With cannabis getting legalized in several parts of North America, setting up your commercial grow room right now is the perfect opportunity. It will ensure that you produce high-quality plants without the interference of the constantly changing weather. Perhaps, it won’t be wrong to say that this business can help you earn a high return on investment.

However, to achieve this target, you need to pay attention to your commercial grow room setup.

The setup generally includes purchasing tools and equipment for the production, renting a space, availability of fertilizers, and good lighting. Also, you need to look beyond the monthly expenses and take into account the yearly average cost.

To be more specific, you have to work hard to set up your business to reap the benefits later on.

Thankfully, this article can help you decide all these things. Keep reading to learn more.

Designing

The setup for the grow room begins with its design. It will help in creating a smooth and efficient workflow. Here, you need to consider the spacing and height of the trays for better access and movement around the facility. In fact, some people also create separate growing areas to reduce contamination.

In addition to this, you also have to consider the security of the facility. So, you must understand your goal and accordingly create a layout for the utility and functioning of the facility.

Equipment

Usually, the entrepreneur has the option to save money by sourcing their equipment in a DIY manner. However, this method is not very reliable and effective for long term projects. Therefore, it would be better if you invest in fully integrated systems and high-quality equipment.

The equipment generally includes:

  • Grow lamp
  • Reflective sheets
  • Indoor extraction system
  • Temperature and humidity control
  • Carbon filters
  • Timers and meters and many more

Nevertheless, whether you choose to DIY this equipment or purchase them, you need to understand your business’s equipment investment. In simple terms, you need to choose high-quality products, increase your current yield, and pay off in the long run.

Keep in mind that cannabis is a high-value crop. So, you must invest according to their growth cycle. It will help you in making your business a success.

HVAC And Dehumidifiers

For the growth of cannabis plants, creating and maintaining an ideal environment in the facility is a must. And for that, you need HVAC systems. These will help in regulating the indoor temperature. In addition to an adequate temperature, you also need to get dehumidifiers to control the humidity level of the room.

You must note that HVAC, dehumidifiers, and other ventilation and duct components are generally categorized as grow room climate control products. These ensure that the plants do not absorb the air moisture into their leaves instead of roots. So, you must invest in high-quality products.

Tip: Generally, people invest in industrial-grade dehumidifiers, which are slightly costlier than the commercial-grade HVAC system. However, the commercial-grade HVAC systems are better and also provide redundancy tools and better sterilization. Which helps improve the overall operation of facility setup.

Lighting

Just like any other crop, cannabis also requires proper lighting. However, as you are working indoors, it isn’t possible to provide enough natural lighting. Therefore, you need to get LED lighting. They often come in different forms and are more energy-efficient. Plus, they provide more photons in comparison to CMH and HPS, that too by consuming less electricity.

Not to forget, the heat produced by the LED lights also has a bare minimum effect on the growth of room temperature. Also, they provide an ideal spectrum of light (which is also adjustable as per the plant’s needs).

Air Filtration And Odor Control

People often overlook the importance of keeping the air clean indoors. Especially when the dehumidifier, HVAC systems, etc., are running continuously. Understand that excess dust and impurities in the air can affect production. Therefore, you must set up an air filtration system to help reduce the pollutants and provide a clean and safe environment to the plants.

Using a regular air filtration system for cultivation is fine. However, it would be better if you consider using odor eliminating filtration systems. Why? It’s because these include an additional activated carbon filter. This filter helps in absorbing the smell of fertilizer, nutrients, and plants. Thus, keeping the facility clean and odor-free.

Control System

You might be wondering- what is the need for a control system in a grow room setup? Well, the control system will help in preventing unnecessary delays in the production of crops. It will help you set environmental parameters for the growth of plants. And, it will also alert you if any of the systems malfunctions.

Obviously, it is not essential in the beginning. Yet, it can help you save time and money by automating the process. Thus, if you consider the long-term benefits, investing in the control system in the very beginning will surely provide consistent results.

Cost Expectation

Your facility's per square foot cost will vary according to the tool and equipment you choose for creating and building the grow room. Besides that, the cost of rent, construction, and other miscellaneous expenses might also increase the overall start-up cost. Generally, the per square foot cost ranges between $130 to $250.

Evidently, the location and size of your facility will also have a significant impact on the overall cost.  

Not to mention, it takes months to build a fully functioning grow room. Thus, you also have to consider the cost of labor, licenses, monthly utilities, etc. Plus, after the room is set up, you need to pay attention to requirements for growing materials such as nutrients, mediums, and temperature and humidity control materials. That’s why you must create a proper plan and budget to ensure smooth operations.

To Sum It All Up!

Setting up a commercial grow room right now will offer you huge benefits later on due to the continuous legalization of cannabis. Nonetheless, you must learn about the rules and regulations of the location where you decide to set up your operations. Plus, make sure you invest in high-quality equipment as mentioned above.