Whether you are trying to grow non-native plants or extend the grow season for a crop, a grow tent can provide you with the controlled environment you need.
Size
You want to start by determining what size grow tent works for you. A 2 ft x 2ft x 4ft tent is a good starting point as it can support a large variety of crops and depending on your grow techniques, a large harvest.
Premade or Build your own
You may want to purchase a pre-made tent, which gives you an easy start, but limits your ability to position equipment inside and forces you to choose a premade size.
Building your own grow tent takes more time and work, but gives you complete control of size, and device attachment points. While more difficult, you could build an L shaped grow tent, if that's what you can fit.
Besides the footprint of the tent itself, you may want extra room outside of the tent to keep tools, soil and equipment.
The size of your tent will dictate what kind of equipment you need to control the environment.
Controlling the Environment
Depending on the specific plant you choose, there are a couple environmental factors you want to monitor
- Temperature
- Humidity
- Airflow
- Light
In a sealed grow tent, the environment is completely determined by the equipment you use. Heaters/Air Conditioners, Humidifiers/Dehumidifiers, Exhaust Fans, and internal fans are all used to control the "weather" of your tent, and a full spectrum light on a timer acts as your "sun".
With all of these devices on a controller, you can automate most of the conditions in your tent. Add an automating watering system with nutrients, and you can move your focus to the plant itself.
Lung Room
Your lung room is the room where your grow tent is located. It is important to be aware of the environment in this room as it directly influences maintaining the environment in your tent. If your tent is in a room that is 60°F, trying to maintain 80°F within the tent would be more difficult than if your lung room was 75°F. Additionally, your lung room conditions tells you the effect of air intake into your tent.
If your lung room has a lower humidity than in your tent, using a fan to move air into the tent will decrease the tent humidity.
Conversely, if your lung room has a higher humidity than in your tent, using a fan to move air into the tent will increase the tent humidity.
Where to Place your Equipment
You want to place your devices in a way that won't intrude on the space your plants need to grow. For taller plants, consider placing equipment next to your containers. For bushier plants, try hanging equipment towards the top of the tent. A custom-built grow tent allows you to make as many attachment points as you need for equipment, whereas a premade tent might only have the top frame to hang from.
As much as possible, keep equipment outside of the tent that doesn't need to be inside. For example, place your exhaust fan outside pulling air from the tent. Use heaters and humidifiers that have ducts to be run into the tent.
Note that when you use devices with ducts going into the tent, you may be adding more air into the tent then you are removing, creating positive pressure, which can be bad in some cases. Check out our guide on Positive/Negative Pressure.
Whenever placing equipment, keep in mind that electrical devices/cords should be kept off of the floor your tent. Any runoff or spilled water could reach these, creating a safety hazard.
Use your plant to guide your design
When designing your tent, the most important rule to follow is "Will this work for the plant(s) I am growing?"
If your plant grows well in your climate's humidity, you don't need to install a humidifier. If you keep your house at a temperature that works for your plant, you don't need a heater.
Learn about how your plant grows and what environment it's used to, and use that to determine what size and equipment you should design around.
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