Optimizing Crop Cycles - Getting more product for less time

Many growers ask about the process of optimizing grow cycles -- about how to get more out of a grow box or grow system by moving larger numbers of plant cycles through in a given time frame.

Doing this kind of work with crop cycles requires some particular resources and expertise, and it may or may not be the best way to go about starting out in hydroponics. But, for those who do want to start maximizing production this way, there are a number of common ways that growers accomplish this process.

Pushing Plant Cycles

One simple way to optimize crop cycles is to try to induce flowering in plants, to move them from the vegetative phase to the flowering phase of growth more quickly. This has to do with the plant’s trajectory towards maturity and harvest, and how plants respond to changes in their circadian rhythms and overall environment.

Growers can ‘push’ plants toward flowering by changing light and dark cycles, changing the relationship between oxygen and carbon dioxide in the space, or pursuing some types of chemical additions that can cause plants to develop. These are all ways of changing the time frame for hydroponics in a way that supports a small commercial hydroponic business or other goals.

Germinate outside the box

Another helpful tip is to have seeds germinating outside of the box during a given plant cycle. This way, growers don't have to try to rush plant maturity. Instead, they have a two-tiered system where they skip the long process of germination that takes lead time away from a crop cycle.

Germinating outside the box can be as easy as the paper towel method, where seeds are sprouted in between two layers of damp paper towels. With the right kind of attention to detail, this type of strategy can really help to get more crop cycles into the month or year.

Using Clones

Another way to speed up hydroponic cycles is to use small cuttings from existing plants or “clones.”

Cloning is now popular in some parts of the hydroponic industry. Growers know how to take the best cuttings from a plant and develop them to help them thrive and become mature plants.

Many grow boxes and grow spaces come with dedicated areas for clones and mother plants, in order to facilitate this kind of more sophisticated gardening. For more on how to do quick production and everything else in hydroponics, keep an eye on what manufacturers and retailers can offer you as you proceed towards your hydroponic goals.