Growing Cannabis Indoors Using Grow Tents

Growing Cannabis Indoors Using Grow Tents

Using a grow tent to cultivate indoor cannabis is an easy, safe, and reliable way to grow cannabis. There are many benefits to using an indoor grow tent compared to converting a room, which can be challenging, requires power tools and labor, and takes several weeks to complete.

In this article, I explain everything you need to know about using a grow tent, including what equipment you need, the correct temperature, the right genetics, how to achieve a perpetual harvest using grow tents, and my top tips.

How Do Cannabis Grow Tents Work?

A grow tent is made from reflective Mylar and creates a smell-proof sealed space containing an extractor, carbon filter, and fans. Pots or a hydroponic system are placed on the grow tent floor underneath the grow lights, and the tent is opened using zippers. Cannabis grow tents are black on the outside and are available in different shapes and sizes, from as little as 60 cm x 60 cm x 100 cm to 240 cm x 240 cm x 180 cm.

Grow tents can be placed inside a bedroom, attic, or cellar and typically take an hour to set up and install the relevant equipment. Most growers use a 1.2 m² grow tent to grow 4-9 plants inside.

What Equipment Do You Need for a Cannabis Grow Tent?

Extractor Fan

The extractor fan pulls air out of the grow room from the top of the tent and is connected to the carbon filter and aluminum ducting. The extractor should be left on 24 hours a day.

Inline Fan

The inline fan, placed at the lowest part of the grow tent, blows air into the tent. It should be connected to a window for fresh air and left on for 24 hours daily.

Carbon Filter

The carbon filter cleans the air inside the tent before being extracted. The carbon inside the filter scrubs the air of plant aromas.

Ducting

Aluminium ducting is required to connect the extractor and carbon filter. The ducting must be connected with an airtight fit to ensure total efficiency.

Grow Lights

Grow lights give cannabis plants the spectrum they need for photosynthesis during the seedling, vegetation, and flowering stages.

Oscillating Fans

Grow tents require fans to produce air currents, which help strengthen plants and circulate the air inside.

Timer 

The grow lights are connected to the timer and will be set on 18/6 for vegetation and 12/12 for the flowering period.

Pots

Pots are placed on the floor of the grow room and filled with soil. Plastic, fabric or air pots are the most common choice for grow tents.

The Correct Temperature and Humidity Levels

Royal Queen Seeds recommends that somewhere between 18 and 22ºC would be appropriate during the night (with 20ºC being a good average for the whole grow), and during the day, somewhere between 22 and 26ºC would be suitable for the entire period. The best way to check the temperature and humidity levels inside a grow tent is to use a digital hygrometer.

Which Cannabis Seeds Are Best for Indoor Grow Tents?

Femenized Seeds

Female seeds produce only female plants, so removing male plants is unnecessary, which could lower the final plant count. Feminised seeds allow a grower to fill their tent, maximise the plant count, and expect the most significant yields possible.

Regular Seeds

Regular seeds will produce either male or female plants, which are often used by breeders who plan to make their seeds. According to M.S.N.L., the chances of getting a male in your tent are 50/50 with regular seeds. This means you must germinate twice the number of seeds to get the desired number of female plants.

How to Produce a Perpetual Harvest Using Cannabis Grow Tents

All you need for a perpetual harvest is a separate vegetation tent, a separate flowering tent and a separate drying tent. The goal to achieve a successful crop rotation is to grow your cannabis clones or seeds in the vegetation tent, and after 4 weeks, to place them into the flower tent. Once the flower tent is full of mature plants (usually 56-63 days), you repeat the process, starting the vegetation tent with new seeds or clones.

Dutch Passion advises using a grow tent for a perpetual harvest. When growing feminized cannabis seeds, you will need two tents, both with lights, fans, etc. So, inevitably, you will use more energy than a single-tent feminized seed grow. But your reward is a harvest every 8-9 weeks.

3 Top Tips When Growing Cannabis Using a Grow Tent

Hanging Your  Equipment

Grow tent equipment, such as extractor fans and carbon filters, can be heavy. It is best to hang your equipment using metal chains and hooks. Ensure you leave plenty of room for the grow lights and do not make the tent overcrowded.

Tie Up Loose Cables

Power cables and ducting may hang inside the grow tent and across the floor. Use cable ties to neatly wrap up loose wires to avoid a messy setup and potentially tripping over power cables. This will keep the grow tent clean and make it easy to work inside.

Avoid Light Breaks

Light breaks are when an external light source, such as a bedroom light, enters the tent whilst the lights are off. Opening the tent to check on your plants is one of the easiest ways to allow light inside during darkness, which can cause plants to turn hermaphrodite.

Final Thoughts

Setting up an indoor grow tent for growing cannabis should not take long; however, the most critical part for a first-time grower using tents is hanging their equipment in the right place with an airtight fitting. Always use a digital hygrometer to monitor the temperature and humidity, leave plenty of room to work inside, and avoid letting power cables and wires hang down.

Feature photo: A large-sized flowering room used during an 8-week crop rotation. Photo credit: Stoney Tark.