2022 Buyers Guide Indoor Grow - 35

MJBizDaily Buyers Guide Indoor Cultivation
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CONSIDERING THE SUPPLY CHAIN
AND AUTOMATION
The COVID-19 pandemic threw an enormous wrench into the international supply chain and
impacted countless industries around the globe-and the U.S. cannabis industry was no exception.
As mentioned on MJBizDaily, the pandemic revealed the fragility in the cannabis supply chain,
from vape device hardware to retail packaging to grow mediums. The impact felt by the industry
forced companies to reexamine how they source supplies, with a new emphasis on stocking up
months in advance.
" In a world where supply chain is a question mark, we would recommend that you have enough
inventory of growing media to finish a complete run inclusive of all rooms along with an additional
45-day supply of safety stock, " said Matt Durst, director of growing media and nutrients at
Hawthorne Gardening Co. " I would personally feel more comfortable if I had the full 90 days (or full
cycle) or a complete second cycle worth of growing media on hand at all times. "
Of course, keeping more inventory on hand will require more storage capacity within the facility.
Durst recommends keeping the extra supplies indoors and ideally in a space that can be kept at
room temperature.
" Ensuring that your media stays protected from the elements and free of contaminants is critical to
the success of your grow, " he added.
PLANNING AHEAD
In the case of living soil, soilless mixes and hydroponics, urgency of delivery and ability to adapt to
long-term storage will vary depending on the type of medium a cultivator uses.
Av Singh, a cultivation consultant at Flemming & Singh Cannabis and chief science officer at CBD
brand Green Gorilla, recommended securing contracts for growing media up to a year or longer.
" Ideally, a (just in time) delivery will work for rockwool and soilless mixes, while LSO media often
requires a couple of weeks to acclimate to the desired growing conditions. With adequate notice,
the transition from rockwool to a soilless mix is doable with appropriate technical support. "
Even if a cultivator is somehow able to adapt and quickly pivot and change their medium of choice,
which would also require them to adjust their entire operation, there are still no guarantees when it
comes to the massive global supply chain.
" Input suppliers making living soils or soilless mixes have pivoted all too frequently in the past two
years-and even more as gas prices increase, " Singh said. " These changes can have an impact on
plant growth, and growers must recognize the changes and adjust. Some peat moss suppliers have
dropped all cannabis clients in favor of maintaining a committed supply to horticulture customers.
Delays in perlite have forced some soilless media manufacturers to turn to wood pellets or coco
chunks to increase aeration. "
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2022 Buyers Guide Indoor Grow

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