Why We Need to Dispel the Myth That Cannabis Can Only Be Grown Indoors

In the United States, most licensed commercial cannabis cultivation occurs indoors.

However, the energy consumption of indoor grow-ops can be mind-boggling, with lighting, HVAC, and dehumidification being the three major energy-consuming culprits.

This situation presents a challenge for our industry as more states legalize cultivation, and other countries look to the US for examples of how to implement their own cannabis regulations.

The common misconception that cannabis can only successfully be grown indoors does not bode well for the environment or our industry.

Turning to greenhouses for new commercial-scale projects can help decrease our industry’s environmental impact while helping to lower the overall cost of production.

To help dispel the myth that cannabis can only be grown indoors, it’s essential to understand why these beliefs exist in the first place. Here are a few reasons:

1. It’s always been done that way.

For decades, marijuana was grown indoors to avoid detection.

Now that individual states are permitting commercial cultivation, detection is no longer a concern, but many growers still prefer to follow protocols of the past.

Why change something that’s already working?

2. Many cannabis greenhouses do fail.

Walking through a greenhouse that’s experiencing crop issues will help solidify the assumption that these sophisticated growing structures won’t work for cannabis.

Insect or disease infestations that seem beyond control will scare many start-ups away from the idea of greenhouse production and back into the great indoors.

3. Humidity is a real downer.

Constantly high humidity and mature cannabis flowers do not mix.

Fungal diseases like botrytis can decimate a crop, while powdery mildew can render plants unsalable as whole flower.

Managing humidity can be difficult; evacuating humid air inside a greenhouse by exchanging it with even more humid air from outside is a losing battle.

Why this needs to change

In the coming years, cannabis businesses will need to radically change their approach to large-scale cultivation for two reasons: First, to comply with environmental regulations, and second, to help lower their cost of production.

As cannabis becomes increasingly decriminalized across the US, operators should anticipate much tighter scrutiny of their cultivation businesses. Environmental impact will be one area that regulators are sure to focus on.

Yes, sophisticated greenhouses do use grow lights, cooling, and dehumidification systems, just like indoor operations, but the difference is that they don’t use them all of the time.

Indoors, this equipment runs every single day. 100% of the time that the grow lights are on, energy is being consumed to illuminate, cool, and dehumidify the cultivation environment.

In contrast, by taking advantage of sunlight and natural ventilation during certain parts of the year, greenhouses consume less energy, nearly 25% less.

These savings can go a long way toward helping operators lower their production costs as competition increases and prices trend downward in saturated markets.

So, how do cannabis operators confidently move forward with new commercial greenhouse projects, given the firmly entrenched myths in our industry’s collective psyche?

By using common sense. Here’s how:

Avoid building greenhouses in constantly humid environments.

Just because cannabis is legal to grow in certain states doesn’t mean that it’s a good idea to do it in a greenhouse. In constantly humid environments (think the southeastern US), it’s probably best to grow indoors.

Once regulations permit the interstate transport of high-THC cannabis, moving a few states over to grow in a greenhouse and then shipping the final product to these humid states will make a lot more business sense. Start planning for this now.

Build the right greenhouse.

In most of the US, cannabis can be grown successfully in greenhouses, but it requires the right kind of greenhouse. There are dozens of different models, sizes, and options. Don’t make the mistake of thinking the hoop house behind your local garden center will work for the year-round production of premium cannabis flower. It won’t.

Take the time to identify and vet greenhouse companies with a track record of building structures for cannabis growers. Make sure they consider your region, business goals, and details particular to your situation. If they suggest a standard cannabis-model greenhouse without even asking about your business, run the other way.

Hire the right grower.

A state-of-the-art greenhouse is only as good as the person running it. Many cannabis greenhouse failures are due to a lack of experienced leadership.

Growing in a greenhouse is entirely different than growing inside of a warehouse.

Indoors, the grower is God. They control every detail of the cultivation environment, whereas, in greenhouses, it’s more of a negotiation with Mother Nature. The tools for modifying greenhouse conditions are much different than those used by indoor growers.

If you’ve spent millions of dollars on a sophisticated greenhouse, now is not the time to skimp on hiring.

Pair your indoor grower with an expert that can help them master the art of greenhouse management. Or, better yet, leave them to run your indoor operation and hire an experienced commercial greenhouse grower to run your new site.

If it were truly impossible to grow cannabis in a greenhouse, no one would be doing it. Fortunately, many successful examples prove that it can be done.

It’s time to dispel these myths, both for the health of the planet and the health of your bottom line.

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