With the recent change in climate in the cannabis landscape, there is an explosion of cannabis growers all across the country. People are now trying to grow their weed in a variety of environment – in cupboards, make-shift indoor grow rooms, their backyards, and some even opt to build polytunnels for their precious plants. In this article, we will discuss more polytunnels and the important techniques and facts to know when growing cannabis in a polytunnel.
A Polytunnel: Brief Introduction
A polytunnel is a tunnel that closely resembles a greenhouse. It comes in a wide variety of shapes and sizes but is most commonly elongated and semi-circular in shape. There are smaller tunnels made to house herbs and salads and larger ones that can house almost anything – from entire vegetable crops to flower nurseries to cannabis gardens.
The functionality of the polytunnel set up was designed to remove the complexity that involves lighting, heaters, and extraction fans, among others. The tunnels are usually made from steel and covered in polyethylene, which gives them the ability to provide a higher temperature or humidity level than that which is available in the outside environment. All this while providing an excellent form of crop protection against strong sunlight, heat, wind, cold, and rain. These features offer gardeners a prominent advantage of sheltered reaps as compared to other kinds of grows. Lastly, polytunnels are semi-permanent structures that can easily be moved about or taken down completely, unlike a greenhouse.
Growing Cannabis in a Polytunnel
Growing cannabis in a polytunnel opens up a range of new possibilities. There are, however, a few important factors that you need to consider when building your temporary structure for your precious greens.
The light should be optimal.
Seasoned polytunnel gardeners know that they will be able to catch the most sunlight when their structures are placed in the East-West direction, especially during the months with less light. Set it up far and away from other tall buildings or trees that may cast a shadow on your tunnel. As we all know, optimal light is crucial in achieving substantial growth during the first few weeks of cannabis growth. There should be as much light shining through your structure as possible. Choose a frame that will is strong and stable enough to hold large glass panes that will allow optimal lighting. While wood is a good choice, steels and aluminum frames are the most favorable choices. Lastly, never forget to clean the polytunnel regularly to ensure that light can shine through optimally.
Use of seedling pots.
Cannabis growers who prefer cultivating their weed in polytunnels are classified into two types: the first ones who make use of seedling pots and the second ones who plant the seedlings straight in the ground. While there is not much difference between these two types of cultivators, the use of seedling pots offers some advantages. For one, it is important to remember that tunnels are temporary and can be easily moved, especially on the off chance that you are incapable of tending your plants in that specific area. When your seeds are on plant pots, they can easily be transferred along with your tunnel.
Another advantage of the use of seedling pots is the authority it allows over supplement or nutrient expansion. This means that compared to growing your crops altogether in soil, compartments will allow cultivators more ability to monitor their programmed feeding frameworks. However, not all growing pots are equal. There are several types of containers, ranging from the standard flower pots to the fabric or smart pots to air pots. Each of these containers come with their benefits so it is imperative to select the right pot for your weed and growing needs.
Watch out for overheating and too much humidity.
It is a well-known fact that within the polytunnel, the temperature and humidity levels are always higher. Cold nights are easily mitigated and any spring day will easily warm up in the sunshine. This enables gardeners to start their developing season way before they could outdoors, thereby allowing them to enjoy higher profits due to predominant harvests. Unfortunately, this same feature of the polytunnels can easily become a difficult issue, especially under a sweltering, mid-summer climate. When it is hot outside, the heat levels inside will become considerably higher quickly. And too much heat, as we all know, can slow down germination, create problems with photosynthesis, leads to the development of diseases and molds, and the appearance of pests and parasites. So instead of producing bigger plants, you could lose your entire crop, since an overheated polytunnel is very far from the ideal condition for your plants.
To successfully regulate your polytunnel temperature, the structures need to be equipped with ventilation devices. These can be in the form of windows, side ventilation, or rooftop vents that can be opened or moved in cases when the temperature decided to soar above bearable. Alternatively, shading nets or screens can be installed over the top of the polythene covers to provide shade and reduce temperature levels to as much as 47%, depending on their thickness and their level of protection. Make sure to secure the net covers tightly by tying them to the hoops and crop bars.
A thermometer and a hygrometer will also come in handy when checking the conditions inside your tunnel. A fan will also help as it allows circulation in your nursery. This should be connected with a carbon channel to help dispel the distinctive and pungent cannabis spell from the depleted air. In addition to eliminating excess heat, these ventilation systems will also help manage and correct the humidity levels. It is advisable to visit your tunnels frequently and watch out for signs of overheating and excess dampness.
When deciding to start growing cannabis in a polytunnel, there are several things you need to keep in mind to ensure that you will enjoy a bountiful harvest way ahead of others. Many polytunnel cultivators swear on the structure’s ability to achieve good yields. And you can see an explosion of these types of gardeners as more and more people grow weed in their balconies or cabinets in a polytunnel.
