Steps needed to provide ideal year-round levels of humidity, temperature, and other environmental factors vary dramatically depending on the condition and location of a cultivation operation. With “humidity control” cited as a leading cultivation challenge by 29% of study participants, it remains a primary concern for growers. Results from the 2022 “State of the Growing Environment” study showed that 97% of research participants control humidity within their growing environment in one or more ways.
“Stand-alone dehumidification” (52%) was reported as the most widely used method of humidity control. “Ventilation”—the leading method in 2020’s study—was cited by 43% of growers this year, down 12 percentage points from two years ago. Use of “air conditioning” (36%) also dropped among research participants, down 15 percentage points from 2020. Of growers controlling humidity, 34% of 2022 study participants reported using integrated heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and dehumidification (HVACD) in their grows.
Though 11% of research participants reported “no airflow layout” in their grows, more cultivators appear to be turning to experts as airflow’s significance in optimal growing environments becomes better understood.
When configuring the airflow layouts in their growing facilities, 47% of study participants note their primary resources were “engineer/contractor,” up 18 percentage points from 2020. In addition, 34% of the participants in this year’s study cited “manufacturers’ recommendations” as a resource, also an 18-percentage-point increase from 2020. “Anecdotal expertise”—cited as the leading airflow layout resource two years ago—remained relatively unchanged at 39%, up 2 percentage points from CBT’s first “State of the Growing Environment” report in 2020.
Though 12% of this year’s study participants cited “water quality” as one of their greatest cultivation challenges, one-fourth of research participants indicated they “do not have any water filtration system.” Study participants currently using water filtration systems in their cultivation operations reported “reverse osmosis” (50%) as the most commonly used system. Other leading methods include “carbon for dechlorination” (24%) and “UV sterilization” (18%).
About the Research and Participants
Cannabis Business Times worked with third-party researcher Readex Research to conduct the study and compile the data for the 2022 “State of the Growing Environment” report. Cannabis Business Times sent the study questionnaire to subscribers with known email addresses and/or e-newsletter subscribers located in the United States and Canada in January 2022.
Unless otherwise noted, 2022 results are based on the 119 research participants who indicated they currently own or work for a licensed cultivation operation in the U.S. or Canada that cultivates and offers for sale cannabis grown indoors and/or in a greenhouse growing environment. This year’s study participants represent 34 states, one Pacific territory, and Canada.
Past comparative results used in this report are based on 108 cultivators who participated in CBT’s first “State of the Growing Environment” report in 2020 and indicated they owned or worked for a licensed U.S. or Canadian operation that commercially grew cannabis in an indoor and/or greenhouse growing environment.
The margin of error for percentages based on the 119 research participants in the 2022 study is approximately ±8.9 percentage points at the 95% confidence level.
