Chlorine Dioxide and Odor Control: A Scientific Approach to Fresh Air

Every cannabis cultivator knows their plants thrive based on the quality of light, water, and nutrients they receive. However, another factor is just as important but far less visible: air quality. The air quality in indoor grow rooms can have a massive impact on the health and yield size of cannabis plants, but it’s a far more difficult factor to nail down and control. How can growers manage the air quality of their cannabis cultivation operations? What technological solutions are available for indoor grow rooms? The Importance of Indoor Air Quality for Healthy Cannabis Plants Like all other organisms, plants respirate . Though they might not breathe the way we do, they do take in carbon dioxide and release it alongside other chemicals. It only follows that the quality of the air that cannabis plants are exposed to will affect how they grow. Many common plant pathogens, including powdery mildew, spread primarily through the air . Managing indoor air quality in grow rooms will help to manage pests and pathogens like powdery mildew . When cannabis plants don’t have to contend with threats like mold, mildew, and other pests, they can focus their full energy on growing, which means larger plants, bigger yields, and higher profits. Beyond Plant Health: Protecting Workers with Effective Indoor Air Quality Solutions Cannabis plants aren’t the only beneficiaries of healthier indoor air. Cannabis cultivators, processors, and anyone spending considerable time in grow rooms will also benefit. Cleaner air means fewer pathogens and reduced mold and mildew spores in grow rooms. While most types of mold, including powdery mildew, pose no significant risk to humans, other types are dangerous. Additionally, long-term exposure to any type of mold or mildew can cause adverse reactions , especially in people with allergies or respiratory conditions. Working to maximize indoor air quality will also necessarily reduce odors in cannabis grow rooms . The strong smell of cannabis can be overwhelming or irritating over long periods of time, even for the most passionate cannabis cultivators. Reducing the odor of indoor cannabis cultivation operations by applying air quality solutions will help growers remain compliant and respectful of the surrounding community, too. The Impact of Poor Indoor Air Quality on Yields and Quality Low-quality indoor air, as well as its causes, can keep cannabis plants from reaching their full potential. Cannabis plants contending with low-quality air will produce smaller, lower-quality yields. Humidity Control: Maintaining Optimal Levels for Cannabis Cultivation A major component of indoor air quality is ambient humidity . Maintaining a proper humidity level in indoor grow facilities will improve air quality. Many pathogens, including common cannabis molds and mildews, thrive in environments with variable humidity. Ensuring the humidity level of your grow room remains consistent will go a long way to inhibiting the formation and growth of molds and mildew and, therefore, improving the indoor air quality of your grow room. Common grow room fixtures like fans, humidifiers, and dehumidifiers can help cannabis growers manage their grow rooms' humidity levels. Airborne Control: Advanced Technologies for Sanitizing Grow Room Air Air sanitization is another method that can help create healthier indoor air in grow rooms. With air sanitization, growers can clean the air itself and reduce pathogens and odors in indoor grow operations. Choosing the Right Indoor Air Quality Solution for Each Cannabis Grower The right indoor air quality solution for any given cannabis grow will depend on the cultivation facility's specific needs. In most cases, multiple technologies working together will provide the best solution. Ventilation and fans will keep the air moving, providing plants with constant airflow and preventing moisture buildup in pockets of excess humidity. Humidifiers add moisture to the air and are especially important in colder climates where growers must utilize heaters more extensively. Dehumidifiers remove moisture from the air and are often necessary in places with hot and humid climates. Air sanitizers clean the air itself to reduce pathogens and odors. Investing in Clean Air to Maximize Yields and Ensure a Sustainable Future Investing in air quality management technology will pay off for cannabis growers of every size. Cleaner indoor air means healthier, happier employees, ideal plant conditions and robust harvests. To find out how to begin improving the air quality in your indoor cannabis cultivation facility, contact Chorus today .

The cannabis industry is built on the idea of creating positive change. From policy changes and community improvement to future-facing growing solutions, cannabis professionals bring innovation to every corner of the industry. Cannabis cultivation technology is evolving, too. Chorus is developing innovative solutions to help cultivators maintain healthier grow rooms and higher-quality crops through pathogen control and pest management. Integrated Pest Management Plan Basics: What is IPM? Integrated pest management, or IPM, is a type of pest control methodology that considers organisms harmful to humans or human concerns’ life cycles and the environments in which they thrive. Using this information, IPM empowers cultivators to create environments that discourage pest proliferation and pathogen growth. IPM strongly emphasizes cost-effectiveness and environmental impact, seeking the most economical and safe solutions to common pest problems. Additionally, IPM embraces prevention over removing pests once they are present, resulting in a more minimal impact on plants, workers, and the environment. Why an Integrated Pest Management Plan Matters for Cannabis Cultivators IPM is an excellent choice to fulfill the unique needs of cannabis cultivators to maximize high-quality yields. Price is often the key consideration for cannabis cultivators; the sector typically operates on low margins , and saving money wherever possible is essential to continued success. IPM emphasizes economical methods and continuous pest prevention rather than outright treatment, ensuring predictably low costs compared to other pest-control strategies. Finally, cannabis products are meant to be consumed and enjoyed on every sensory level; consumers pay for top-shelf flavors and aromas. As such, it’s important to use pest-control techniques that have a minimal effect on the finished products. IPM emphasizes safe, non-toxic pest control methods to ensure a negligible impact on the taste, smell, and safety profile of the mature cannabis plants. This focus on safety is especially critical in medical cannabis cultivation. Key Components of an Effective IPM Cannabis Strategy IPM can seem more complicated than traditional pest-control methods; it requires more than just routinely spraying plants with noxious pesticides and fungicides. While this can make IPM seem intimidating initially, once you get started, this flexibility and utilization of unconventional methods become its greatest strengths. Proactive Pest Monitoring in Cannabis Cultivation The central principles of IPM are monitoring for pests and creating inhospitable environments for those that can harm crops, like powdery mildew and other types of mold. For an effective IPM strategy, cultivators need to proactively control for pests and pathogens through ongoing methods like entry and exit protocols, routine sanitization of surfaces and tools, and maintenance of air quality. Understanding What Species of Powdery Mildew Attacks Cannabis Plants There are more than 800 cataloged species of powdery mildew . Most plants are only susceptible to one or two of these species. Hemp and cannabis can be impacted by Golovinomyces ambrosiae and Podosphaera macularis , though there may be more. Implementing IPM to Prevent Powdery Mildew and Pathogen Growth Though there are only two known types of powdery mildew that affect cannabis plants, they can severely impact the quality and quantity of flower that a crop can produce. Cannabis cultivators must control this common pathogen. Powdery mildew is incredibly difficult to get rid of once it appears. Luckily, IPM strategies can help minimize its spread and even keep it from appearing in the first place. IPM for Cannabis: Tools and Techniques for Success Cannabis cultivators can leverage many different IPM techniques to manage, control, and minimize the presence of pests and pathogens in their grow rooms. Entry and Exit Protocols. Maintaining strict cleanliness standards for workers entering and exiting indoor grow rooms can help to prevent the introduction of germs and the spread of pathogens. Maintaining a Consistent Grow Room Environment. Temperature and humidity fluctuations create the ideal environment for powdery mildew to grow. An air quality monitoring system can help maintain consistent temperature, humidity, and airflow to create and sustain an inhospitable environment for pests. Regular Cleaning and Disinfection: Consistently sanitizing grow room surfaces and tools can help minimize the spread of pests and pathogens by removing bacteria. Air Sanitization Technology. Many pests and pathogens, including powdery mildew, spread through the air. Clean air is essential to IPM and critical for growing healthy cannabis plants. Creating a Customized Integrated Pest Management Plan for Your Grow Room Integrated pest management is the best way to ensure a cost-effective, healthy, and pest- and pathogen-free cannabis cultivation facility. Chorus creates and maintains healthier indoor spaces in cannabis cultivation facilities. Our innovative products are designed to complete any cannabis IPM strategy. Contact us today to learn more about our technology in development.

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