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Growing your own cannabis is a fun and rewarding hobby that will also save you a lot of money. For many growers’ space can be an issue. Most of us may not have an extra room or closet in our house to convert into a grow room for our plants but if you have just a bit of space in the corner of a room or garage or maybe a secure balcony, then a grow tent may be a great option. 

 

What Is a Grow Tent?

A grow tent is a portable, reusable structure made from sturdy canvas material. The inside will usually be made of reflective material to increase the effectiveness of grow lights. The fabric structure is assembled around a sturdy frame to provide a home for your cannabis plants to grow. This frame also serves as a support structure for grow lights, fans, filters, and other equipment, allowing you to customize your cultivation environment. There are many grow tent varieties available on the market, offering a range of sizes and features to suit different applications and budgets. 

Grow Tent Frame

The structure of the grow tent is made of supporting poles that are installed under the fabric shell. The poles provide stability and help to reinforce the shape of the exterior of the grow tent. Tent frames can be made of many different types of material. Heavy-duty steel construction is strong and rigid but is more expensive, heavier and may be more inconvenient to set up and break down compared to lighter weight metal and synthetic materials which can still support heavy loads.

As a general rule, thicker poles with applicable fittings will sustain more weight than thinner poles and will provide a more stable frame. Manufacturers will normally publish a maximum weight rating for their tent frames. Lightweight frames limit the type and amount of hanging equipment a tent can safely support.

In general, you will pay more attention to the maximum weight rating in larger grow tents as the interior size of smaller tents already limits the size of the equipment you can install. In larger tents there is sufficient area to accommodate numerous plants and sophisticated equipment such as lights, ducting, fans, filters and other components which can start to get very heavy and may overtax the maximum weight recommendations of some tents. 

 

 

Grow Tent Zippers and Seams

Broken zippers and tears around the seams are the two most common complaints when it comes to grow tents. The door on a grow tent is typically sealed with a long, often multi-part zipper that manoeuvres around curves. Most grow tents make use of large-gauge, heavy duty plastic zippers, but constant use in opening and closing the doors makes them a prime candidate for mishaps.  Torn stitching and broken zippers can happen even in high quality tents but can be avoided with proper care.

You should clean zippers regularly by brushing or wiping them regularly to remove dirt and grit that may become lodged in and around the teeth.

Seam damage or tearing around the zipper can result from pulling to hard or just general wear and tear when a lower quality fabric is used.

Manufacturers will sometimes double stitch their seams for added strength and to avoid zipper seams tearing. If a tent has this feature, it is a good indicator that it is a quality tent.

 

 

Grow Tent Zippers and Seams

One of the goals when growing in an enclosed environment is regulatory control. This is where managing access to the outside world becomes important. It can, however, be challenging as a lot of the equipment used will often need to access the environment outside the tent for electrical service, air circulation and other purposes.

A grow tent is designed to accommodate a variety of equipment from any manufacturers. The included access ports, vents and other openings need to be correctly sized and placed to suit as much equipment and as many set up options as possible.

Larger tents normally offer more ports and vents because more equipment is used. 

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Benefits of Growing in a Grow Tent

• Controlled Environment

A grow tent gives you complete control over the growing environment. A grow tent is specifically designed for growing. In a grow tent you will be able to control the temperature, humidity, light schedule, and light intensity, ensure there is proper air circulation and that new air is always being introduced. This may seem like a lot but it becomes easier to control these elements and use them to grow strong and healthy plants as you gain experience.

• Quick and Easy to Set Up

Assembling your grow tent is quick and easy. You do not need any additional tools and can have your grow tent up and running in an afternoon.

• Stealth

When properly set up a grow tent can prevent smells and light from escaping. This is an advantage if you want to keep your grow on the down low. It can be tucked away in a big closet, corner of a room or in a garage without drawing too much attention.

• Helps Prevent Bugs

A grow tent helps minimise pests and infestations. Although grow tents cannot guarantee that you will not ever struggle with a pest problem, the chances are much less than growing outdoors.

• Keeps buds Clean

In addition to minimising bugs from getting on your plants, grow tents can also help keep dust and debris out. In flowering the trichomes on your buds become surprisingly sticky making it easy for dust and flying debris like animal hair to get stuck to the buds. A grow tent will help keep those buds looking great.

• Waterproof and Easy to Clean

A grow tent usually has a waterproof floor that will contain any spills when watering your plants. This is great because you won’t need to worry about water leaking out onto your floors or carpets. Some tents come with a removable floor tray which makes cleaning even more simple. You can just remove the floor tray and wipe it down.

• Grow Tents are Adaptable and Versatile

A grow tent is a great way to utilize an area without completely transforming it. You can also easily dismantle the grow tent once you've finished your cycle. A grow tent is also versatile because you can still try out different growing systems. If you're thinking of moving from a soil grow to a hydroponic grow you can do so with ease. 

 

Some Final Notes

A grow tent is a great option for any grower looking to start their indoor garden. It is the fastest and easiest way to start growing indoors. Plants have evolved to thrive in an outside environment. When you’re growing indoors, you’re essentially creating a mini version of the plants outside environment. There is no better way to create your mini environment than by starting with a grow tent that is designed for all the factors that will go into creating your indoor environment.

 

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