By Max Sargent


A vertical cultivation system might sound like the stuff of sci-fi, but it is real. Moreover, not only is it real, but it can be an incredibly efficient way to grow cannabis, maximising the amount that can be grown in a given space.

Though efficient, the vertical cultivation of cannabis can be considerably more complex than horizontal farming, and should be properly thought out before being attempted.

In this article, we explore different methods of vertical cannabis cultivation, and then provide some tips for those looking to try it themselves.

What Is Vertical Farming?

Vertical farming is the practice of not only using horizontal space in which to cultivate crops, but vertical space too. When you’re working with several metres cubed, you have a really large space to work with compared to working in the same area on a horizontal plane.

A vertical grow system is about fitting as much as possible into the space available to you. Ultimately, this leads to a greater yield per metre cubed.

Difference between horizontal and vertical farming in Hydroponics System
Difference between horizontal and vertical farming in Hydroponics System

What Are the Benefits of Vertical Farming for Cannabis?

Vertical cannabis grow systems allow growers to harvest much more bud from their space come harvest time. Really, this is the only significant benefit that vertical cannabis farming has over traditional horizontal methods of farming.

But if you have the space and want the yield, you shouldn’t underestimate how much of a benefit this is. In a small space, growers should at least be able to double their overall yield. And if you have a grow area with significant vertical space (say, where you can fit three or more plants) then you can achieve monstrous yields compared to if you stuck to the ground.

Depending on which vertical methods you employ, you might see other benefits too. For instance, if you grow in a tower setup, then you will have a shortened vegetative phase, which means you can fit more crop cycles into a year. Second, as this is a hydroponic (or aeroponic) growing method, you can mist nutrients directly onto the roots, which is more efficient than feeding plants in soil.

What Are the Cons of Vertical Farming for Cannabis?

For many people, the cons may outweigh the benefits of a vertical system. While vertical systems allow growers to raise huge amounts of weed, it is much more hands-on and time-consuming compared to growing on the ground in soil.

One major downside of a vertical system is that they tend to take up a lot of space—which many people might not have.

Moreover, a tower system is a fairly technical hydro setup that requires a lot of work and care—and is liable to go very wrong if you make a mistake. However, a stacked vertical grow mitigates some of these issues.

Finally, lighting can be an issue if growing vertically. As higher plants will block overhead light, growers must use vertical light tubes to light all of their plants. As well as being more specialist and expensive, these are a whole new piece of kit. Those considering a vertical grow probably have at least a few harvests under their belts, which means they likely already own lights. A vertical grow will mean investing in a brand new setup.

Two Types of Vertical Growing Techniques for Cannabis

Though there are variations of each, there are two general ways to set up a vertical cannabis grow-op. One essentially stacks horizontal grows on top of one another (and is the simpler method), while the second embraces true verticality.

Stacked Vertical Growing Systems

A stacked setup involves creating a shelving system. Each shelf will hold cannabis plants, and the number of shelves will be determined by the height of your room and the final intended size of your plants.

This method is much more akin to normal growing, and can even be used alongside pots and soil. Given this, it’s the natural first step for those looking to get into vertical growing.

As you can’t hang lights with this method, you’ll need to buy vertical light tubes, which illuminate your plants from the sides. A benefit of this is that it’s easier to get even light coverage across an entire plant, rather than it being concentrated at the top.

Although this method can be kept rather basic, it certainly lends itself to at least a degree of automation—such as an automatic watering system. This is because you’re likely to have a fair amount of plants, and accessing them all could be difficult.

Vertical Cannabis Cultivation
Vertical Cannabis Cultivation

True Vertical Growing Systems

A true vertical grow, or tower grow, utilises a tall cylinder from which the plants grow. With this method, the plants are held on the side of the cylinder, and grow upward from there.

In almost all cases, this will be either a hydroponic or aeroponic setup, and will require the requisite care and attention.

Though expensive and complex to get started with, a tower grow can offer a very efficient means of growing, in terms of space. Once again, vertical lighting will be necessary if you choose to use this grow setup.

Vertical Cannabis Cultivation
Vertical Cannabis Cultivation

How to Vertically Cultivate Cannabis

Now that you know the two basic systems, we’ll give some pointers on how best to achieve good results if you choose to pursue this growing method.

Choose the Right Strain

Since you want to maximise your space and grow as many plants as possible with a preferably even canopy, the first important consideration is the type of strain you want to grow.

As with SOG setups, indica-dominant or hybrid strains are suited better for this growing style than tall sativas. You want short-growing, non-stretchy plants that don't overgrow their given space. Also, the flowering phase should be initiated as soon as possible to keep their height manageable. Furthermore, it is a good idea to opt for strains that are resistant to diseases, as they pose a common threat in vertical grows.

Plan Your Grow Room Accordingly

By this, we mean leave enough space around the racks for plumbing, air movement, and worker access. Of course, you want to maximise your yield and pack as many plants into a room as possible, but you should not forget that the room needs to be functional for you as a grower as well.

That means the grow trays must be removed regularly for cleaning and replacing purposes. If you don't leave enough space for these kinds of grower tasks, your vertical grow can become frustrating very quickly.

Pick the Correct Lighting System

You want a light that can penetrate your whole canopy evenly and at a close distance. While there exist several options for said lights, the best are definitely LED lights due to the very low amount of heat they emit. LEDs have the best light spectrum options (oftentimes adjustable) for the different growing phases of cannabis, and are just as powerful as other light sources. Sure, the initial cost is usually higher compared to HPS or MH lights, but LEDs are much more cost-effective in the long-run, saving you a pretty penny on your energy bill.

On top of that, as mentioned, you’ll need to choose lights that come as a vertical tube in order to achieve even coverage of all your plants.

Keep Your Water System Clean

As with all automated watering systems, reservoirs and pipes should always be kept clean to avoid the risk of salt buildup and the formation of bacteria. Moreover, you should replace all of the plumbing between the reservoir and spigots every few cycles to ensure a clean delivery of nutrients.

Additionally, you should plan how to manage your wastewater. Most of the time, floor drains will suffice to collect any runoff, but sometimes your setup may require pumps and holding tanks for the runoff. This point is often overlooked because it can be quite costly, but if you are unsure what watering system you should implement, get help from an experienced plumber that you trust.

Start Simple

If you've never done a vertical grow before, it is best to start slow and simple; you can always extend your operation later.

Using two tiers in the beginning should be enough to keep you busy. Usually, if you use more than two tiers, the grow will become much more difficult in terms of design and functionality. Three or more tiers will complicate your vertical grow and require much more advanced—and therefore costly—cooling and ventilation equipment. Finally, keeping it simple at first will ensure a much safer growing and working environment so that you can get the most out of your operation.

Should You Try Vertical Cannabis Cultivation?

There are two types of growers who should consider trying vertical growing: those who have mastered horizontal growing and want even bigger yields, and those who are fascinated by cultivation and want an extra challenge.

Whatever your reason, it’s important to be aware that, in most cases, adding verticality to your grow will make it a much more complex operation, and as such it will probably be more hassle than it’s worth, unless you already have some experience under your belt.

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Privacy Policy - Royal Queen Seeds

To ensure a safe online environment and guarantee adequate data protection, we strictly comply with all legal requirements. In this privacy statement, we provide information about how and for what purpose data is collected, safety measures, storage periods and contact details.


COMPANY NAME: SNORKEL SPAIN, SL (hereinafter ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS)

C/ Vilar d'Abdelà, 5 (nave 1) CP: 08170 de Montornès del Vallès

+34 937 379 846

support@royalqueenseeds.com


The present Privacy Policy sets out the terms on which we will treat personal data at ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS; this includes any personal data collected through our website https://www.royalqueenseeds.com/ as well as any other data we process in the course of our business activities.

ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS collects the following personal data for the purposes listed below:

SECTION 1 – PERSONAL INFORMATION WE COLLECT

1.1 Account purchases

Account purchases can only be made if you are in possession of a personal account. When you create an account or purchase something from our shop, as part of the buying and selling process we collect the following personal information that you provide to us:

This information is required for delivery. In addition, when you browse our shop, we automatically receive the Internet Protocol (IP) address of your computer. Based on this information, we can optimise your online experience and at the same time protect our online environment.

Purpose of data collection

We collect and store account-related data for the following purposes:

(a) to carry out obligations arising from any contracts between you and us, and to provide you with information, products and services that you may request from us;

(b) to set up, manage and communicate with you about your account and your orders;

(c) to conduct market research and analysis;

(d) to confirm your age and identity, and to detect and prevent fraud.

1.2 Newsletters

With your explicit permission, we may send you newsletters about our shop, new products and other updates. We send newsletters based on your explicit consent. In the event that you purchase a product, and in accordance with current regulations, we may send you commercial communications in accordance with the legitimate interest of our company, always about products or services similar to those you have purchased or contracted. In any case, you may exercise your right of opposition through the channels announced in this Privacy Policy. The following information is collected in relation to the newsletter:

We do not need to know the sex of the person in order to send the newsletter (data minimisation: by law we must ask for data that is strictly necessary to provide the service, and in this case knowing the sex is not necessary to send the newsletter).

Purpose of data collection

The data collected is used to:

(a) personalise our emails, including your name and gender;

(b) provide gender-specific content.

You can withdraw your consent at any time by using the link provided in the newsletter or the contact information provided in section 2.

1.3 Customer service and contact form

In order to provide appropriate support, our customer service employees have access to information related to the account. Consequently, their support will be highly effective and friendly. The data provided in our contact form is used by our CRM provider, SuperOffice. We will only use your details to respond to your message.

SECTION 2 – LEGITIMATE INTEREST

If you have purchased any of our products, please note that we may process your personal data for promotional purposes, based on Royal Queen Seeds' legitimate interest only to offer you products or services from our company and about products or services similar to those you have purchased. You may exercise your right to opt out of future messages by the means set out in this Privacy Policy or through any notification you receive.

2.1 How do you withdraw consent?

If you change your mind, you can withdraw your consent for us to contact you for the purpose of collecting, using, or disclosing your data at any time by reaching out to us at: support@royalqueenseeds.com.

SECTION 3 – DISCLOSURE

We may disclose your personal information if we are required to do so by law or if you breach our Terms of Service.

SECTION 4 – HOW LONG DO WE KEEP YOUR DATA?

At Royal Queen Seeds, we will not retain your data for longer than is necessary for the purposes described in this Policy. Different retention periods apply for different types of data; however, the longest period we will normally hold any personal data is 10 years.

4.1 Account information

Data relating to the account remains relevant for as long as the consumer is in possession of an account. Therefore, the data remains documented for as long as the account exists. When our customers delete an account, the associated data will be deleted within a reasonable period of time. Requests regarding the inspection or correction of stored personal data or the deletion of an account can be sent to support@royalqueenseeds.com.

4.2 Newsletters

In the event that you give us your consent to inform you about our products or services, we will keep your data until you express your wish not to receive any further communications from us. However, we regularly (every month) carry out a relevance check. Registered customers (and their personal information) will be deleted whenever customers do not reply to our request. In addition, our newsletter mailing has an opt-out feature. Consumers can withdraw their consent by using this opt-out feature.

SECTION 5 – COOKIES

Cookies are small information files that notify your computer of previous interactions with our website. These cookies are stored on your hard drive, not on our website. Essentially, when you use our website, your computer displays its cookies to us, informing our site that you have visited before. This allows our website to function more quickly and remember aspects related to your previous visits (such as your username), making your experience more convenient. At Royal Queen Seeds, we use two types of cookies: functional and analytical.

5.1 Functional Cookies

Functional cookies are used to enhance your online experience. Among other things, these cookies track what is added to your shopping cart. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

5.2 Analytical Cookies

Analytical cookies are used for research and market analysis. The data collected with these analytical cookies is anonymous, making it unusable for third parties. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

SECTION 5 – THIRD-PARTY SERVICES

Third-party services are required to conduct transactions and provide our services. In general, the third-party providers we use will only collect, use and disclose your information to the extent necessary to enable them to perform the services they provide to us.

However, certain third-party service providers, such as payment gateways and other payment transaction processors, have their own privacy policies regarding the information we must provide to them for your transactions.

We encourage you to read the privacy policies of these providers so that you can understand how these providers will handle your personal information.

In particular, certain suppliers may be located or have facilities located in a different jurisdiction than yours or ours. Therefore, if you choose to proceed with a transaction involving the services of a third party, your information may be subject to the laws of the jurisdiction in which that service provider or its facilities are located.

Once you leave our website or are redirected to a third-party website or application, you are no longer governed by this Privacy Policy or the Terms of Service of our website.

Web analytics service (anonymous data)

On this website we have integrated an element of a web analytics service (with anonymisation functionality). Web analytics can be defined as the gathering, processing and analysis of data about the behaviour of visitors to websites. An analytics service collects, among other things, data about which website a person came from (the so-called referrer), which sub-pages they visited or how often and for how long they visited a sub-page. Web analytics is mainly used for website optimisation and for a cost–benefit analysis of internet advertising.

Courier service

To complete deliveries we use a courier service. This courier service carries out the delivery between our company and the consumer's home. To complete these logistics, the company requires access to the consumer's name and address information.

Mailing service

Royal Queen Seeds uses a third-party mail service provider to send its newsletter. This provider has access to limited account information related to opt-in consent (e.g. email address).

Marketing services

Royal Queen Seeds has the support of a company that specialises in marketing and communication activities. Their access to personal information is very limited and mostly anonymous.

Payment services

At Royal Queen Seeds we use external payment services to handle our transactions (e.g. credit card payments).

SECTION 6 – SECURITY

To protect your personal information, we take reasonable precautions and follow industry standard best practices to ensure that it is not inappropriately lost, misused, accessed, disclosed, altered or destroyed.

If you provide us with your credit card information, the information is encrypted using secure socket layer technology (SSL) and stored using AES-256 encryption. Although no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure, we follow all PCI-DSS requirements and implement additional industry standards that are commonly accepted. Information related to the account is protected with a hashing method. This method transforms the information into a generated hash. As a result, confidential information is protected and invisible, even to us. In addition, our databases are exceptionally protected against unauthorised access. For example, access to the database is only possible and permitted via approved IP addresses (e.g. from Royal Queen Seeds headquarters). Other attempts and addresses are rejected at all times.

Furthermore, data is anonymised as much as possible, so it cannot be directly linked to a specific consumer. With this data, however, we may be able to carry out market research and analysis. In addition, the third parties concerned (e.g. mailing service) are examined prior to our collaboration, comply with the GDPR from the EU and receive a processing agreement. Within Royal Queen Seeds, employees are assigned different access permissions. Specific permission provides access only to information that is strictly required to perform a task. Digital security measures are subject to change and must meet high requirements to ensure the safety of online customers. That is why, at Royal Queen Seeds, we appoint a security officer. Regular verification and improvement of security measures (where necessary) are part of the role.

SECTION 7 – CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY

We reserve the right to modify this Privacy Policy at any time, so please check back regularly. Changes and clarifications will be effective immediately upon being published on the Website. If we make substantial changes to this policy, we will notify you here that it has been updated so you will know what information we collect, how we use it and under what circumstances, if any, we use and/or disclose it.

SECTION 8 – YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO: