ProfessorMembrane
Well-Known Member
Vertical Expansion of Limited Vegetative Space with Cost Effective Shelving & Linear Florescent Fixtures
Greetings in the name of Science! Professor Membrane here documenting the sweet Botany of indoor Cannabis production for the benefit of mankind! No medicinal compound on Earth has been found to be therapeutically gentler than Cannabis when used properly, not even Tylenol! So, Professor Membrane will spread this amazing scientific miracle to the masses!
When the Membrane Foundation was given the chance to produce Medical Cannabis, a new underground location was required in order to facilitate a lack of conflict between Law Enforcement and the Anti-Santa Arsenal, and so the mighty Professor Membrane returned to humble means for a time while his new Underground Research Lair of Cannabis Botany & Zombie Prevention was constructed.
During this period, Professor Membrane was not content to keep the number of plants that floorspace allowed, so a Vertical Expansion was undertaken. Steel shelving much akin to that seen in stores (usually called "Metro Shelving") and obtained by the Membrane Foundation for chemical storage serves as the basis for this expansion, along with low cost florescent lighting, both at a local Sam's Club.
Expansion Materials List:
1. 6'Hx4'Lx20"W Stainless steel shelving unit.
2. 9-12 Dual-tube T8/T12 64W/80W florescent fixtures.
3. 2 Cases of T12 40W 6500k florescent tubes.
This is the Vegetative Space we needed to expand:
Professor Membrane recommends 4 levels when using this method of vertical expansion, with the smallest on the bottom, and the largest on the top. When constructing your shelving unit, your first expansion level should be 14-18 inches from the ground, and the next level should be placed 20-26 inches above this level, and the last should be placed taking into account the amount of space above the shelving unit, with the limited height in our space, we were forced to create a smaller top level.
Here is how our space looked after expansion:
The florescent fixtures are attached directly to each level of shelving using the mounting hooks & chains that are included with the fixtures. Depending on the width of your fixtures, you will either be able to fit 2 or 3 into each level, not counting any side lighting you may wish to supplement with. Plastic sheets which are included with the shelving are placed between levels to keep drainage water from reaching the light fixtures below.
Professor Membrane strongly recommends running this style of vertical expansion in a perpetual cycle! New seedlings / clones are placed in the bottom level initially, receive a topping in a middle level in order to spawn the next generation of clones, then expand to the proper size on the top level before moving to the bloom space. Depending on the number of shelving units you use, you can cycle a vast number of plants with a very small veg area!
Seedlings on Level 1:
Larger plants & Clones on Level 2:
Other Misc Images: Power Strip for fixtures, individual shelf, and the modified shop blower that ventilates the vegetative area:
Another alternative being explored by the Membrane Foundation is to use this style of vertical expansion to perform multi-level Sea of Green flowerings! The same florescent fixtures are used in larger numbers, paying special attention to supplementary lighting hung from the sides of the shelving unit, the experiment is also being conducted using a combination of florescent fixture side lighting with small wattage high pressure sodium lighting as the main light source for each level. The results of these experiments will be viewable within a few months.
Professor Membrane is prepared for your suggestions & questions, begin!
Greetings in the name of Science! Professor Membrane here documenting the sweet Botany of indoor Cannabis production for the benefit of mankind! No medicinal compound on Earth has been found to be therapeutically gentler than Cannabis when used properly, not even Tylenol! So, Professor Membrane will spread this amazing scientific miracle to the masses!
When the Membrane Foundation was given the chance to produce Medical Cannabis, a new underground location was required in order to facilitate a lack of conflict between Law Enforcement and the Anti-Santa Arsenal, and so the mighty Professor Membrane returned to humble means for a time while his new Underground Research Lair of Cannabis Botany & Zombie Prevention was constructed.
During this period, Professor Membrane was not content to keep the number of plants that floorspace allowed, so a Vertical Expansion was undertaken. Steel shelving much akin to that seen in stores (usually called "Metro Shelving") and obtained by the Membrane Foundation for chemical storage serves as the basis for this expansion, along with low cost florescent lighting, both at a local Sam's Club.
Expansion Materials List:
1. 6'Hx4'Lx20"W Stainless steel shelving unit.
2. 9-12 Dual-tube T8/T12 64W/80W florescent fixtures.
3. 2 Cases of T12 40W 6500k florescent tubes.
This is the Vegetative Space we needed to expand:
Professor Membrane recommends 4 levels when using this method of vertical expansion, with the smallest on the bottom, and the largest on the top. When constructing your shelving unit, your first expansion level should be 14-18 inches from the ground, and the next level should be placed 20-26 inches above this level, and the last should be placed taking into account the amount of space above the shelving unit, with the limited height in our space, we were forced to create a smaller top level.
Here is how our space looked after expansion:
The florescent fixtures are attached directly to each level of shelving using the mounting hooks & chains that are included with the fixtures. Depending on the width of your fixtures, you will either be able to fit 2 or 3 into each level, not counting any side lighting you may wish to supplement with. Plastic sheets which are included with the shelving are placed between levels to keep drainage water from reaching the light fixtures below.
Professor Membrane strongly recommends running this style of vertical expansion in a perpetual cycle! New seedlings / clones are placed in the bottom level initially, receive a topping in a middle level in order to spawn the next generation of clones, then expand to the proper size on the top level before moving to the bloom space. Depending on the number of shelving units you use, you can cycle a vast number of plants with a very small veg area!
Seedlings on Level 1:
Larger plants & Clones on Level 2:
Other Misc Images: Power Strip for fixtures, individual shelf, and the modified shop blower that ventilates the vegetative area:
Another alternative being explored by the Membrane Foundation is to use this style of vertical expansion to perform multi-level Sea of Green flowerings! The same florescent fixtures are used in larger numbers, paying special attention to supplementary lighting hung from the sides of the shelving unit, the experiment is also being conducted using a combination of florescent fixture side lighting with small wattage high pressure sodium lighting as the main light source for each level. The results of these experiments will be viewable within a few months.
Professor Membrane is prepared for your suggestions & questions, begin!
