Growing plants indoors with hydroponics allows you to provide yourself and your loved ones with fresh produce year around. However, just like outdoor-grown plants, those grown indoors must have a certain type of environment in which to grow. Humidity, air circulation, light and temperature needs must be met so plants can thrive in an indoor environment. Use these environmental control tips to provide the perfect indoor environment in which to successfully grow plants of your choice.
Grow Tent
A grow tent is a great way to provide the perfect environment for plants. Grow tents are portable, very easy to setup and easy to break down to store or to move. Using a grow tent allows you to size your grow space perfectly. The tents take up very little space and make plant growing easy even in small indoor spaces. You can grow in an extra bedroom, an extra closet, the attack or basement, whatever you have space for. The tents are insulated, light-reflecting, ventilated and allow a gardener to start and grow plants year around, regardless of the weather outdoors.
Grow Room Environment
To help control the environment within a room, start by painting the walls of the room a bright white so light will be reflected onto the plants and optimize the amount of light in the room.
Add a couple of oscillating fans to keep the air circulating around in the room to help prevent the plants from developing diseases. Many plant diseases can be prevented with good air circulation. Plants grow better in a humid environment, but overly humid air will cause the plants to develop leaf mold. Indoor hydroponic gardens provide plenty of moisture for the air and the fans will keep the moist air circulating. When growing indoor plants without the use of hydroponics, a humidifier will be needed in the room to keep the air humid for optimum growth.
Day and Night
Day and night temperatures differ and the indoor growing environment will need to be adjust accordingly. A digital Hygrometer will alert growers to any changes in the humidity level within the room so adjustments can be made as needed to keep temperature and humidity levels from extreme fluctuations. Adjusting the amount of air being brought in and out of your grow room is a great way to adjust for temperature. Use a fan speed controller to adjust the power of your inline fan.
Lighting Timers
Timers have one main function in the hydroponic ecosystem and that is to turn electronics on and off. The timing of lights, feeding schedules and fans is important to work perfectly in order to have a successful grow. Lights should be turned off and on at exactly the same time every day for best indoor growing results. A digital timer for the grow lights is the easiest way to stay on track with time once you discover the best lighting time for your plants.
I really like that you mentioned painting the walls of a grow room white to reflect more light onto the plants. Now that our kids are grown and gone, my wife and I are planning on constructing a grow room just to try something new. Thanks for the tips! I’ll be sure to keep this information in mind while we plan our grow room!