How to Manage Humidity and Smell in your Grow Tent

 

Things have been going along great in your grow tent until one day you open the door and OH NO! Problems have arisen. Here’s some tips on what to do when things are going wrong in the grow tent. 

 

Problem 1: Humidity

Too humid in the tent? Not humid enough? Both are problems. If it is too humid in the tent you can get mold or mildew on the leaves and the medium. I’ve even seen mildew on the walls if it’s too humid.

Plants “breathe” through their stomata on the leaves. If it’s too humid, the water that they emit from the leaves will not evaporate. You might see the plants wilt or rot in your tent. Furthermore, if the medium is too soggy, fungus gnats might show up. 

The solution is air flow. It is essential to have an exhaust fan to draw warm, humid air out of the grow tent and an intake fan to bring fresh air into the tent. You should also have an oscillating fan to move air around inside. However, if you live in a very humid climate you may also need a dehumidifier. This machine pulls humidity out of the air and then you dump out the water that collects in a little cup or drawer in the machine. 

After you solve your humidity problem, clean any moldy or fuzzy bits from the tent. If moldy leaves have fallen on the ground, remove them. Snip all moldy leaves off the plants and throw them out. Clean any mildew or mold with a weak bleach solution (do not get bleach on the plants.) If you can’t control the mold and your plants continue to suffer, throw them away, clean and dry the tent, and start again

If you are growing tropical plants like orchids or ferns, you may not have enough humidity in the grow tent. You still need air exchange and air flow, but you may want to add a small humidifier. A lower-tech solution would be to mist the plants with warm water a few times a day. This is for tropical plants only! Most vegetable plants don’t like

 

Problem 2: What’s that smell?

If you are growing a plant that is, well, odiferous, you may want to smell-proof your grow tent. The way smells are getting out of the tent is through the exhaust fan. The best way to clean odors is with a charcoal or carbon filter on the fan. Also, make sure the tent is completely zipped up and there are no air leaks. Any kind of stick on or foam insulation will help keep odors in. The only air coming out should be scrubbed through the filter on the exhaust fan. If you have flowers that smell good, no filter needed! 

 

The things you need in your grow tent are proper air exchange, air movement, and light. Try to balance the heat and humidity so it feels just right to you and your plants.

 

For more great content check out the Proponics YouTube channel below!

 

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