The Importance of CO₂ and Trichome Production for a Healthy Harvest
CO₂ is known to increase trichome production, which is paramount for a healthy harvest. Specifically, CO₂ is essential for the production of the oils in the cannabis flowers where the highly desirable cannabinoids preside.
At Polysprout, we produce CO₂ enrichment tubing, which is designed to leverage the power of CO₂. Our enrichment tubing increases growth rates and yields, undoubtedly increasing your profit margins.
Our custom-engineered tubing with pre-punched holes is designed for a cannabis agricultural facility.
Through the use of our enrichment tubing, you can increase your yield by producing stronger, sturdier plants with thicker stems and larger leaves.
CO₂ is the Life Blood of Plants
Fresh air is the lifeblood of all living things, and the cannabis flower is no exception.
In nature, plants extract CO₂ from the atmosphere through pores called stomata (singular: stoma) on the undersides of leaves to absorb carbon dioxide from the air. Light is then absorbed by the plants, which creates the energy needed for your plants to grow.
This process is called photosynthesis, which begins as the plant uses CO₂ in conjunction with sunlight to produce both sugar and oxygen. The plant uses sugar to grow while the oxygen is released back into the atmosphere so we can breathe.
The challenge becomes in duplicating this delicate balance of CO₂ and light that occurs naturally. In an agricultural facility, this process needs to be produced artificially, which can be very difficult.
Producing the perfect CO₂ and light combinations for your cannabis production is a science that is mastered by horticulturists.
However, the experts at Polysprout can help you have a “greener thumb” and produce the ideal mix of CO₂ and light. Polysprout has over two decades of experience and success in producing better yields for a large variety of agricultural products.
For the cannabis industry, Polysprout has designed CO₂ systems to create the perfect synergy of CO₂ and light.
This synergy allows your plants to produce more energy and grow faster. Before determining what system will be best for your facility, though, there are a few considerations and preparations to understand.
The Benefits of a CO₂ System
The benefits of CO₂ in a grow space are well known, but the amount of CO₂ needed is a more complicated equation.
As a novice grower or budding producer on a tight budget, there are a variety of ways you can increase your yields before investing in a CO₂ system.
Start with the basics, which require a secure and sealed grow space. This helps to prevent or treat mould or pest infestations. Also needed is an adequate high-powered lighting system. Polysprout experts recommend using LED lights or investing in an MHor HPS setup.
Addressing potential nutrient deficiencies should also be considered and overcome before investing in any expensive equipment. Air quality is vital, as stagnant air can form a vapour barrier on the surface of leaves, which can inhibit the intake of carbon dioxide.
Finally, basic pot growing 101 requires maintaining a grow room’s temperature between 85 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit (or 29.44 and 35 degrees Celsius).
It is essential that humidity levels are at 70% during the vegetative stage, and 60% is recommended in the flowering stage.
Any infrastructure that you purchase will be meaningless unless you start with a premium-grade bud. Equally important is using the right nutrients and setting up a perfectly sealed growing space.
Once you have all this in place, you will be ready to try and increase your yields and consider investing in a CO₂ system.
Our engineered CO₂ tubing can be custom-manufactured to your specific plant and growing requirements. The holes are punched clean to ensure the proper flow and distribution of the CO₂.
The Pros and Cons of Using CO₂ Systems for Cannabis
The pros and cons of a CO₂ system are not a consideration for the novice grower. As mentioned, going back to the basics is your best first step. Only experienced growers who have overcome the typical pitfalls will benefit from the investment.
If you have all the basics nailed down and have graduated to being a professional bud producer, then keep reading to learn about how CO₂ can increase cannabis yields.
The Pros
You already know and understand the benefits, but here are some quick tips:
- Faster growth and a bigger yield: The right levels of CO₂ could provide a more than 20% boost to your yield, and may also increase the growth rate by a similar amount.
- Security and sealing: With a properly sealed room, CO₂ can provide a security boost, as it will cover up the tell-tale weed scents, thus making your facility more secure.
The Cons
Price points are the only problem; more specifically:
- The process of injecting CO₂ into a grow room can be costly. That being said, the start-up costs are worthwhile if you are running a massive operation. The loss of crop far outweighs the cost of prevention.
Quick Tips for Beautiful Buds
- Increase CO₂ levels using air-cooled lights with glass inserts. Some estimates indicate that up to 50% of the heat is lost from lights without a proper seal.
- Ensure that the relative humidity level is around 50% to protect the
- Purchase dehumidifiers and recirculating air conditioners as opposed to exhaust fans that end up wasting CO₂.
- Oscillating fans are a sound investment because they improve air movement instead of just circulating the air.
- Try adding humic and fulvic additives, as they boost the absorption of iron and several other elements and important nutrients.
- Providing all the essential elements is the key to optimizing plant growth. Equally important is balancing the proportion of elements provided to cannabis so plants remain healthy.
- Finally, increase the ratio of ammonium to nitrate in your fertilizer. When CO₂ levels are high, plants don’t assimilate as much nitrate-nitrogen, but they use nitrogen’s ammonium form efficiently.
Speak to our team at Polysprout today to learn more about the products available in order to protect your high-value cannabis harvest.