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Oddly enough, and this is completely anecdotal, I've had much better luck growing outdoor plants than indoor plants. If an indoor plant gets some kind of pest (

Oddly enough, and this is completely anecdotal, I've had much better luck growing outdoor plants than indoor plants. If an indoor plant gets some kind of pest (spider mites, aphids, etc) then you pretty much have to sit around spraying it and its peers with oils or alcohol day after day until you're confident the infestation is gone. With outdoor plants, there are so many natural predators to pests that things tend to form a balance. In addition to that, yes, there is the world's most abundant (and inexhaustible) energy source just sitting there waiting to be used. So I'd be really interested to know the benefits of indoor growing as well (besides the obvious reasons with regards to not wanting DEA aircraft spotting your crops).

IanCal 11y ago
Predators are used in large greenhouses: http://www.thanetearth.com/faqs-pesticides.html http://www.thanetearth.com/faqs-pesticides.html > With outdoor plants, there are so many natural predators to pests that things tend to form a balance. Although you're not looking for balance, you're looking for a huge abundance of a single crop. > In addition to that, yes, there is the world's most abundant (and inexhaustible) energy source just sitting there waiting to be used. That energy source doesn't work quite so well if you start stacking things vertically and isn't necessarily reliable. Reducing inefficiencies in growth may be more beneficial than saving some power.
lovemenot 11y ago
Fujitsu runs a similar farm. For them, one of the advantages was that because they were growing in a disused clean room, formerly a fab, they could control air quality such that bacteria were negligible. This led to produce which could sit on shelves much longer without spoiling. Fujitsu charged a premium since retailers typically lose a portion of their lettuce value to spoilage or discounting. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/05/22/fujitsu_grows_lettuce_in_chip_factory/ http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/05/22/fujitsu_grows_lettuc...
rorykoehler 11y ago
Pro tip: forget the sprays to deal with pests. Buy ladybugs and let them loose. They will do a far more effective job in a much more efficient manner.

IanCal 11y ago

Predators are used in large greenhouses: http://www.thanetearth.com/faqs-pesticides.html http://www.thanetearth.com/faqs-pesticides.html > With outdoor plants, there are so many natural predators to pests that things tend to form a balance. Although you're not looking for balance, you're looking for a huge abundance of a single crop. > In addition to that, yes, there is the world's most abundant (and inexhaustible) energy source just sitting there waiting to be used. That energy source doesn't work quite so well if you start stacking things vertically and isn't necessarily reliable. Reducing inefficiencies in growth may be more beneficial than saving some power.

lovemenot 11y ago

Fujitsu runs a similar farm. For them, one of the advantages was that because they were growing in a disused clean room, formerly a fab, they could control air quality such that bacteria were negligible. This led to produce which could sit on shelves much longer without spoiling. Fujitsu charged a premium since retailers typically lose a portion of their lettuce value to spoilage or discounting. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/05/22/fujitsu_grows_lettuce_in_chip_factory/ http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/05/22/fujitsu_grows_lettuc...

rorykoehler 11y ago

Pro tip: forget the sprays to deal with pests. Buy ladybugs and let them loose. They will do a far more effective job in a much more efficient manner.