Greentone’s Transition from HPS to Dynamic LED: A Breakthrough in Cannabis Cultivation with Sollum Technologies

Over the past decade, the cannabis industry has evolved from a niche market into a worldwide phenomenon. With legalization rapidly expanding and consumer demand growing more sophisticated, cultivators are under constant pressure to deliver higher-quality products, greater potency, and consistent yields—all while controlling costs and meeting stringent energy-efficiency standards.

Historically, many commercial producers relied on high-pressure sodium (HPS) lighting systems. While HPS was once a mainstay in large-scale cultivation, its fixed-spectrum output, high heat emission, and rigid energy consumption model can limit a grower’s ability to adapt to changing market conditions and varied cultivar requirements. Today, a new generation of dynamic LED lighting solutions offers precise spectrum and intensity control, giving cultivators unprecedented flexibility to optimize yield and tailor the quality of the product.

One compelling example of this shift is Greentone, a prominent cannabis producer, in Québec, Canada, known for strains such as 3Saints, OMY, and Bubble Kush. Seeking to enhance production and product consistency, Greentone replaced its HPS setup with Sollum’s dynamic LED grow lights.

The results were striking: a reported 25% increase in total production, a 10% boost in average THC levels, and a shortened harvest cycle by a nearly 6 days compared to the previous year.

This article explores how Greentone leveraged dynamic LED technology and expert agronomic support to meet the demands of a discerning market. It also delves into what these trends mean for the broader cannabis industry and why transitioning to adaptable lighting solutions may be crucial to staying competitive.

Understanding the Cannabis Industry’s Evolving Demands

Cannabis cultivation has progressed significantly from the days of small, home-based operations. Today, cultivators manage large-scale facilities with multiple rooms, each dedicated to different strains or growth phases. Precise environmental control—including temperature, humidity, airflow, CO2 along with lighting—has become essential to meet consumer expectations.

1. Higher Potency and Refined Profiles
   Modern consumers often prioritize cannabinoid levels (especially THC) and nuanced terpene profiles, seeking a distinct aroma and flavor experience. High-intensity lighting and the correct spectrum at the right time can support enhanced resin production and heightened cannabinoid expression.
2. Consistency Across Harvests
   Whether it’s a popular sativa or an in-demand indica-dominant hybrid, dispensaries and end consumers expect consistent quality in each harvest in potency, aroma, and appearance. HPS lighting’s static nature can make it difficult to fine-tune each strain’s specific needs. By contrast, dynamic LED fixtures deliver customizable light recipes for more predictable results.
3. Stricter Operational Efficiency
   Cultivators are also facing rising energy costs, as well as pressure from regulators and customers to adopt greener growing practices. Dynamic LED lighting typically uses less energy than HPS at similar intensity levels and produces less heat, leading to potential savings in HVAC expenses.
4. Market Competition
   With more states and countries legalizing cannabis, barriers to entry have dropped, and existing cultivators are contending with a rapidly expanding field of competitors. To stand out, producers must deliver fresh, potent, and consistent products at scale—an endeavor that demands precision driven grow methods.

Greentone’s Leap: From HPS to Dynamic LED Lighting

Greentone represents a new wave of commercial cultivators determined to push beyond the limitations of traditional grow setups. The company chose Sollum Technologies’ dynamic LED grow light solution to retrofit its existing HPS infrastructure. This approach minimized downtime, allowing Greentone to compare year-over-year data from the same facility—thereby revealing clear, direct impacts of the new lighting system.

Key Outcomes

• 10% Increase in Average THC Levels
  By refining light spectra during the flowering stage, Greentone unlocked improved cannabinoid expression in strains. Higher THC content speaks to the effectiveness of tailoring lighting to each cultivar developmental phase.
• 25% Increase in Total Production
  Shifting away from HPS allowed Greentone to optimize temperature, light and environment and other growth factors more precisely in various growth phases. This helped the plants flourish, resulting in more robust yields across multiple strains.
• 6 Days Faster Harvest Cycles
  Intensive grows under HPS can sometimes lead to longer flowering times, particularly if conditions are not ideal. With dynamic LEDs, Greentone accelerated plant growth while still maintaining product quality, effectively fitting more harvests into a calendar year.

“These improvements are a sign of a higher-quality product that we can harvest more or faster—the best of both worlds,” Greentone noted in its case study, crediting dynamic LED lighting with a pivotal role in achieving these milestones.

Why Dynamic LED Lighting Makes a Difference

1. Precision Spectral Control
   Cannabis plants require different light spectra in various growth stages. During vegetative growth, a higher proportion of blue wavelengths encourages leaf mass and tight node spacing. As plants transition into flowering, increasing red wavelengths can promote bud development, resin production, and ultimately higher THC or CBD concentrations. Dynamic LED systems allow cultivators to adjust these parameters in near real time.
2. Adaptive Lighting Strategy
   Light intensity as well as high-red spectrum after the flower development can cause photobleaching and inferior quality. Dynamic LED setups empower growers to adjust intensity as well as spectrum in response to plant feedback and environmental conditions. Dynamic lighting strategies with a variable spectrum during the flowering results in plant responses in quality as well as production.
3. Reduced Energy Consumption and Heat Output
   LEDs generate lower levels of radiant heat than HPS, which allows the growers to achieve lighting targets without having issues with the heat. This benefit not only translates into reduced operational costs but also supports a more stable grow environment—further improving plant performance.
4. Strain-by-Strain Customization
   One of the most significant advantages is the ability to tailor each cultivar in the room to its ideal lighting recipe. Cultivators who run multiple cultivars simultaneously do not need to compromise and can program lighting strategies, ensuring that each cultivar receives the most suitable intensity and spectrum.

Implementation and Iteration: A Retrofit, Not a Rebuild

Greentone’s approach demonstrates that transitioning to a dynamic LED environment does not necessarily require building a new facility from scratch. By retrofitting existing HPS setups, they minimized capital expenditures and operational disruptions while still achieving:

• More uniform light distribution
• Lower energy consumption
• Less crop stress incidents
• Enhanced control of environmental variables

This flexibility also allowed Greentone to experiment with a side-by-side comparison of HPS and LEDs in the same physical space. Over time, as data confirmed superior results under LEDs, the entire grow operation moved toward the new system.

A Look Ahead: What Greentone’s Success Means for Cannabis Cultivation

The cannabis market’s continued expansion will increase the demand for top-tier products. Cultivators that remain reliant on older, less precise lighting methods may find it harder to keep pace with competitors who invest in adaptive, data-driven strategies. Greentone’s 25% production boost and 10% THC increase underscore the powerful synergy between dynamic LED technology and a dedicated support team.

Beyond immediate yield and potency gains, adopting advanced LED systems can foster more sustainable operations by reducing energy consumption and carbon footprints. As consumer awareness of eco-friendly products grows, cultivators who demonstrate environmental responsibility may find an additional market advantage.

Finally, because LED lighting integrates seamlessly with next-generation tools—such as automated climate control, AI-driven analytics, and advanced fertigation systems—investment now positions a grow operation to remain technologically agile in the future.

In conclusion

Greentone’s journey from HPS to dynamic LED lighting exemplifies how modern cannabis operations can achieve accelerated harvests, more potent flowers, and higher overall efficiency. Their experience reinforces the importance of pairing innovative technology with expert agronomic guidance to ensure each step is grounded in data and best practices.

In an industry defined by evolving regulations, shifting consumer preferences, and the race to stand out with premium products, leveraging dynamic LED systems isn’t just an upgrade—it’s a strategic imperative for cultivators aiming to stay ahead. By following Greentone’s lead, producers can begin optimizing light strategies for each strain, meeting the market’s call for quality, and future-proofing their growing operations for the long term.

Want to Dive Deeper into Dynamic LED Lighting for Cannabis?

Join us for an exclusive webinar:
Boost Cannabis Quality to New HIGHS with Dynamic LED Lighting
featuring Abhay Thosar, Chief Horticulture Specialist at Sollum Technologies.

💡 Learn how real-time light spectrum control can:

• Maximize THC levels and yields

• Improve energy efficiency and sustainability

• Unlock cultivar-specific lighting strategies

Date & Time: Wednesday, June 4th at 12 PM EST / 6 PM CET

👉 Reserve your spot now and discover how to elevate your cannabis cultivation with dynamic lighting technology.