If you’re into sustainable growing methods, you’ve probably heard about aquaponics – but did you know it’s being used to grow cannabis, too? Cannabis aquaponics is a fascinating technique that merges fish farming (aquaculture) with growing plants in water (hydroponics), creating a totally symbiotic system.
How cannabis aquaponics work
In a cannabis aquaponics system, fish and plants work together in a closed-loop ecosystem that’s efficient and sustainable. It starts with fish, like tilapia or koi, living in a tank. The fish produce waste (mainly ammonia), which gets broken down by beneficial bacteria into nitrates—a form of nutrients that cannabis plants can easily absorb. This nutrient-rich water is then pumped into the plant beds where the cannabis grows without soil, just water.
As the cannabis plants take in these nutrients, they act as natural filters, cleaning the water. That purified water is then recirculated back into the fish tanks, creating a continuous cycle. The fish feed the plants, and the plants help keep the water clean for the fish.
This method not only saves water compared to traditional soil growing, but it also eliminates the need for synthetic fertilizers. It’s an eco-friendly way to grow cannabis that promotes faster growth and healthier plants in a natural, symbiotic environment.
Check out what it is and who’s using it!
Reef Organic
Reef Organic out of Brooklyn, NS are products grown by Canada’s First Clean Green Certified LP (Licensed Producer).
They claim they grow with 1,000 koi fish and are committed to keeping waters clean, with no synthetic fertilizers or pesticides in the process. The design in place by Reef uses 90% less water and 50% less energy consumption than the average indoor cultivation.
Cake & Caviar
Cake & Caviar from the Shuswap region of BC is also growing with aquaponics, using a sustainable and waste-free approach to growing weed where water, nutrients, and CO2 are captured from farming certified organic coho salmon.
This makes Cake & Caviar the only company in Canada to be certified under Canadian Organic Standards.
What’s cool about aquaponics is how eco-friendly it is. Since the system recycles water, it uses up to 90% less than traditional soil growing. Plus, because the plants are soaking up natural nutrients from the fish, there’s less need for synthetic fertilizers. The result? A sustainable, closed-loop ecosystem that’s good for the environment and often leads to healthier, faster-growing cannabis plants.
If you’re looking to reduce your carbon footprint and grow high-quality cannabis, aquaponics might be the way to go!
