How do you use a grow tent?

What is a Basic Grow Tent?

A basic grow tent is comprised of a lightweight, six-sided fabric exterior installed over a rigid frame and includes a main opening and various apertures suitable for electrical access, ventilation and other functions.

There are hundreds of grow tent varieties on the market offering a range of sizes and features for different applications and budgets.

Although there are complete grow tent packages that include the tent, onboard lighting and other components to make startup fast and easy right out of the box, grow tents are carefully designed to accommodate multiple hydroponic or even soil pot arrangements using a range of equipment.
What you Need in a Grow Tent
Durable canvas material with a reflective system that traps the light inside the tent.
Powerful CFM fan along with a carbon filter offering a temperature control, odor control, and air circulation.
An adequate surface area with enough room to grow plants inside without crowding them.
Tested hydroponics system that is easy to clean and easy to feed the plants using automated timers.
Automated high output grow lights offering plenty of light and heat for the plants.
Easy to install and use digital ballasts that are reliable and prevents light from going out.
How do you use a grow tent?

Grow tents use plastic for walls and roofs instead of glass, like a greenhouse. Corrugated plastic, like that used to patio roofs, is a great choice for a permanent grow tent. For more temporary structures that last for either one or a couple of seasons, 8 mil plastic fits the bill. Avoid thinner plastics as the wind will tear it apart by the end of the season. When you research information about grow tents, you will find that the design varies from gardener to gardener, and is only constrained by the imagination of the builder. Because of these differences in design, there will be various things to consider, or additional concerns that need to be addressed. For example, you may wonder about the temperature difference within the grown tent as opposed to that outdoors. This, of course, is dependent not only on the type of grow tent being used but the conditions outside like sun vs. cloudy weather. For this reason, you may find it helpful to include a thermometer inside the tent to monitor these conditions. You may also wonder about when to open or close the door of your grow tent and the effect this has on the plants inside. Again, this varies on weather (and the plants grown) but generally, if it's nice outside for the plants you have, opening the tent some to allow for a little airflow will not hurt anything. Close the door when temps fall below (or are expected to) the acceptable conditions for the plants being grown. It is best to close the door a few hours prior to the setting of the sun so that the tent has a chance to build up enough heat to keep it warm overnight. Once closed, heat and moisture will be trapped inside. While the sun is out, this heat continues to build but also remains when darkness falls. DIY grow tent design is a matter of need, not attractiveness. If you only have one or two tomato plants to save at the end of the summer, a simple sheet of plastic wrapped around the tomato cage can be enough. For larger garden plots, construct a frame from wood, bamboo or PVC pipes and fasten the plastic to the edges to enclose the interior space. There are many plants and different designs, all with various benefits. At a basic level, grow tents (like the one pictured above) are great for seed starting and cutting propagation. Grow tents can be good for starting crops early or extending the season. Whatever design you choose should fit the plants grown and its overall purpose.

Selecting a Grow Tent

When selecting a grow tent for your weed garden, the primary consideration should be its size. Depending on the amount of space you have and how many plants you want to grow, you can choose a grow tent as small as 2 feet square or up to 4 feet by 8 feet. The height of the grow tent is also important. You'll need some room at the top to hang your equipment and space between your lights and plants, so choosing a grow tent that is at least 4 feet high is a good idea.

The grow tent should be constructed of sturdy nylon or polyester canvas with a rating of at least 600D, or denier, a method of measuring the thickness of yarns in a fabric. On the interior side of the grow tent, a reflective layer is bonded to the canvas. The reflectivity of this layer can vary from about 50 percent up to 90 percent; those that are more reflective will help you use electricity more efficiently.
Equipping Your Grow Tent

To grow healthy and vigorous plants in your grow tent, you have to supply the contained environment with the light, fresh air, water, and nutrients they need. Lighting is generally provided via HPS (high-pressure sodium) or LED grow lights. While HPS grow light has been the standard for generations of cultivators, LEDs are getting more efficient and performing better all the time, making them a popular option for many home growers. LED grow lights also tend to run cooler and will need to be replaced less frequently than HPS bulbs.


Regardless of the lighting source you choose, the grow tent will most likely be too warm to support optimal plant growth unless you have proper ventilation. Install a fan and ducts to provide fresh air to the plants while blowing warm air out of the tent. If you're concerned about the strong aroma exuded by flowering cannabis plants, install a carbon filter in the exhaust duct to control odors.

Hang the lighting and ventilation equipment from the framework of the grow tent, ensuring that everything is secure and won't fall down. You can use an inexpensive pulley system to raise and lower lights to the optimum height above the plants if you wish, although this isn't a practical option if you're using HPS lamps with air-cooled reflectors.

For easier maintenance of the grow tent, a hydroponic system can be used to provide water and nutrients to your plants. Feed all power cords from your lighting, ventilation, and any other electrical equipment out of the tent through the included ports. Use a timer to ensure your lights run on the proper schedule.