The ability of an operation to bring plants into an indoor setting and grow them just as well, if not better than those grown outdoors, was a modern marvel. Today this is a very common practice, and most commercial growers grow their crops indoors. In order to be an effective indoor cultivator that can produce excellent quality crops, the right setup needs to be installed. A lapse in building design or equipment used will automatically let the operation start off in the wrong direction.
RF Agriculture has services for commercial and industrial operations in order to plan, install, maintain, and more for all aspects of an operation. One of these services is indoor cultivation build services. These services are designed to keep the indoor cultivator in mind and assist with all aspects of the initial build and future expansions needed to keep up with the growing demand for horticultural products.
Considerations for a new indoor cultivation facility
Regardless of the type of operation and facility, a grower needs to take into consideration several factors in order to adequately plan and prepare for a growing season without having to struggle in the first part of the growing season. In comparison to a greenhouse, an indoor cultivation facility has some slightly different considerations at the start of the design and installation process. However, there are many similarities just setting up an indoor cultivation facility that are the same as the greenhouse.
Size of the growing area
When planning to build or buy an indoor facility, growers should consider the size of the operation based on goals and budget. The size of the growing area that is required will depend on many factors, but the most important factor to take into account is the type of plants that are being grown in the growing area. A grower should plan to have more space than what they need at the current moment to account for expansion in the future. By planning ahead, the struggle of finding the time, money, and space will be eliminated. Every successful operation will need to expand later in the future, but immediate to intermediate goals and space should complement one another.
Irrigation and watering
Water is one of the most important aspects of a greenhouse or indoor facility. Because plants are taken from their natural environment, a grower must mimic this environment in order to provide all the necessary needs for the plant. When dealing with these needs, water in an indoor facility has slightly different requirements than a greenhouse. However, water is just as important. Considerations for the type of growing technique- whether it is traditional with soil or soilless media or a more new school approach with hydroponics or aeroponic technology- will impact the choice of irrigation and the needed supplies. Typically the larger greenhouses have more technology and automation that is needed in order to keep up with and maintain the growing environment. So this means the grower will need to install pumps, timers, and additional equipment that can monitor moisture content in both the air and soil or root zone. By designing the correct irrigation system or drip irrigation system and selecting the right tools for the job, a grower can rest assured that watering can be even and done in a timely manner when a plant needs it.
HVAC, heating, and cooling systems
In addition to space and watering, the air quality and temperature of the growing area are very important. These are important because they help maintain the optimal temperature of the growing area to aid in the growth of the plants. Temperatures that are too cold will stunt plants, while temperatures that are too warm will increase the effects of water loss and could very well burn plants. By controlling the atmosphere of the greenhouse, plants can better grow in or result in higher quality yields with fewer inputs. Thermostats and other atmospheric controls should be installed within the growing area to ensure that these levels are maintained based on the type of crops being grown.
Grow lighting
In an indoor growing space, growers need to supplement the sunlight through the use of various lights or lamps. There are many different types of lamps for lighting options available to choose from. The selection of grow light systems are largely dependent on the grower's preference, budget, and plant needs. The horticulture industry is currently making a switch over to a more modern lighting system known as LED grow lights. These types of grow lights can be seen in indoor growing facilities most frequently because of their ability to provide the right spectrum of light, and depending on the type of LED can be switched to accommodate all the growing stages of a plant. A major benefit of LED grow lights is that they don't have a large electrical pull and do not create heat where they could burn plants. This means that the LED light can physically touch the plant without causing any harm. This allows for better use of the space.
Design of the indoor growing facility
One of the major benefits of installing an indoor growing area is the fact that it can take many different shapes, sizes, and forms. Instead of being constrained to the usual greenhouse shapes and sizes, a grower is only limited to the building that they are in. Modern-day indoor growing facilities can take the form of brand-new buildings or refurbished structures such as shipping containers and old warehouses. Indoor growing facilities are able to grow agricultural and horticultural products within a space that typically wouldn't be able to grow these products. The overall design of the indoor facility is dependent on the structure that it is in, but it is also dependent on the personal preference of the grower and the plants that you wish to grow in that area. Consideration should be taken and ensuring that there is adequate space for this growing season, as well as future growing seasons, were expansion will be necessary. They should also be allotted for the storage of tools and equipment, as well as chemicals for fertilizers and pathogen control.
Installation services and RF agriculture
RF Agriculture offers many different types of services. In the installation sector, RF Agriculture offers services in installation for plumbing, floor epoxy, HVAC, rolling benches, and more. These services allow for an operation to expand into the new light of the technological age of advanced technology and equipment.
For more information:
RF Agriculture
www.rfagriculture.com