A picture of a dense cannabis leaves being grown in a grow room.

Using Intercanopy Lighting to Increase Flower Size and Yield

August 30, 2024 Omega

Updated on May 26, 2026

As cannabis cultivators continue to improve the efficiency of their commercial grows, they often try to maximize the number of plants in each grow room. However, adding more plants to the same space can lead to competition for adequate light. This challenge requires increased attention to canopy management—including proper trimming, as well as, the careful selection of lighting equipment and placement.

Thankfully, cannabis growers are meticulous problem solvers. Three common techniques implemented to mitigate many of the above issues are tucking, schwazzing, and installing intercanopy lighting.

What Is Intercanopy Lighting?

The term “intercanopy lighting” refers to the strategic placement of lights within the plant’s canopy, as opposed to only providing traditional lighting from above. The goal is to ensure that light penetrates deeper into the canopy, reaching the lower leaves and buds that would otherwise be shaded by the upper layers of the plant.

Traditional overhead lighting can lead to uneven light distribution, leaving lower buds underdeveloped due to insufficient light. In addition to other techniques, intercanopy lighting can help encourage fuller, evenly distributed growth along with larger flowers.

How Does It Work?

In a traditional setup, light intensity diminishes as it passes through the upper layers of the canopy, resulting in lower photosynthetic activity in the lower leaves and buds.

Cannabis plants are phototropic, meaning they grow towards light sources. In a dense canopy, upper leaves and buds tend to overshadow the lower parts of the plant, reducing light availability and, consequently, the photosynthetic efficiency of the lower canopy. This results in smaller, less potent buds at the bottom of the plant, which can negatively impact the overall yield and quality of the harvest.

An image of cananbis plants being lit from above. You can see light from the bulbs shining down through the upper canopy, down into the mid canopy. — Make sure your plants are receiving adequate lighting to their upper and mid-canopy to maximize photosynthesis, even growth, and flowering.

Intercanopy lighting helps to overcome this challenge by ensuring that all parts of the plant receive adequate light. The process involves using light-emitting diodes (LEDs) or other suitable light sources to illuminate the interior of the canopy. The additional light stimulates photosynthesis in the lower leaves, resulting in increased chlorophyll production and better energy distribution throughout the plant.

This technique provides supplemental light directly to shaded areas and helps maintain optimal photosynthetic activity throughout the entire plant. This can lead to more uniform growth and the development of high-quality buds even on the lower branches.

Best Types of Grow Lights for Intercanopy Lighting

When selecting lights for intercanopy use, it’s essential to consider both the light spectrum and the heat output. The best lights for this purpose are typically LEDs due to their energy efficiency, low heat emission, and customizable light spectrum.

LED Grow Lights: LEDs are ideal for intercanopy lighting because they can be positioned close to the plants without causing heat stress. They offer a full spectrum of light, which can be tailored to the specific needs of the cannabis plant at different stages of growth. Moreover, LEDs are energy-efficient, reducing operational costs over time.
Fluorescent Lights: While not as popular as LEDs, fluorescent lights can also be used for intercanopy lighting. They emit less heat than traditional HPS lights and can be placed closer to the plants. However, they are less energy-efficient than LEDs and may have a shorter lifespan.
Plasma Lights: These lights offer a full spectrum similar to natural sunlight and have low heat output, making them suitable for intercanopy lighting. However, they are generally more expensive and less energy-efficient than LEDs.

All in all, light-emitting diode (LED) technology has advanced quite a bit over the years, making them the more popular choice when augmenting a grow room with mid-canopy lighting.

Pros and Cons of Intercanopy Lighting

Like any cultivation technique, intercanopy lighting has its benefits and works best as a supplemental strategy, not a replacement for proper top‑down lighting, canopy management, and environmental control. Results depend heavily on cultivar, plant structure, spacing, and room airflow.

Advantages (Pros)

To help provide some additional insight on whether adding intercanopy lighting to your grow is right for your operation, let’s take a look at some of the benefits.

#1. Increased Bud Quality

By ensuring that all parts of the plant receive sufficient light, intercanopy lighting promotes the development of dense, potent buds throughout the entire plant, not just at the top.

#2. Higher Yields

With more buds receiving optimal light conditions, the overall yield can be significantly increased, making the cultivation process more efficient and profitable.

#3. Energy Efficiency

When using LEDs, intercanopy lighting can be a cost-effective way to boost yield without a substantial increase in energy consumption.

#4. Improved Canopy Penetration

This technique ensures that light penetrates deeper into the plant canopy, leading to more uniform growth and reducing the risk of lower leaves and buds being underdeveloped.

Challenges (Cons)

Next, let’s keep ourselves honest, and point out some of the challenges that should be expected using this technique.

#1. Initial Cost

Setting up an intercanopy lighting system can require a significant upfront investment, especially if using high-quality LEDs.

#2. Complexity

Managing and optimizing an intercanopy lighting system requires more attention and expertise than traditional overhead lighting, which can be challenging for less experienced growers.

Cannais plants under a grow lamp that may be too hot. — Not all grow light solutions are good cannidates for intercanopy lighting. Bulbs designed for the upper canopy, such as high-pressure sodium (HPS) or high-intensity discharge (HID) lights, generate too much heat to be used for intercanopy lighting.

#3. Potential Heat Issues

Although LEDs emit less heat than other types of lights, poor ventilation or incorrect placement can still lead to localized heat stress, potentially damaging the plants.

Light It Up

Intercanopy lighting offers commercial cultivators and MSOs another technique to enhance both the quality and yield of their crops. While the initial investment and complexity may be higher than traditional lighting setups, the potential benefits in terms of increased yield and product quality make it a worthwhile consideration, even if for a test-crop.

As with any cultivation technique, the key to success with intercanopy lighting lies in careful planning and execution. By selecting the right type of lights and optimizing their placement, you can maximize the potential of your cannabis plants and achieve impressive results in both quality and quantity.