- Good Air Circulation
- Proper Ventilation (if required for heat)
- CO2 Increases Yields … PERIOD
- Temperature Control
- Humidity Control
- Adequate Lighting
- Clean PH Correct Water
- Well Rounded Nutrient Profile
- Organic Soil or Neutral Mixes
- Regular Maintenance
Let’s break these items down with a quick description for a better understanding of each.
Good Air Circulation
Plants physically need movement from a fan to stay strong, ensure moisture does not build up where leaves touch each and to keep an even temperature throughout the growing area.
Proper Ventilation
Fresh air is required for bringing in CO2 and to cool the air for environments which are too warm.
If you are using a closed system with cool lights or AC/Dehumidifiers in the room you MUST add CO2 to the mix.
Ventilation can also be a great way of controlling humidity but the air needs to come from a fresh source and be monitored. Bringing in humid air from a dirty crawl space or garage is not usually a good thing. All air should be properly filtered to ensure that contaminants are not introduced into the grow area.
CO2 Increases Yields
CO2 can increase yields by up to 20%, this is a fact that can be researched in numerous locations. We personally do not run a tent or indoor grow without supplemental CO2 because history of tests have proven to us that it works.
Knowing your level of CO2 in a growing environment is not simply accomplished but there are tools to validate levels of CO2 in a given area.
Temperature Control
Most Cannabis strains prefer temperatures in the
70-85 °F (20-30 °C) for Vegetative growth
65-80 °F (18-26 °C) for Flowering when lights are on.
When the lights are off slightly cooler temps (10°F / 8°C) will simulate outdoor night-time temps.
Bottom heat is the best way to control your heat, air can circulate in the space easy enough. Trying to warm a cold floor without bottom heat is a losing battle. We always put chunk of Styrofoam insulation under our tents if there is any chance of having a floor which is too cool.
Humidity Control
100% for newly cut Clones, 70% once roots are established.
60% – 70% for Young Seedlings.
50% – 70% for vegetative growth.
50% – 60% for flowering.
40% at end of budding (dense buds are prone to problems when humidity is too high)
Adequate Lighting
Believe it or not T5HO and LED strip lighting is far superior to most lighting out there. The main reasons for this are plentiful.
- Low heat generation
- Affordable initial and replacement cost
- Higher square foot coverage while reducing watt consumption
- Evenly dispersed light patterns (reduced high intensity spots)
- Simple coverage options to maximize watts per cu/ft.
- Low replacement cost
- No need for multiple ballasts to change spectrum
- increased fire safety, cool to the touch fixtures
Clean PH Correct Water
Depending on your level of obsession for optimum results, simple tap water will often suffice. Dead on accurate PH will increase production, Using RO water will increase returns even higher.
Well Rounded Nutrient Profile
Nutrient free growing mixes are fine with engineered nutrient schedules. Super Soils will increase production. Extra additives can boost returns higher yet. Combine all the above for ridiculous returns.
Organic Soil or Neutral Mixes
While neutral grow mediums can deliver good returns, Engineered growing media will always get you on track for maximum yields.
Organic Soils mixed with High Nutrient Feeding Rates can BURN PLANTS.
Combine your chosen Media with Nutrients accordingly.
Regular Maintenance
Self contained systems require a few special considerations to be successful but they can deliver great results if done correctly. Ensuring that all of the above items are in the right ranges does not take much time, even the simplest system will give you finished bud. Once you cut down and trim your first crops you should have some ideas on how to make things better.
Fans and Air Quality @ RBF Online Store (new window)
CO2 @ RBF Online Store (new window)
Nutrients @ RBF Online Store (new window)
Meters and Testing @ RBF Online Store (new window)
Heat Mats @ RBF Online Store (new window)
Lighting @ RBF Online Store (new window)
Soils and Media @ RBF Online Store (new window)