The Cultivators Toolkit

Welcome! We are going to shift gears today and talk about some of the tools you may come across while in the cultivation facility.

Hand Tools

Pruning Shears – At a high level we have 3-types of hand pruning shears: anvil, bypass, and rachet. The most common form is the bypass pruning shears. They are curved blades, one being sharp and bypassing the other blade, which is a thicker, unsharpened blade. Bypass pruners are commonly the smaller of the group, so they are good for getting in and around the branches of your plant. Anvil pruners are your second most common pruning shears. They have got 1 straight, sharpened blade and 1 flat edge, or anvil, that the sharp blade cuts down upon. Anvil pruning shears are bulkier, which makes them more difficult to get into tight spaces under the canopy. It is more common to see these utilized during a plant cut down and or harvest. The third type of pruning shear is the ratchet shear. They are essentially an anvil pruning shear with a ratcheting mechanism that allows you to perform the cut in stages. They are great for people with hand discomfort or fatigue.

Snips – Another type of scissor that you will find in your facility. These are common to come with a “micro-tip” and are usually spring loaded for constant “snipping”. Some people prefer them to have handles to squeeze, some prefer more finesse-like snips that are handled with just a couple fingers and not your entire handgrip. Snips are meant for smaller cuts, fresh growth, leaves, trimming, etc. It is best to use one of the pruning shears listed above for cutting established branches or trunks.

Sprayers / Spray Bottles – Used to mist clone domes and cuttings, carry cleaners and disinfectants, foliar sprays, and as part of your pest management toolkit. Ensure that all liquid containers have labels that clearly identify what is inside, any safety required to handle or use, the date that the bottle was filled (if it’s a refill-able bottle), and any other relevant information you require or want. When misting, or spraying plants, you want to avoid leaving “gems”, or droplets of water on the plant that will cause burns or leave deposits on the plant.

Meters

Depending on the method of production and how the facility is designed, you may come across some of these meters in handheld formats. All handheld meters should be clearly identified on the outside of it with an equipment identifier. Ideally every meter is calibratable, and that it is being calibrated before use to ensure accuracy of the device.

Water – Typically measuring temperature, pH, ppm, Electrical Conductivity (E.C.), and or Total Dissolved Solids (TDS). These meters come in a variety of formats, but they all generally come with a probe that you submerse under the surface of the water to capture your measurement. Some parts on the probes are glass and contain a buffer in with the sensor. Use care when utilizing these kinds of probes, as you do not want to contaminate the reservoir and you do not want that water in with your probes buffer.

Moisture – Moisture meters provide great insight into what is happening in your root zone. Moisture meters come with 2-3 probes. Some are analog and have a needle to give you an approximate range, some will be digital and require some time to capture a reading.

Light – Light meters will provide tools to measure Lux/Lumens, UVA/UVC, PAR, and Spectra. Capturing this data allows the cultivator to understand how their supplemental lighting is performing and provides further insight into what is affecting the plants within the growing environment.

CO2/O2 – Plants love increased CO2, humans however do not! CO2/O2 devices are often part of the Occupational Health and Safety program and are a critical safety device in any environment where CO2 can be supplemented. Anything mechanical can fail at any given time, there is no need or reason to take the risk.

Sanitation

Disinfectant – Depending on your sanitation program, you are going to be carrying around some form of tool disinfectant. You will commonly find 70% Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) in either a spray or wipe format. The key here is to disinfect your tools and work surfaces before you begin work, during work (at minimum you should be wiping your tools plant touching surface down between each plant, ideally, it is between every time you touch your plant), and after the work is complete. Your Integrated Crop (or Pest) Management plan starts with prevention, and this is just one tool in your kit to stay on top of that.

Luminometer – Portable ATP testing device allows you to determine the hygienic status of surfaces and liquids. Great for room resets where you want to ensure you are starting with a clean environment. Also handy for spot checking to ensure that your sanitation protocols are meeting your quality specs.

Documentation

Smart Device – Could be a tablet, could be a phone (please, not a dirty phone…), could be any electronic device that can allow documentation to occur. If using “mobile” devices like a tablet, consider mounting the tablet in a convenient location to avoid risk of damage and requirement of drop protection that is difficult to effectively keep clean.

Clipboard – Perhaps this facility has not read our first blog (Why paperless cannabis compliance should be on your roadmap for 2021) and are still running on paper. That is ok too! The materials used should offer a smooth, cleanable surface. Bright colours that are not green (yellow and blue will attract pests...), work the best so they can be quickly found within a room. 

By no means is that the comprehensive list of tools and devices found within the commercial cultivation facility, but it is a great start! Have a favourite, must-have tool that I missed? Tell me about it in the comments!