A grow tent can be a wonderful addition to your gardening tasks. With a grow tent, you can grow your own plants from seeds instead of buying seedling plants from the store. Grow tents are portable and very easy to take up and put down. With a grow tent you can get a jump start on the summer growing season. I’m going to go over some details explaining what a grow tent is, advantages to buying a grow tent, things to consider when buying one, features, types and our pick of the best grow tent on the market. I hope that this helps you when you shop for your own grown tent.
Our Top Picks for the Best Grow Tents
In the chart below, you will find our top 10 rated grow tents. For a more in-depth review of each model, please click on “Read Review.“
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Product Image |
Product Name |
Rating |
Review |
|---|---|---|---|
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Amagabeli 4×4 Hydroponic Grow Tent |
4.8 out of 5 |
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CoolGrows Grow Tent |
4.7 out of 5 |
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EasyGrowth Reflective Mylar Hydroponic Grow Tent |
4.2 out of 5 |
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Helios Hydro Grow Tent |
4.4 out of 5 |
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Hydroplanet Mylar Hydroponic Grow Tent |
4.2 out of 5 |
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IDAODAN Grow Tent |
4.0 out of 5 |
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iPower Hydroponic Water-Resistant Grow Tent |
4.5 out of 5 |
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Ohuhu Growing Tent |
4.2 out of 5 |
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TopoLite Full Range Multiple Sized Grow Tent |
4.6 out of 5 |
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VIVOSUN Mylar Hydroponic Grow Tent |
4.4 out of 5 |
Top Ten Best Grow Tents
- iPower Hydroponic Water-Resistant Grow Tent
- VIVOSUN Mylar Hydroponic Grow Tent
- Ohuhu Growing Tent
- Amagabeli 4×4 Hydroponic Grow Tent
- TopoLite Full Range Multiple Sized Grow Tent
- Hydroplanet Mylar Hydroponic Grow Tent
- IDAODAN Grow Tent
- CoolGrows Grow Tent
- Helios Hydro Grow Tent
- EasyGrowth Reflective Mylar Hydroponic Grow Tent
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What Is a Grow Tent?
A grow tent is a portable and reusable grow room. It is made of a sturdy canvas exterior, and usually has a reflective interior material to increase the effectiveness of its built-in grow lights. Grow tents are much similar to grow boxes, except that with grow tents you can easily take it apart. There is a lot of space in a grow tent, which is nice for growing plants. This also means that you can easily take care of the plants without crushing them. The high CFM fan and the carbon filter provide temperature control, air circulation and odor control. There are also automated timers, which are there to ensure that you never forget to water your plants.
There are many sizes and types of grow tents, and some I will talk about later in this article. Because of the different types, there are also many different prices as well as different grow tent brands. The nice thing about the different types is that there are many choices for you to choose from, and some might fit your budget.
Advantages/Reasons for Buying
There are many advantages to buying a grow tent. Grow tents are much easier to use than grow boxes, and can easily be taken apart if you ever need to move it. Below I made a list of the advantages of a grow tent, and why you may want to buy one.
Easy to Set Up
Grow tents come with an instruction manual, which means that the grow tent assembly is easy. For most grow tents, one person can easily set it up alone. If the grow tent is large, then you may need someone to help.
Portable
A nice feature about grow tents is that they are portable. Since they are made of fabric, grow tents can easily be taken down and put up somewhere else. They are very lightweight, which is nice compared to other types of structures.
Can Be Used Year-Round
With grow tents, you can grow your favorite veggies or flowers year-round without worrying about the cold. Grow tents should always stay around the temperature of 67 °F to 87 °F, so you never have to worry about your plants freezing.
Keeps Pests Out
Pests that would normally get to your plants can’t now because the plants are enclosed. As long as you keep the tent closed, pests will not be able to get in.
Durable
All grow tents are different, but most are very strong and durable. To ensure that you get a durable grow tent, look for one with thick fabric, sturdy support structure, good quality connectors, a waterproof bottom, big zippers, adjustable pipe holes, and good stitching.
Saves Time
Grow tents are quick to set up, and therefore will not require a lot of your time. But even after it is set up it will save you time. Because of the automated timers, you can easily check to see if it is time to water your plants, without having to constantly check throughout the day.
Considerations When Buying
Before you buy a grow tent, think about what kind you are going to need. Think about your lifestyle, what is easiest for you, and what will work well for the way you live. Below I made a list of some things to consider before and while buying a grow tent.
What size will you need?
Grow tents come in sizes from 2’ x 2’ all the way up to 10’ x 20’. With all the different sizes that they come in, you will need to choose which one works best for you. Consider how many plants you will be growing, and what sized plants they will be. If they are small plants, you probably won’t need as much height as you would for tall plants.
Think about your budget.
All grow tents are different, and therefore all come with a different price tag. Because of this, you will need to think about which one fits your budget. Some grow tents are fairly cheap, with the price around $30. Others are hundreds, if not thousands of dollars. The higher the price, the better the quality. You will need to think about if you are ready to spend a lot of money or if you would like a less expensive grow tent.
Where will you put it?
Although grow tents are portable, it is good to decide where you will put it ahead of time. Consider the space you have in relation to the size of the grow tent before buying. Also, consider a place where you can easily get to it, but where it will be out of the way. You may not want it right out in the open, since the light may bother neighbors. If it will be an indoor garden grow tent, then you might not need your grow tent to be as durable as it would need to be if it were outdoors. Also, you may want it to be a small indoor grow tent.
Will you be adding accessories?
If you are planning on adding lights or hanging plants, then make sure to get a grow tent with enough support bars at the top. Strong support bars are also good for hanging ventilation fans. If you are unsure whether or not you will add anything, then it is best to get a grow tent with strong support bars in case you decide to add stuff to it in the future.
Common Questions
Although I’ve gone through some considerations and advantages of a grow tent, you still may have some questions. And that is perfectly alright. When shopping for a grow tent, you will want to make sure to get the right one that will fit your needs. I’m going to go over some common questions that you may have, and hopefully, it will answer your questions and concerns.
How much light does my plant need?
No matter where you’re growing your plant, whether it is in a grow tent or in a grow box, you will want to make sure that it gets enough light. A good way to decide how much light you need in a grow tent is to use a chart. There are many free charts online that you can use. Remember that you will not need as much light if you have a small grow tent. Although a lot of light won’t hurt the plant, the heat from the light may damage it. If you notice that the leaves on your plant start becoming brown, then it may be that you have too much light.
Should I wait to buy a grow tent until I get better at gardening?
Anyone can use a grow tent, even those who are not skilled at indoor gardening. As long as you provide your plant’s needs, such as proper light and water, it doesn’t really matter if you are great at gardening. If you are new to indoor gardening, you may want to start with a simple grow tent that doesn’t require a lot of work. A small grow tent is a good choice for beginners so that you can care for each plant without being overwhelmed.
What is the easiest grow tent to set up?
Setting up a grow tent can be a challenge. While it may not bother you that it takes a while to install, the time you spend installing your grow tent is time that you could’ve used to be gardening. So, with that being said, you may want to choose a grow tent that is easy to install. One grow tent that is considered very easy to install is the Gorilla grow tent. Gorilla tents come with easy-to-follow instructions, which makes installing very simple and easy. The Gorilla grow tent also has heavy-duty zippers, which once again makes installing much easier. Some Gorilla grow tents come with the LED grow lights and exhaust fan. Tents that come with the light and fan will be more expensive, but it will save you time from searching for a light that will work with your tent. Because Gorilla grow tents are very durable, this is often considered one of the best grow tents out there. For further information, you can read more about the Gorilla tent later in this article.
How do I grow cannabis in a grow tent?
Grow tents are often used for growing cannabis. In fact, cannabis (also known as marijuana) is one of the most common plants that are grown in a grow tent. To make sure that your cannabis grows properly and healthy, you will want to make sure that all the plants are under the light. For the best results, make sure to have good airflow, lighting, waterproof material, and an easy to clean surface. Make sure your grow tent has plenty of room for your cannabis. When growing cannabis, you may also need to purchase a grow tent that is tall. If you have a tall grow tent with lots of room, your cannabis will grow tall.
What other accessories do I need?
When you purchase your grow tent, it is important to buy everything else that you will need as well. We all know that the plants will need grow lights, but you may not know what other accessories are needed. You may be able to find a tent kit that comes with all of the added accessories, but if you bought a cheap grow tent it probably didn’t come with all that. If yours didn’t come with any other accessories, then here is what you will need.
Clip-on fan: The fan is for keeping the air circulating and preventing the air from getting too hot. Any fan will work, but a clip-on fan is one of the best options.
Phresh carbon filter: The phresh carbon filter is for keeping the air free from dust and odors. It will keep the air clean and will prevent you from having to smell the odors that may be in the room.
Features
As I’ve said before, all grow tents are different. Some are going to come with a lot of features, while others may just have a simple structure. The higher the price, the higher the quality, so if you are looking for a grow tent with lots of features you will want a more expensive one. Below is a list of some things that might come with your grow tent.
Removable Floor Tray
Some grow tents come with a removable floor tray. This makes cleaning much easier. The trays are usually waterproof.
Vents
Grow tents should have some vents for ventilation, which also helps with the odor control.
Heavy Duty Zippers
The best quality grow tents have heavy duty zippers. Good zippers are important because you will be using them a lot. Keep in mind that not all grow tents have good zippers. In fact, one of the most common complaints with grow tents is that the zippers don’t work well. But if you find good grow tent brands, and tents that are a little bit more expensive, you will probably get good zippers. It may be worth the extra money to get heavy duty zippers.
Double Stitching
One of the most common complaints, next to zippers that don’t work well, are seams that rip. When a tent rips it is probably damaged forever, since sewing it together yourself may ruin it even more. Because of this, you will want to look for a grow tent that has double stitching.
Metal Rods
One main feature that comes with all grow tents is metal rods. Metal rods are an important feature since the rods are what hold up the tent. Although some tents are made of wood, grow tents that are made of metal poles will be much stronger.
Reflective Interior Material
All grow tents have a reflective material inside. This is what helps increase the effectiveness of the grow lights. Sometimes it is white inside, but usually, it has mylar. Because of this, it is often called a mylar grow tent.
Different Types
Grow tents come in many different types. Each type has a unique purpose and works differently in its own special way. I’ve put together a list below for some of the different types of grow tents.
Apollo Horticulture
The Apollo Horticulture isn’t exactly a type, but it is a very popular grow tent because it is durable, has a good warranty, and is pretty affordable. There are different sizes, such as the Apollo Horticulture 36 x 36 x 72, the Apollo Horticulture 60 x 60 x 80, and the 4 x 4 grow tent.
Seedling Grow Tent
Seedling grow tents have shelves that are made to hold the seedlings. This allows you to grow lots of different plants at the same time.
iPower Grow Tent
Most iPower grow tents are very wide and can hold a lot of plants. Some have rear doors for you to go in and out of, but keep in mind that not all do.
Marijuana Grow Tent
Marijuana grow tents have clear plastic panels so that you can watch the marijuana grow. You can, however, turn any hydroponic grow tent into a marijuana grow tent. All you need to do is line up the marijuana in the tent, preferably in pots. That way, all of the marijuana are under the light. The only con about growing marijuana in a regular grow tent is that you can’t look through the clear panels. The benefits of growing marijuana in a grow tent is that the marijuana grows healthy, solid, and balanced. Make sure you are allowed to grow marijuana in your state. In some states, it is outlawed, but others allow marijuana to be grown for medicinal reasons.
Gorilla Grow Tent
The Gorilla tent is a very popular grow tent, and for some, it is considered the best tent out there. It is not necessarily a type of grow tent, but rather a brand that offers many different styles and sizes of grow tents. There are many Gorilla tent sizes, including the following: the 4×4 grow tent, the 4×8 grow tent, the 3×3 grow tent, the 5×5 grow tent, and the 2×4 grow tent. It is a very easy grow tent kit that can be set up and is very durable. You can grow almost any plant in the Gorilla tent, such as growing weed or vegetables. Keep in mind that Mylar is a good material for the inside of a grow tent, and the Gorilla grow tent does not seem to have Mylar in it. It does, however, have reflective interior material, and it is considered more reflective than other brands despite the fact that it may not have Mylar lining. Some Gorilla tents, as I mentioned earlier, come with the light. This makes life easier since the instructions will tell you how to install the light. Keep in mind that grow tents with the light will be more expensive, but it will probably be worth it.
Grow Tent Pros and Cons
Pros
- You can start your gardening early by planting seeds
- Grow tents can be automated to your settings
- There are a wide variety of features to choose from
Cons
- Can get pricey
Our Pick of the Best Grow Tent
Our pick for the best grow tent is the iPower Hydroponic Water-Resistant Grow Tent.
Conclusion
A grow tent can give you a jump start on your summer garden. Instead of buying seedlings for vegetables and flower plants you can start your own plants from seed in a grow tent. After the initial cost of a grow tent, it can actually save you money in the long run since you can grow plants from seeds instead of buying seedlings. I’ve gone over the basics of a grow tent including what it is, types, features, and advantages to buying one. When buying a grow tent think about how much you want to spend and what features are going to be important to you. Then have fun growing your own plants instead of buying them from a nursery.
Related Article:
- How to Assemble Your Own DIY Grow Tent
- Important Things to Consider When Using a Grow Tent
- Grow Tent Lighting Options to Consider
- Grow Room Humidity: Tips for Success