Grow Smarter with These Automated Tools for Home Growers

Discover how automation is revolutionizing indoor gardening. From smart lighting to automated watering systems, these innovative tools enhance your yields, simplify plant maintenance, and deliver professional-grade results in your home. Whether you’re a seasoned grower or a newbie, embracing technology can make gardening more enjoyable, efficient, and productive. Dive into the world of smart cultivation and transform your garden!

The Rise of Automation

Home growers are increasingly adopting cutting-edge technology to enhance their yield potential. Precision tools and automated systems not only save time but also maintain optimal growing conditions, resulting in healthy plants and impressive harvests. With data tracking, growers can easily monitor temperature, humidity, and nutrient levels remotely, simplifying the cultivation process and setting the stage for a successful gardening journey.

Regarding larger commercial operations, Aurora Cannabis has embraced automation, exemplified by the Aurora Sky facility in Alberta, which spans 800,000 square feet. The facility employs advanced automated systems for climate control, lighting, and irrigation, significantly enhancing cultivation efficiency. Additionally, computerized monitoring continually assesses environmental conditions and continuously monitors plant growth.

PurpleFarm from Canada has revolutionized its growing facility by integrating Neatleaf’s AI-powered robotic platform, Spyder, into its 86,000-square-foot indoor space. This advanced technology continuously scans the canopy, monitoring plant height, leaf color, microclimates, and pest presence around the clock. Since adopting Spyder, PURPLEFARM has achieved a remarkable 20% increase in yields, improved pest detection, and harvest forecasting.

Core Automation Tools Worth the Investment

Investing in the right core automation tools can revolutionize your workflow and boost productivity. In this section, we’ll explore the most valuable tools worth investing in, helping you streamline processes and achieve unprecedented efficiency.

Smart Grow Lights

Smart LED grow lights are ideal for indoor cannabis cultivation because they provide tailored light spectrums that promote healthy plant growth and maximize yield in small spaces. They are energy-efficient and produce less heat, reducing the need for extensive cooling systems. Their adjustable settings enable growers to simulate natural sunlight, ensuring optimal conditions for the flowering and vegetative stages. They’re also cost-effective solutions and consistent.

Photo: Spider

The Spider Farmer SE3000 is a cutting-edge horticultural device designed for modern growers. It features smart Wi-Fi and Bluetooth controls, allowing remote management via the app. Its natural sunrise and sunset simulations promote healthy growth by mimicking outdoor conditions. Equipped with high-efficiency Samsung diodes, the system ensures energy savings and deep light penetration, suitable for small and large-scale cultivation.

Environmental Control Systems (Temperature & Humidity)

Smart-controlled AC units and dehumidification systems are highly recommended for climate management. These systems effectively regulate temperature and relative humidity, typically maintaining a range of 72-79°F during vegetative growth and 68-75°F during flowering, which promotes increased trichome development. Relative humidity is maintained between 30% and 70%, due to the increased biomass during flowering, reducing the risk of botrytis.

Photo: AC Infinity

The AC Infinity Controller 69 PRO offers comprehensive climate control over your cannabis plants, smoothly managing inline fans, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, and lights via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. With dual digital probes for temperature and humidity, it offers innovative features such as real-time monitoring and remote control via a mobile app. Perfect for home and hobbyist growers, it delivers hands-free climate management to promote healthier plants.

Automated Watering Systems

Automated watering systems, including drip systems, timers, and gravity-fed setups, are ideal for medium to large grows. These systems ensure consistent hydration, reducing the risk of overwatering or underwatering while saving time and effort. By delivering the correct amount of water directly to the root zone, they promote healthy root development and larger yields, allowing growers to focus on other aspects of cultivation without manual watering.

Photo: AutoPot

The AutoPot Smart Series comprises gravity-fed, self-watering cultivator systems designed for both amateur and professional horticulturists. Equipped with advanced Smart-Valves, these containers optimize moisture cycles autonomously, eliminating the need for external reservoirs. Available models, such as the Easy2Grow and 4Pot System, are particularly well-suited for confined indoor environments, ensuring consistent and controllable hydration.

pH and EC Sensors

pH and EC sensors are optimizing cannabis growth by monitoring nutrient availability. The pH sensor measures acidity or alkalinity, ensuring nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are available within the ideal pH range of 6.0-7.0. The EC sensor gauges the nutrient concentration. Together, they provide real-time data, helping growers maintain ideal conditions to promote healthy growth, maximize yields, and improve cannabis quality.

Photo: Bluelab

The Bluelab pH Controller Wi-Fi revolutionizes hydroponic setups by automating pH level management. With its built-in pump, it makes precise adjustments within 0.1 pH, ensuring optimal conditions for growth and development. Connect to the app for remote monitoring and control, while the Automatic Temperature Compensation feature guarantees accurate readings. Simply set your desired pH level, and let the controller handle the rest.

Beyond Basics: The Smartest Tools for Experienced Growers

While not every grower may see these tools as essential, they can definitely elevate your cultivation to new levels. Whether you’re an experienced grower or just starting, these automated tools can turn routine tasks into exciting growth opportunities. Let’s explore the smartest tools that could transform your growing experience and unlock your full potential.

Smart Cameras

Smart cameras equipped with advanced sensor technology enable farmers to monitor crop health in real-time. These devices can detect early indicators of pest infestations, fungal infections, and nutrient deficiencies through high-resolution imaging and spectral analysis. By providing precise data, farmers can implement targeted interventions, such as optimized pesticide use, nutrient application, and environmental adjustments, enhancing crop yields.

Photo: Wyze

The Wyze Cam V3 is a high-resolution surveillance device equipped with 1080p HD video streaming, designed specifically for indoor cultivation environments. It features advanced color night vision, a weather-resistant casing suitable for high-humidity settings, and intelligent motion and time-lapse functionalities. These features facilitate early detection of pests or mold, enabling real-time monitoring of plant health and environmental conditions.

AI Monitoring

AI-based monitoring systems have revolutionized environmental management in controlled-environment agriculture by continuously tracking key parameters, including temperature, humidity, photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), and CO2 levels. Utilizing advanced algorithms, these systems provide real-time data that enables precise adjustments, optimizing conditions for plant growth and development within controlled environments.

Photo: AC Infinity

The AC Infinity Controller AI+ is a game-changer for home growers, providing precise control over key environmental conditions, including temperature, humidity, VPD, and light intensity. It simplifies managing multiple devices such as humidifiers, dehumidifiers, and AC units, ensuring optimal growing conditions. Users appreciate its convenience, which helps them maintain ideal environments effortlessly, resulting in healthier plants and larger yields.

Automated Grow Tents

Automated grow tents are an excellent investment for beginners aiming to simplify the cultivation process. Although the upfront cost might be high, these advanced systems offer precise climate control and management, making it easier for everyone to achieve a large harvest. While there may be a learning curve for newcomers, these tents can also be suited for experienced growers who can fully utilize their features for an efficient and XL harvest.

Photo: AC Infinity

The Advanced Grow Tent Series by AC Infinity features real-time environmental monitoring, which detects fluctuations in climate parameters. Encased within a high-density 2000D Mylar enclosure for enhanced durability and light reflectivity, the system features smart connectivity via a dedicated mobile application for remote operation. It is equipped with an inline exhaust fan, activated carbon filtration, and full-spectrum LEDs, designed to enhance plant growth.

App-Connected Nutrient Dispensers

App-connected nutrient dispensers automate the delivery of nutrients to plants via your smartphone, enhancing convenience for growers. However, reliability issues can lead to concerns about over- or under-dosing. While small-scale home growers might find that these systems offer low returns on investment, they can be more practical for commercial growers compared to traditional nutrient management methods, streamlining the cultivation process.

Photo: Growee

The Growee Smart Nutrient Doser revolutionizes nutrient management for home growers using hydroponics or automated feeding systems. Featuring Wi-Fi and LAN connectivity, this innovative system utilizes two peristaltic pumps to automatically adjust nutrient dosing, ensuring precise EC/TDS levels. The Growee app enables remote monitoring and control, while intelligent algorithms ensure balanced nutrient delivery throughout the entire cycle.

The Future of Automation in Cannabis Cultivation

Automation can significantly enhance your efficiency and yield impressive results. However, not every tool is suitable for everyone. It’s helpful to understand your goals and select your equipment wisely. As technology continues to advance, the future looks promising, with XL yields becoming more accessible and easier than ever. With the right tools and knowledge, you can improve your gardening skills and reap the benefits of automated technology today.