019s needs. Cultivating cannabis indoors, of course, requires a light source other than sunlight, while growers considering a commercial greenhouse strategy must factor in supplemental lighting, which also enables year-round cultivation.<\/p>\n
Given current energy conditions in Europe, many investors and cultivators will likely opt for greenhouse facilities, which have the added advantage of harvesting natural sunlight. During the summer months, supplemental LED lighting usage will be minimal as cultivators can capture more sunlight during longer days. During winter, however, supplemental light will be a greenhouse\u2019s primary light source. With year-round production now achievable, cultivators can focus on identifying the right lighting strategy\u2014the combination of light intensity and spectra\u2014that maximises yield and quality.<\/p>\n
Selecting a lighting partner for cultivating cannabis <\/strong><\/h3>\nIdeally, growers will select an LED lighting partner that also has deep horticulture expertise to offer. The insight and guidance a lighting partner can give growers regarding the nuances of lighting in cannabis cultivation is crucial. While you may expect to experiment with lighting and other environmental settings in the cultivating cannabis process, expert advice can ensure plants reach their full potential faster. Fluence has a specialised services team and a growing body of research on the impact of light spectrum (the wavelengths of light from far-red to UV) on cannabis production, yield and bud quality, and light intensity (how much light is delivered to a plant canopy, measured in \u00b5mol\/m2<\/sup>\/s and known as photosynthetic photon flux density, or PPFD).<\/p>\nThe best lighting providers, however, will also have a deep understanding of how lighting strategy affects every other aspect of a controlled environment. Strategic partners and solutions providers, for instance, should understand optimal environmental parameters specific to an individual operation, and knowing how to keep existing environmental conditions aligned is the key to raising successful cannabis crops. That trickles down into understanding the specific impact of CO2<\/sub>, nutrient uptake, air temperature and more on cannabis crops. Finding knowledgeable partners can take the guesswork out of calibrating these factors. As commercial cannabis growers evaluate potential cultivation partners, identifying and selecting those with demonstrated experience and expertise in cultivating cannabis will be crucial to success in Europe\u2019s budding cannabis industry.<\/p>\nLight spectrum<\/strong><\/h3>\nTime and time again, Fluence research has shown that most cannabis cultivars prefer broad-spectrum (white) light. Some cultivars can tolerate narrow-band red+blue light without significant loss of yield or potency, but when applied at commercially relevant intensities, this will almost always result in severe photobleaching. It also introduces increased risk for significant photobleaching across the plant canopy, which affects aesthetic and, as a result, marketability to the consumer.<\/p>\n
The best lighting providers, however, will also have a deep understanding of how lighting strategy affects every other aspect of a controlled environment. Strategic partners and solutions providers, for instance, should understand optimal environmental parameters specific to an individual operation, and knowing how to keep existing environmental conditions aligned is the key to raising successful cannabis crops. That trickles down into understanding the specific impact of CO2<\/sub>, nutrient uptake, air temperature and more on cannabis crops. Finding knowledgeable partners can take the guesswork out of calibrating these factors. As commercial cannabis growers evaluate potential cultivation partners, identifying and selecting those with demonstrated experience and expertise in cultivating cannabis will be crucial to success in Europe\u2019s budding cannabis industry.<\/p>\n Time and time again, Fluence research has shown that most cannabis cultivars prefer broad-spectrum (white) light. Some cultivars can tolerate narrow-band red+blue light without significant loss of yield or potency, but when applied at commercially relevant intensities, this will almost always result in severe photobleaching. It also introduces increased risk for significant photobleaching across the plant canopy, which affects aesthetic and, as a result, marketability to the consumer.<\/p>\nLight spectrum<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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