From trial and error to informed execution

In the early days of commercial cannabis, around 2013–2014, the industry was filled with ambition but short on horticultural know-how. "Many growers didn't realize how complex a growing facility needed to be," says Andrew Van Geest, from AdeptAg. "They just weren't fully aware of how a large-scale horticultural production should look like."

Now that more than a decade has passed, the landscape has definitely changed. Cannabis growers now are more educated and informed, especially with regards to having clear expectations and what it takes to meet certain production goal. "We used to have many conversations with growers to better understand what they had in mind, and more often than not those were unrealistic ideas. Now, more customers come to us knowing what they want, or at least knowing what questions to ask."

© AdeptAg

Better questions, better build
For AdeptAg, a solid project starts with a clear strategy. "If someone says they want to build a 3,000-square-meter facility in six months but doesn't have real estate or permits yet, that's a red flag," Andrew says. "But when a grower has a location, permits, and a clear product vision, that's when we can really add value. Whether they're going for boutique flower or high-volume extraction."

In other words, it's crucial for growers to focus on the fundamentals. "They need to know who they want to be, what kind of product they want to grow, and how much control they want over their cultivation process. That clarity helps guide decisions on irrigation, benching, and controls," he points out.

Integration over fragmentation
"Too many projects still start with a general contractor and a dream," he notes. "They bring in different vendors for everything, lighting, irrigation, automation, and then spend months trying to get those systems to talk to each other." By contrast, AdeptAg offers integrated solutions, handling irrigation, crop handling, benching, and controls in-house. That approach ensures system compatibility and consistency across the board. "We're seeing more growers value that kind of integration," he says. "It eliminates friction during installation and avoids costly inefficiencies in the long run."

Moving beyond proportional injectors The learning curve in fertigation has also steepened. "A lot of early growers relied on proportional injectors, but those are only accurate within a range," he explains. "As growers have become more aware of EC targets and nutrient delivery precision, we've seen a shift to more advanced systems."

© AdeptAg

According to Andrew, the demand for exact EC and pH control has grown, especially as producers push for repeatable quality. "Understanding the importance of exact dosing is one of the clearest signs the cannabis sector is maturing."

Environmental controls: not a DIY job
Another common pitfall that Andrew is noted is growers trying to build a custom environmental control platform. "About half the people we talk to in both cannabis and CEA think they can build their own software to control lights, CO₂, irrigation, you name it," he says. "Technically, yes, anyone can turn on a solenoid valve or a heater. But integrating light timing, CO₂ ramping, and VPD-based irrigation into a cohesive platform? That takes years of development."

Andrew adds that growers who choose proven systems like Argus, Priva, or Hoogendoorn not only save time, they also unlock the full potential of their irrigation and fertigation systems. "Without a professional platform, they miss out on key features like pre-dawn irrigation, VPD triggers, or aligning fertigation with CO₂ uptake."

© AdeptAg

Maintenance still overlooked
Another area where cannabis operations are catching up is preventative maintenance. "There's a tendency to run equipment until it breaks," Andrew notes. "At AdeptAg, we prioritize preventative maintenance. We follow up with customers, review their equipment files, and help them prevent issues before they start."

Although some growers still see site visits or maintenance contracts as an added cost, the tide is shifting. "People are realizing that investing in upkeep avoids bigger breakdowns later. We're seeing more openness to long-term planning."

© AdeptAg

Recirculation, filtration, and water quality
Water management remains a pain point for many cannabis producers, especially when it comes to recirculation and disinfection. "There's a lot of fear around reusing water, even though the tech is there to do it safely," Andrew says. After all, that water is full of nutrients and such, and throwing it away is a potential waste. According to Andrew, a good recirculation strat can help growers save on water, fertilizer, and even energy with no effect on plant health. The answer for that is filtration. "In some setups, water isn't filtered finely enough, so growers end up over-sanitizing. If we clean the water properly from the start, we don't have to rely as heavily on aggressive treatments."

At a recent Schenck Farms propagation project, AdeptAg implemented several next-gen irrigation and filtration technologies. "It's a cutting-edge facility with a daily focus on water quality, not just weekly or monthly. Some of the ideas we're testing there could carry over into cannabis cultivation as well."