Growing Science

Growing Science

Understanding Phytohormones

Plant hormones, called phytohormones, are chemical compounds that circulate through the plant, signaling and regulating its life cycle from seedling to maturity. In animals, hormones are “chemical messengers” produced by the endocrine glands. While plants do not have hormone-producing glands, phytohormones influence similar physiological processes as mammalian hormones, including growth, reproduction and even senescence.[1] In this blog post, we’ll discuss the importance of phytohormones, the specific types of phytohormones and the benefits of their exogenous application from natural sources. Why phytohormones matter Phytohormones are …
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Secondary Metabolites of Cannabis

Secondary metabolites are chemical compounds that plants produce to fight against threats, adapt to environmental pressures and facilitate ecological relationships. In cannabis, these compounds go beyond basic growth and survival functions. They’re responsible for the plant’s recreational and medicinal benefits, as well as the distinct flavors and aromas that differentiate strains. The secondary metabolites of cannabis are unique in that they can be tailored to address specific medicinal or recreational needs, influencing the plant’s market value. In this blog post, we’ll explain …
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Spurring Plant Growth with Triacontanol

Triacontanol (sometimes abbreviated as TRIA) is a natural non-hormonal growth promoter. First discovered in alfalfa, it is found in the epicuticular waxes—thin layers of wax on the surfaces of leaves, stems and other aerial plant parts that protect against environmental stressors—of several plant species,[1] as well as beeswax.[2] Unlike phytohormones,[3] triacontanol does not directly regulate plant growth or development. Instead, it acts as a secondary plant growth enhancer, improving the physiological efficiency of cells and optimizing processes so plants better express …
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Guiding your Garden Through Crop Steering

Crop steering is a cannabis cultivation technique where careful control over environmental factors guides plant growth, optimizes yields and enhances quality. By adjusting elements like light intensity, irrigation, temperature, humidity and root zone conditions, growers can steer plants toward vegetative growth—channeling energy and resources on foliage, stems and roots—or generative growth, also known as flowering or reproductive growth. This blog post explains how crop steering works and how different environmental controls can steer crops toward one type of growth over the …
Growing Science

Comparative Analysis of Batch and Inline Methods of Fertigation

Fertigation is the process of delivering nutrients to plants through irrigation. In hydroponic systems, this method fertilizes the root zone directly based on plant requirements, allowing plants to absorb nutrients and water efficiently while minimizing nutrient leaching. The two types of fertigation systems are batch and inline injection. Each has its pros and cons, and choosing the best system depends on factors such as operation size and complexity, budgetary constraints and need for scalability. Batch versus inline injection The primary difference between batch …
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Managing VPD for Cannabis

The vapor pressure deficit (VPD) is the difference between the moisture currently in the air and the maximum moisture it can hold when saturated. As we discussed in our previous blog post, VPD is an important parameter to measure and control because it directly influences plant transpiration. In this blog post, we’ll explain how to determine the VPD of the grow room using temperature and humidity, the ideal VPD levels for cannabis and the equipment needed to monitor and adjust VPD. Measuring …
Growing Science

Understanding Vapor Pressure Deficit

In our previous blog post, we talked about the importance of plant transpiration and how to ensure plants transpire at an ideal rate for optimal growth. One way that growers can determine if the right amount of transpiration is occurring is by measuring the vapor pressure deficit (VPD). VPD indicates the air’s moisture saturation level. Lower moisture in the air allows more plant transpiration, while higher saturation reduces it. In this post, we’ll explore how VPD works, its impact on plant …
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Understanding Plant Transpiration

When plants transpire, they move water from the roots to the shoots and release it into the atmosphere. Transpiration influences several other important processes, including nutrient uptake and photosynthesis. Understanding how plant transpiration works can help indoor cannabis cultivators foster an ideal environment for optimum transpiration rates. Figure 1. Plant transpiration. Image by brgfx on Freepik The transpiration process Transpiration occurs primarily through small openings in the leaves called stomata. The stomata regulate water loss by pulling water up through the tiny tubes of …
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Sources of Carbon Dioxide Supplementation

Supplementing carbon dioxide (CO2) in the grow room is common in indoor cannabis cultivation. As we discussed in our blog post on CO2 supplementation, CO2 is essential for photosynthesis. By increasing the amount of ambient CO2, growers can boost their plants’ photosynthetic rates, producing bigger yields and shortening the crop life cycle for more frequent harvests. In this blog post, we will discuss the different methods of CO2 supplementation. CO2 injection systems and tanks CO2 injection systems and tanks rank among the most popular ways …
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Carbon Dioxide Supplementation

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is essential for photosynthesis. The amount of CO2 available to plants affects their net photosynthetic rate. Providing additional CO2 in indoor cultivation serves two purposes: (1) It can prevent a reduction in plant growth, which can happen in tightly sealed indoor environments if CO2 drops below ambient outdoor levels. (2) It can spur the rate of photosynthesis by providing elevated levels of CO2, resulting in bigger yields. In this blog post, we’ll discuss the role of CO2 in …
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Irrigation Water Quality in Hydroponics

Water is the lifeblood of agriculture. Not only does water irrigate roots, but it also delivers oxygen and essential nutrients to plants for healthy growth, big yields and high crop quality. The quality of irrigation water is paramount. Poor water quality can lead to problems like stunted growth, nutrient toxicities or deficiencies, accumulation of harmful heavy metals in plant tissue, and bacterial contamination; in severe cases, it can even lead to plant death. Assessing water quality involves more than just its appearance, …
Growing Science

Managing Cannabis Pests and Pathogens

Even though cannabis grown indoors is protected from Mother Nature, it remains vulnerable to pests and pathogens. Growing dense stands of plants in a humid, enclosed environment can lead to infestations and infections. But growers can reduce the risk of outbreaks by implementing Integrated Pest Management (IPM)—an effective, environmentally sensitive way to manage pests and pathogens that seeks to prevent infestations and infections from occurring in the first place and uses multiple control methods to address issues if they arise.[1] Determine tolerable levels IPM is …
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