What Is a Grow Tent?
A grow tent is a portable and reusable grow room. The exterior is made of a sturdy canvas, and the interior has a reflective material that increases the effectiveness of its built-in grow lights. The difference between a grow tent and a grow box is that a grow tent can easily be taken apart. There is a lot of space in a grow tent, which is nice for growing plants. This also means that you can take care of your plants without crushing them. A nice feature is the high CFM fan, as well as the carbon filter, which provides temperature control, air circulation and odor control. The automated timers ensure you that you will never forget to water the plants. Grow tents come in many different sizes and types. Because of the different types, there are also different prices as well as different brands. To choose the right brand and type for you, you will need to decide what will fit your budget.
Why You’d Want to Use One
There are many advantages and reasons as to why you might want to try a grow tent. Not only are most of them cheap, but they also serve as a place to grow your favorite vegetables and flowers. Here are some other reasons as to why you might want to give the grow tent a try.
You Can Grow Things Year-Round
It doesn’t matter what season it is when you have a grow tent, because you can grow vegetables any time of the year. Using a grow tent is also a good way to get your vegetables started before they get moved to the garden. If you are planting seedlings, then this is a great way to get your plants growing before they have to move outside.
Grow Tents Keep Pests Out
Unlike a garden, a grow tent is going to keep pests out of your plants. As long as you keep your tent closed, then no pests will be able to get to your plants.
Easy to Set Up
A nice thing about grow tents is that they are very easy to set up. Some don’t require any tools to set up. All of them should come with instructions. Because of the easy setup, this will save you a lot of time.
Portable
Unlike grow boxes, grow tents are portable and can be moved around. Because they are made of fabric, they are lightweight and can easily be placed somewhere else.
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Things to Consider Before Buying a Grow Tent
Before you buy a grow tent, you will want to think about a few things. You will want to consider your lifestyle, what will make life easier, and what your budget is. Below I made a list of some things for you to consider and think about.
What Size Works Best for You?
Grow tents come in sizes from 2’ x 2’ all the way up to 10’ x 20’. Because of all the different sizes, it is important to think about which one will work best for you. Consider the size of your plants and how many you will be growing.
What Is Your Budget?
Since there are so many different types of grow tents out there, there are also different prices. Before buying, think about what will fit your budget. Some grow tents are fairly cheap, around $30, while others are hundreds or thousands of dollars. Keep in mind that the higher the price the higher the quality. If yours will be an indoor grow tent, then you can get away with a cheaper grow tent. However, if yours will be an outside grow tent, then it would be wise to get a durable and strong tent.
Where Will the Tent Go?
Although grow tents are portable, you will want to consider where it will go ahead of time. Think about if it will be an indoor garden grow tent, or if it will go outdoors. Think about where it would be most convenient for you, and where you have a space that it will fit in.
Should You Buy a Grow Tent Kit?
The nice thing about a grow tent kit is that it includes everything you need to get a hydroponic garden growing in no time. Items such as LED grow lights, rope ratchets, an exhaust fan, and a thermometer are all included. Buying a tent kit like this will ensure that you have all the necessary equipment you need to get started, as well as the proper light to get the job successfully done.
Best Things to Grow in a Grow Tent
Almost all plants will grow and thrive in a grow tent. A grow tent is a good environment for growing vegetables, since it provides the warmth and light that the plants need. While practically any plant can be grown in a grow tent, I will go over some things that grow especially well in a grow tent.
Tomatoes
Growing tomatoes in a grow tent can be an easy and fun experience, and can result in a large amount of tomatoes for you to eat. Using a grow tent is also a good way for getting your tomatoes started before moving them to your garden. Just make sure to have proper ventilation so that fungus and mold don’t develop.
Peppers
Peppers are a great vegetable to grow, and they yield a lot of peppers. For growing peppers in a grow tent, you will probably want a hydroponic grow tent setup. All that this means is that you will line the peppers in pots full of soil. Make sure that they get plenty of water and 6-8 hours of light cycle per day.
Cauliflower
Cauliflower is a great vegetable to grow indoors. Make sure that they have plenty of water and good airflow. As long as they have that, they should produce a large crop. Broccoli is also a good vegetable to grow and can be grown the same way as cauliflower.
Beans
Beans are very easy to grow. You will want to use a trellis or netting along with stakes to keep them under control, and give them something to wind around. Also try to avoid having them crawl up to the hot lights.
Strawberries
If you are wanting to grow a delicious fruit in your grow tent, then look no further than the strawberry plant. Since strawberries aren’t a huge plant, it is easy to grow them in a small grow tent. You can also pack many of them into a small space, so if you have a small grow tent then this is a good plant to grow.
Pros & Cons of a Grow Tent
Just like any product, a grow tent has its pros and cons. I’ll go over some of those here.
Pro: Easy Setup
A nice thing about grow tents is that they are easy to set up. All of them come with instructions for the grow room setup, and some don’t require any tools.
Con: Sometimes the Zippers Don’t Work Well
A common complaint is that the zippers don’t work well. This, of course, will depend on the quality of the tent and how much you are using it. Make sure to check it regularly to make sure that dirt isn’t blocking the zipper.
Pro: Grow Tent Temperature Control
Because of the air vents, the grow tent can’t overheat the plants. Yet because it is zipped up, it cannot get too cold. Although you should check to make sure that it is not too hot or cold, most grow tents have good temperature control.
Con: The Seams Rip Sometimes
The seams of the tent have been known to rip sometimes. To prevent this from happening, watch that you don’t pull or tug too hard when unzipping the tent.
Pro: Portable
A nice thing about grow tents is that they are portable. This means that if you are not satisfied with where you put it, you can easily move it to somewhere else.
Con: The Price Can Get Expensive
If you are looking for a durable and strong grow tent, then you will probably have to buy a more expensive tent. Some are hundreds, if not thousands of dollars, so be prepared for a higher price.
Grow Tent Popularity
Grow tents are becoming very popular nowadays. This is probably because people, like you, are looking for a way to provide a friendly environment for small plants and seedlings. Other reasons for this popularity in grow tents is that they keep pests away, helps maintain the proper moisture content, and is easy to set up. A lot of grow tents are inexpensive, so this is another reason that many people enjoy grow tents.
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How Do Grow Tents Work?
There are many parts to a grow tent’s setup. The main features of a grow tent are the frame, the fabric, the zippers, the seams, the ports, and the vents. All of these features have their individual purposes, and these purposes I’ll go over here.
Grow Tent Frame
The frame is very important when constructing a grow tent since this is what holds itself up. If you are making a DIY indoor grow tent, then you will want to use thick poles since thin ones aren’t as stable. Keep in mind, however, that thicker poles will take up a little bit more room inside the grow tent. If your grow tent is really small, then it is fine to use thin poles.
Grow Tent Fabric
The material for a grow tent is another important feature. For the outside fabric, you will want something that is strong and durable. Nylon or polyester is often used. For the inside, you will want mylar grow tent fabric. There are many DIY grow tent material kits out there, so finding the fabric that you will need should be easy.
Grow Tent Zippers and Seams
The most common complaints in grow tents are that the zippers don’t work and seams can rip. To prevent this from happening to your tent, you will want to keep your zippers clean. Remove any dirt that is in front of the zippers. Don’t pull too hard, or the seams may rip. If you are making a homemade indoor tent, then you may want to sew the seams twice and get heavy duty zippers for tents.
Grow Tent Ports and Vents
The vents in a grow tent are important for keeping good airflow. Since this is important, make sure to have good openings in your grow tent.
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Summing Up
As you can see, there are many great reasons why you should use a grow tent. Not only are they portable and easy to assemble, but they also allow you to grow things all year round. However, before purchasing one, you’ll want to consider what has been mentioned above. If you have thought it through and factored in the pros and cons, you will know whether or not a grow tent is a good choice for you.
Related Article: Best Grow Tent for Growing Plants – Our Top 10 Choices for You to Choose
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