Grow tents have become quite popular as they allow you to have full control over the environment that your plants grow in. At times, you can have problems finding the best grow tent and this does not mean that you cannot own one. There are other options would be to build your indoor grow room that will equally effective as the indoor grow tent. As long as you have the basic understanding of the indoor hydroponic system and how they work, then it will be much easier to set up your very own.
What you need to bear in mind is that there are different grow tent sizes and they come with varied accessories including the light holders, grow lights, ventilation fans and so many other items. The purpose of this guide is to help you build your very own in 10 very simple steps. By following this guide, you will have to Building the Perfect Indoor Growing plants Room.
Indoor Grow Tent Setup Complete Guide
It is essential to have all the materials and tools that you need to set up the grow tent. There so many things that I will list and explain in detail and from these, you will be able to pick what works for you. If you are a beginner, you may need a basic set for a tent and as you continue mastering the process you can increase the size and accessories of your hydroponic tent. Here are all the items that are needed:
- Growing Tent
- Grow Light
- Ballast
- Reflector
- Hanging Accessories
- Power Strips
- Timer
- Appropriate Ventilation
- Carbon Filters
- Ducting
- Duct clips
- Can Fans
- Temperature and Humidity Gauge
- Basic Assembly Tools
- Plants
- Tape and Fasteners
If you have serious plants of growing plants indoors, you may have the option of picking the perfect gardening tents or building your own. The beauty of building your own is that you will be able to create an all in one growing tent that will bring high yields. If you have never set up such a tent, do not worry, this guide will highlight 10 steps that will lead to the perfect indoor grow room for your plants. Here is a detailed explained explanation.
Step 1: Hydroponic Vs. Soil Systems
This is the very first step and you should be able to make a decision on the method that you choose to cultivate your plants. Whether you choose the growing tent of a soil system, each will need some specific set up mechanisms. It is highly advisable to have a clear mind on the type of growing method that you feel would work for you. Ideally, the right size hydroponic tent has the advantage of taking up very little space. You will also need to have the right tools to control the environment for the grow tent.
Step 2: Identify Location and Space
Secondly, you will need to identify the place that you want to have your garden so as to establish the amount of space that you have. With this in mind, you will be able to make critical decisions about the size of indoor grow room, the number of plants that you can grow and the style of gardening that will be used. Considering of huge plants you should have an expectation that 1 plant per square meter. However, the smaller plants can be planted up to 25 pieces per square meter.
If you are the type of farmer that is interested in different types of plants, you should consider having a place that has the ideal environment. You will need to control the environment for the plants. It’s may easier to buy a complete hydroponic grow tent. When it comes to the issue of picking the space for the indoor garden, there are a number of things that you should bear in mind, including:
- Ventilation
- Lightproof
- Enough space for working and maintaining
- Space to clean easily
- Enough height to suspend the accessories.
Step 3: Assemble the Frame
Without further ado, when you have the space and the items in place, you can now start by setting up the frame for your indoor grow tent. In most cases, the ones that are bought will come with easy to click poles with metal connectors that you can use. If you are building one from scratch, you need to attach the frame and set a structure that looks like a tent. It is imperative to ensure that the frame is stable and sturdy enough. Include the support bars when you are assembling the tent.
Step 4: Placing the Cover
When you have the frame in place, the other bit will be placing the canvas on to cover the tent. This is one of the stages that you may require some help so as to ensure that all the parts of the room are well covered. The top rated grow tents will have corners that are designed on the canvas, which can serve as a good guide on the specific parts that will go into a frame.
Step 5: Setting Up Ventilation
The main advantage of using the hydroponic tent is the fact that it allows to control the environment and one of the ways of ensuring that this is done effectively is by preparing the ventilation. When the grow room is ventilated, you will be able to prevent mildew and mold from affecting your plants. Having fans inside the tent is one of the valuable for growing plants and regulating the temperature. However, it’s not enough and that’s why you need to have a ventilation. Proper ventilation will control humidity and will also lower the temperature. As such, you will not need to worry about pathogenic infections on your plants.
To prepare for ventilation in the tent, you need to cut a hole on the top of the cabinet that you are using. If the material that you are using makes it hard to cut through a hole, you may have the option of leaving the door slightly open. You also have an option for ducting and carbon filters able to control airflow inside of indoor garden. And it will also help to reducing odor.
Step 6: Preparation of the Walls
One of the key elements in proper plant growth is lighting, which is essential in photosynthesis. As such, you will need to ensure that your plants have enough lighting. With the indoor growing tent, you will have a reflective lining that is part of the canvas. However, if you are building your own indoor grow room you need to make sure that the walls are highly reflective. You can make use of mirrors or the reflective bubble insulation. There are other materials like the Panda Paper and flat white walls, which will help in reflecting the light to the plants. Ultimately, this will ensure that the plants are absorbing enough light, without inflating your energy bills.
Step 7: Placing Grow Lights
Even with the indoor gardening tent, you will need to do proper research on the type of lighting that you will use. There are so many different types of grow lights that can be used for the indoor garden. Some of the common options include:
- LED lights
- High Pressure Sodium (HPS) lights
- Fluorescent tubes.
You need more fans because of the High Pressure Sodium (HPS) and fluorescent tend to get really hot. Some of the LED and HPS systems come with built-in fans to help in the cooling. Hanging the lights should be done with careful consideration that they can be adjusted. You should hang the lights at least 1 foot from the ceiling and 8 to 31 inches from the plants. This will depend on the wattage of the grow lights and the type of plants.
Step 8: Environment Control
The indoor tents allow you to control the climate and there are a number of accessories that can be used for this purpose. The main factors to control include carbon dioxide, temperature and humidity. These climatic factors will vary depending on your location. If you choose to use a humidifier, you need to have plans to have it cleaned regularly. As a matter of fact, you should change the water in the humidifier daily. Failure to take this precaution and start breeding pathogenic microbes. It will be affected your plants. You may also include temperature control tools that will help in maintaining the right atmosphere. Fans are essential and you can as many fans as you choose, depending on the climate that you wish to have for your plants.
Step 9: Screens and Collection Racks
The hydroponic grow tent is ready to use when planting your crops on soil. So you need Screens and collection rack for doing this. This should be placed at the bottom of your indoor grow room. And it doesn’t need to be a complex mechanism, but you will need is a rack that is made of wire shelves. Which should be placed for the plants to sit on.
The main objective is to ensure that the plants are not on the ground and this comes with so many advantages. The pants will have airflow and will also make it easier to clean the room. For this, without affecting other growing plants, you can easily cleaned the plants debris that falls on the ground.
The other option would be to the use of the screens. You will need to find a screen that will fit into the grow room in perfectly. So you won’t need to place a screen inside the best indoor grow systems, you can fit it on the walls or the collection rack.
Step 10: Place Your Plants
Here we’re at the end of placing your plants. You have tested all the lights and all the other accessories when you’ve done. You should ascertain that you have the ideal climate where there is proper airflow, whether you are placing plants in the pot or directly on the soil. You should give adequate room for plant growth when it will be placed. Ensure that the pots have at least 3 inches apart. It is advisable to give all your plants enough room to be able to grow and acquire all the essential nutrients.
Bottom Line
Once you have finished the setup process of the Indoor Growing Plants Room and placed your plants, you can now start monitoring them as they grow. Due to the sensitivity of the plants, you should try to stay away from the room as much as you can so as to avoid contamination. If you are the first timer, you should not be afraid of making mistakes, as this is the only way that you will be able to learn.
You will love the fact that you have assembled the indoor grow room from scratch and make use of it. However, you may also want to check out some of best grow tents on the market and consider using them. If this guide was helpful, please feel free to share it with your friends and loved ones. In case you have a question or a comment, do not hesitate to talk to us.