AIRFLOW MANAGEMENT
Good airflow management is a critical practice with any successful indoor cannabis garden . You want to create a low-humidity environment where the ambient air is entirely exchanged at least every five minutes .
INLINE FANS : Inline fans are the most critical components of indoor garden exhaust systems . These systems pull hot , stale air from your growroom and expel it through an outtake vent . For most basic indoor gardens , the inline fan exhaust system is 100 percent responsible for exchanging fresh air and regulating temperature / humidity .
CARBON FILTERS : Carbon filters are integrated with your exhaust system to scrub the air of any smells before it is finally expelled from the outtake . Carbon filters come in many sizes that integrate with a variety of inline fans .
DUCTING : Ducting is used to connect the inline fan to your carbon filter ; it is also the vehicle through which stale air moves out of the growroom via the exhaust .
WALL FANS : Wall fans mix the air inside your growroom to ensure there aren ’ t any dead spots where pathogens might propagate .
MONITORING THE ENVIRONMENT
To ensure every element of your indoor garden is working correctly , you also need pieces of technology to monitor the environment .
THERMOMETER : The most important environmental factors to consider when growing cannabis indoors are heat and humidity . If either of these elements are out of balance , it can hinder plant growth while also allowing the spread of pathogens like mold and mildew . A digital thermometer integrated with a hygrometer is your best bet for monitoring temperature and humidity levels in your indoor garden .
SENSORS & TIMERS : Depending on your budget and infrastructure , some type of sensor or timer is required to regulate your grow lights and exhaust system . Importantly , light cycles need to be regulated for different phases of plant growth , while the exhaust system must be adjusted to keep the environment balanced at all times .
IRRIGATION
Obviously , your cannabis plants are going to need water and nutrients to survive . Due to its simplicity and affordability , most beginner growers opt for the hand-watering method .
RESERVOIR : The reservoir is where you will hold water and mix nutrients before irrigating your indoor garden . While any large plastic bin will work for a reservoir , most growers opt for large trash cans around 40-50 gallons in size .
WATER FILTER : Whether you are on city water or well water for irrigation , you will want to use some type of filter to lower hardness or eliminate chlorine . Some growers opt to use reverse osmosis filters to bring parts per million ( PPM ) down to zero , while others use more basic filters to clean additives from their water .
PUMP , HOSE , AND WAND : The pump , hose , and wand combination is used to get water from your irrigation reservoir to your cannabis plants . There are many types of pumps and wands on the market ; it ’ s best to opt for basic , inexpensive options when first getting started .
pH PEN : You must check the pH levels of your irrigation water in order to ensure your cannabis plants efficiently absorb nutrients . Not only do pH pens tell you the acidity of your irrigation water , but more advanced models give readings on PPM and electric conductivity ( EC ).
SUMMARY
The basic gear needed for growing cannabis indoors ensures conditions where plants thrive . The fundamentals of lighting , airflow , and irrigation can act as great guideposts for planning your garden . When you expand beyond basic grow equipment , increased automation generally goes hand-in-hand with decreased human labor .
Following basic cultivation principles will help you stick to a reasonable budget when first getting started with growing cannabis . As your knowledge base expands , you can try new pieces of equipment when making tweaks to your established system .
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