If you’re thinking about starting an indoor garden, you may be wondering whether you should invest in a grow tent.
You may also want to know how to set up my grow tent?
I will do my best to answer your questions so read on.
Grow tents are specially designed for indoor gardening, and they offer a number of advantages.
Perhaps the most important benefit of grow tents is that they help to create a controlled environment.
By keeping light and humidity levels constant, grow tents make it easier to get the conditions just right for your plants.
Because grow tents have reflective inside walls lighting is more efficient. No light is escaping outside the tent and it is all being reflected back to your plants.
In addition, grow tents are very easy to set up and take down, making them a great option for those who want to get started with indoor gardening without a lot of hassle.
If you’re looking for an efficient way to create an indoor garden, a grow tent is definitely worth considering.
A grow tent can be a fantastic way to grow hydroponic vegetables but how to set up my grow tent?
I bought a 2x4x5 foot iPower grow tent on Amazon and made a video showing how I set it up.
These grow tents are available in different sizes so pick the one that’s right for you.
I have a small flood and drain system set up inside my grow tent and will explain how I built it.
I am using an older 250-watt COB LED and have an exhaust fan, carbon filter(optional), and a small fan to recirculate air inside the grow tent.
How To Set Up My Grow Tent?
There are pretty good directions on how to set up your grow tent. You have to attach all the tent poles together and they are labeled.
After the frame is assembled you will slide the tent itself over it. It took about 30 minutes to put it together.
This grow tent has a window you can look through to see what is going on inside without opening it but I never use it.
It also has a built-in tool pouch which is very handy and I do use that.
The zipper is sturdy and works well. One thing I noticed is it can catch but I found pulling outward on the zipper when opening or closing the tent eliminates this problem.
Grow Tent Ventilation
Grow tent ventilation is extremely important. You will need a way to exhaust heat and moisture from your grow tent. You will need an exhaust fan.
Here is the exhaust fan I am using. It is very quiet. Some fans can be very noisy but this one is almost silent.
This is a 4-inch fan and it works perfectly for this grow tent but if you buy a larger tent like a 4 x 4 foot you will want a 6-inch fan.
I really like the fact that you can adjust fan speed with the click of a button.
Installation is easy. The fan comes with straps to hang it from the frame of your grow tent.
You want to place it as high as you can to remove the most heat.
You don’t need to install a carbon scrubber unless you plan on growing stinky crops but you will need some 4-inch flex tubing to direct the exhaust through the port on the top or side of the tent.
There are screened vents on the bottom sides of the grow tent. You want to open them so air can flow from the bottom to the top where the exhaust fan is. This will help with the airflow.
It is a good idea to use a small fan to move air inside the tent too. When lights are on plants feed on CO2 and if fresh air is not coming in they will use it up and stop growing.
I am using this fan. It is inexpensive, very quiet and has variable speeds. I don’t keep mine on the floor. I hang it from the tent frame with grow light ratchet hangers attached to the fans frame. That way I can adjust the height easily.
You want your plants to have a gentle breeze. Too much will cause windburn on young plants. It is OK for the fan to be above the top of your plants. It does not need to blow directly on them.
Don’t neglect proper ventilation. It is necessary for healthy plant growth.
Grow Tent Lighting LED Grow Lights
You will need a grow light for your grow tent. Use LED grow lights because they produce less heat than other lighting types.
They also offer a great spectrum for growing plants. You want white LED light which is a combination of all the colors of the rainbow.
You will need to use the right size LED for your grow tent. If you grow high-light plants like tomatoes you will want 20-30 watts per square foot.
That is actual watts pulled at the wall and not some number the manufacturer throws out. They often use the total watts of all diodes as the LEDs power but they are never run at full power so that number is meaningless and makes you think you are getting a light that is bigger than it really is.
Some lights will have some added red LEDs to help with flowering. Avoid using older LED lights that only offer red and blue diodes.
Hydroponic Gardening Systems
Once you get your grow tent all set up you will need to chose a hydroponic growing system.
The simplest system is hand-watering pots of coco coir that sit in saucers.
Be aware that although grow tents come with an inner tray it is really not waterproof. I recommend laying plastic down with the edges turned up inside your tent. Sooner or later water spills will happen.
My system uses a flood and drain system and I explain how to build it in my video.
You will get much better results if you automate your watering. A top feed drip system also works well in a grow tent.
I prefer flood and drain because it is simpler and there is no irrigation tubing getting in the way. Plants are also easier to move around because they are not attached to anything.
How To Set Up My Grow Tent? Final Thoughts
If you want to start hydroponic gardening at home using a grow tent to grow vegetables is a great way to start.
Setting up the grow tent itself is easy and takes about half an hour if you follow the instructions it might even take a bit less time.
Getting the right setup for ventilation and lighting is critical to getting the kind of healthy plant growth you want. So that is what’s covered in my video. Go back and watch it if you haven’t already.
Grow Tent Advantages
Just to summarize the advantages of using a grow tent:
• Grow tents make controlling the environment easier.
• Grow tents enhance grow light efficiency.
• Grow tents allow you to grow anywhere in your home. They keep glaring light and plants out of sight.
So there you have it. I hope you are considering getting a grow tent and now you don’t need to worry about how to set up my grow tent, do you? Happy gardening!
