Are you planning to set up a grow tent for your cannabis? If yes, then you may come across different opinions on how to have the best grow tent setup.
However, things may not work for you if you haven’t done your research well. You need to know the right size of grow tent for your indoor plants, and other things like perfect lighting and a suitable temperature to keep them healthy.
Well, we will make things easier for you. Here, we’ll take you through a detailed guide for setting up the grow tent in the best way.
Step-by-Step Process for an Indoor Grow Setup
Before we pen down our baby steps, here is something to keep in mind:
The grow tent will only be beneficial to your indoor plants if you have the right equipment inside your grow room.
Can you see the point? You have to make sure your plants have a suitable environment for their proper growth.
Don’t worry, though. We’ll explain the process in detail for the best grow tent setup.
Let’s get straight to it.
Assemble the Grow Tent
It is pretty simple to assemble a grow tent, and the process doesn’t include any rocket science. However, first, you have to buy a high-quality grow tent. The good thing is, you won’t face any difficulty buying one as many brands are selling grow tents at a reasonable price.
Simply follow the instructions to assemble the frame and put on the cloth. Then, you need to attach the parts as well, which won’t take much time if you have read the instructions carefully.
However, you may have trouble setting up the tent on your own if it is too big. In that case, ask someone to lend a hand and get the job done.
There, you have completed the first step of the process.
How to Choose the Right Size?
Grow tents are available in different models, and you may get confused while deciding the right grow tent size for your cannabis. That’s why we are here with our two cents in this matter. We believe 2’x4′ is the ideal size for beginners who need limited space to get a few ounces of cannabis.
However, if you are looking for a larger space, a 4’x4’ grow tent is the best size to go for. It can offer a pound or more, and a single person can manage the tent easily. The same rule applies to hydroponic tent sizes.
Well, if you don’t know about hydroponic growing, you will find it in the later part of the blog. So, you can catch up on all the details from there.
If you want to yield more cannabis, go for the larger grow tents for better accommodation. But, remember that the equipment and electricity charges will exceed accordingly.
For now, let’s see what your plants need inside a grow tent.
 | Small (1 sq ft) | Medium (2 sq ft) | Large (4 sq ft) |
4 | 2 | 1 | |
2' x 4' | 8 | 4 | 2 |
3' x 3' | 9 | 4 | 2 |
16 | 8 | 4 | |
25 | 12 | 6 | |
32 | 16 | 8 | |
50 | 24 | 12 |
Requirements for the Best Indoor Grow Tent Setup
Once you are done with setting up the tent, you need to focus on the other factors that influence the well-being of your plants.
Here are some points to keep in mind: Lighting
Lighting plays a vital role in the healthy growth of cannabis plants. Make sure you have enough led grow lights to cover the whole tent.
Also, the grow lights must remain close to the plants, but not close enough to burn them.
So, what exactly is the right distance between your plant and grow tent light? The next heading tells you all.
Select the Right Distance
The distance depends on the watts of the light you choose.
If the light offers more watts, it will produce more heat and intensity. For this reason, you need to set them at a greater distance from the canopy. For example, you should place a 1000W light twice as far from the plants as compared to a 300W light.
You can find LED and HID grow lights for the best indoor grow setup. It is important to know the difference between these two, so you can decide better. LED grow lights produce less heat than HID lights, but they offer more intense light than HID lights (here we are talking about lights with the same wattage).
So, LED lights require more distance from plants than HID lights.
The best way to check if HID lights are in the right place is to test them with your hand. Place your hand above the plant, and if it feels too hot, try increasing the distance by 1-2 inches.
Repeat the same technique to check if your hand is still burning hot. If that’s not the case, your plants are at the right distance from the light. You can use the same method for LED lights as well.
To give you a clear picture, here are some general distance rules according to the watts. For 400W, the optimal distance is 16-24 inches, for 600W, 24-31 inches, while for 1000W led grow lights, 31-39 inches is recommended.
Now, we get to our next concern, which is how to fix the lights. First, set up the light rails or holders, then attach the lighting hoods in the right direction. You may have to experiment a bit to see in what direction your plants get maximum light. After that, manage all the wiring and put the cords in the power cord hole in the tent.
Grow Tent Ventilation
You can’t overlook ventilation while planning for the best indoor grow tent setup. Why is that necessary? The plants need a regular supply of fresh air and CO2 to keep the temperature under control.
How can you take care of ventilation inside a grow tent?
For the perfect ventilation, you’ll need a carbon filter, fan, and an exhaust fan in the tent. A carbon filter keeps the stinking weed smell out of the tent. However, it will only work if you have placed it correctly. The right position for a carbon filter is at the top-most area as the hottest air will accumulate in the upper part of your grow room.
Hang the carbon filter on the tent’s crossbars using the hanging equipment that comes with the filter. Similarly, hang the exhaust fan as well.
Here, you will see that the intake point is directed towards the carbon filter, whereas the exhaust fan points towards the ventilation opening spot. After that, install ducting between the filter and the fan.
Also, you need to use ducting from the fan to the ventilation opening in the grow tent. Once done, plug the power cords into the power cord hole.
It is essential to place a fan when you are aiming for the best grow tent setup. A clip-on fan is much better as you can attach it to the sidebars, so it gives circulating air to your plants. You can even use clamps or ropes to fix it to the sidebar.
Otherwise, a standing fan can provide the moving air in the grow tent as well.
Remember: the air shouldn’t directly hit the plants. You need to create an indirect airflow that offers a gentle breeze in the grow tent.
Timer for Grow Tent
You are on the right track to having the best indoor grow tent setup. Don’t forget to set up a timer and connect it with the lights. With a timer, your grow lights can turn on and off according to the time you set on the device.
Let’s not forget that minor negligence in the light schedule can affect the cannabis plant.
Heaters & Air Conditioners
We don’t want you to miss any detail when planning for the best grow tent setup. So, if you are worried about controlling the temperature in extreme weather conditions, you should consider investing in a grow tent heater or air conditioner beforehand.
For example, if you live in an area where the temperature drops below zero, then a heater is necessary to manage the temperature inside your grow tent. Putting a heater is easy as you only have to place it in the grow tent. Then connect its wire to the power cord hole, and voila, it starts working.
Keep an eye on the temperature to make sure it’s perfect for the plants.
On the other hand, if the temperature in your area rises above 80 Fahrenheit, you will need an air conditioner to ensure the healthy growth of cannabis.
Try to keep the internal temperature around 65-80 Fahrenheit, anything more or less is dangerous for the crop.
Installing the air conditioner is technical, so we suggest you get the standing one. It is easy to move around and saves you from installation fatigue.
What else do you need for the best indoor grow tent setup?
Thermos-Hygrometer
Have you thought about how you will keep an eye on the temperature and humidity in the growing space?
Here is an easy solution:
Put a grow room humidity controller or thermos-hygrometer in the grow tent.
It will give you the correct readings of temperature and humidity so you can control the factors as required. All you have to do is turn the device on and keep checking the readings regularly.
That’s all you need to set up a grow tent.
Next, we will discuss hydroponic growing.
Hydroponic Grow Tent Setup
Hydroponics is the future of gardening. As the name suggests, hydroponics is the method of growing plants without the use of soil.
You may wonder, how does it work, and why you should consider a hydroponic grow tent setup? We have covered these questions in detail below. Keep reading to know more.
Why Choose the Hydroponic System?
Before we get into details of a hydroponic grow tent setup, let’s have a look at its benefits.
With a hydroponic system, you’ll get greater yields as compared to soil. The hydroponic grow tent setup doesn’t take much space as the roots don’t spread in the soil. Can you join the dots? This way, you can place more plants in a small space.
Moreover, it’s a water-saving method; the plants take as much water as they need, while the rest is saved in the reservoir for later use. If you compare this to soil gardening, you will find that you are saving a lot of water.
That’s not all, though. Hydroponic growing also keeps you free from the weeds. For cannabis growers, pulling out the weeds is a daunting task, whereas, by using this method, you are free from the hassle.
Lastly, you can enjoy a safe grow space, as, without soil, plants won’t be affected by soil-borne diseases and pests.
With so many benefits, hydroponic growing is a better option to go for. Now, let’s move ahead and know the tips for a hydroponic grow tent setup.
How to Set up a Hydroponic Grow Tent?
We will get straight to the point.
Here is a list of supplies you will need:
- Buckets (capacity of 3-5 gallons)
- Grow table
- Clay pellets (that can fill each bucket)
- Rockwool cubes (one 1.5-inch starter plug per plant)
- Reservoir tank
- Water pump
- Air pump
- Airstone
- Plastic tube
- Dripline
- Dripline emitters (one or two for each plant)
Steps to Follow
Here is a step-by-step guide to help you set your hydroponic grow tent:
- First, you have to set up the reservoir. A reservoir holds the nutrient solution and has a line that comes in from the air pump to the airstone. It is also connected to a drainage line from the grow table. Moreover, the reservoir offers a line from the water pump to the drip line and the power cord for the water pump.
- Then, set up the grow table. This table shall collect and return the excess water from the plants to the reservoir. Install a drain on the low point of the table so that it takes water back through a plastic tube.
- After that, put the buckets filled with clay pellets on the table. Drill small holes under the buckets to drain excess water on the grow table.
- Then, take the plastic tube connected to the water pump and run the line to the grow table.
- After this, use drip line equipment to create holes in the plastic tube and bring the drip line to each bucket. Finally, place drip line emitters at the end of drip lines.
- Now, run the system to see if everything is running smoothly. If there is no standing water anywhere, it means you have successfully installed the equipment. The hydroponic grow space is now ready and you can introduce the nutrient water into the reservoir.
- Then, bring the cannabis clones that were kept in Rockwool, and place them in the clay pellets. Once you are done, attach the drip line so that the solution reaches the plant.
Hydroponic Nutrients
When working with hydroponic cannabis, you are in control of the nutrients as well. In this method, the roots don’t have to search for nutrients, which saves them from hard work. As a result, these plants are strong and grow fast.
Also, maintain the pH between 5.5-6.5 because this is the ideal condition to absorb the nutrients. Moreover, while dealing with nutrients, there is no room for error as they directly interact with the plants. So, get the best quality hydroponic nutrients to feed the cannabis crop and see amazing results.
Remember: When you plan for a hydroponic grow tent setup, make sure to invest your time as the best indoor grow setup requires your full attention and effort.
Last Thoughts about the Best Grow Tent Setup
This guide includes everything you need for the best grow tent setup. As you can see, you play the chief role in taking care of the plants, whereas the equipment has a minor part. If you want an estimate, it’s 85% grower, while the equipment takes the remaining 15% share for the healthy growth of your plants.
Now that you know everything about putting up a grow tent, get ready to create the perfect environment, and take good care of the cannabis plants.