What Is the Right Canopy Density for Greenhouse Cannabis?

Posted by Brian Sparks|February 24, 2022

Phylos and its research and cultivation partner Progressive Plant Research (PPR) have announced the results of a day-neutral cannabis density trial. The purpose of the study was to establish the effect of plant density on biomass, extraction yield, cannabinoids, terpenes, and other traits. Findings from the study highlight how optimizing density treatments can improve crop yield, efficiency, and sustainability, as well as answer the question of how dense the canopy should be to maximize yield and profit from production.

Five different density treatments were evaluated using two different pot sizes (1 gallon and 2 gallon) resulting in a sample size of more than 1,000 plants and the collection of more than 9,200 data points for evaluation.

“The density trial demonstrates a huge economic advantage achieved from a high-density production treatment,” says John McFerson, Vice President of Breeding at Phylos, a cannabis genetics company. “Our growers seek maximum profitability for their production environments and can be assured that Phylos releases only the highest performers with robust ability to perform under a range of real grower conditions.”

Data from the study, which was conducted using two varieties of Phylos’ recently introduced day-neutral cannabis genetics, suggests that:

Phylos varieties grown in 2-gallon pots at the highest density (0.5 square feet/plant spacing) produced more flower biomass and more flower extract yield per unit area. With this treatment, growers can fit 20,000 plants in a 10,000 square-foot production space.
Lower density treatments produced a higher percentage of Grade A flower and can capture a higher price point as top-shelf dispensary flower.
Plants in 2-gallon pots produced taller, wider plants with larger individual flowers.
Cannabinoid content (total THC, minor cannabinoids, and terpenes) remained consistent between all density treatments.
Growing at higher densities maximize the usage of production inputs, including electricity, nutrient, and water requirements.

By arming themselves with information like Phylos’ density trial results, commercial cannabis and hemp growers are better positioned to optimize their grow operations in terms of both profitability and sustainability.