With proper knowledge and practice, you can develop the
wherewithal to keep your space free of dirt, dust, debris, pests and
disease potential, with minimal effort.The following is a compilation of habits and tips to keep your growroom, tools and self as
clean as can be while maintaining a fertile environment. Oh, and
remember that consistency is key.
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The growroom
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This is your plants’ home, so keep it tidy and clean! Growrooms
are full of stuff—hydroponic systems, cords, fans, grow equipment, plants, containers, dirt and nutrients—and it can get messy.
Of course, if messes are left unnoticed too long, they can easily
spill over and affect your end product. Conversely, if everything
has its place and is consistently maintained, you will be rewarded
with lovely plants.
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Make a daily habit of clearing dead leaves and other plant
matter from inside containers, on the ground or in hydroponic systems. Dead plant matter can quickly morph into a
breeding ground for pests and disease.
Be vigilant in cleaning reservoirs either weekly or biweekly to maintain proper nutrient and pH levels.
Clear you intake filter at least once a month to inspect for
bugs and to maximize airflow. The filter is a guard against
dirt, dust, bugs and other undesired outdoor matter from
tainting your room.
Create a routine to eradicate and prevent pests. Prevention
is the easiest way to keep a growroom pest-free—once
they’re in, they’re a pain to get rid of. Also, be sure to
change out sticky traps as needed.
Clean up spills immediately. Water, plant runoff, nutrients
and whatever else that ends up on the floor can add to the
room’s humidity and lead to mold development.
Keep the ground free of unnecessary debris. This includes
cords (an obvious safety precaution), equipment and anything else that could get in the way while sweeping debris
and leaf matter from the floor.
Thoroughly clean and sterilize any reusable growing mediums.
Once a grow cycle is complete, give the room a meticulous
scrub down. Clear out and sanitize the entire room and all
tools, shelves, mediums and anything else that could use it.
The tools
These bad boys are extensions of you. Measuring cups, clippers,
meters, lights, spray bottles…they’re all ways to ease and enhance
the growing process. But they can get dirty! As a general rule,
clean everything after each use and when showing signs of grime.
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Sanitize and clean clippers, shears and other tools with
alcohol or flame right after every use. Make it one of those
amazingly anal-retentive habits as it cuts down on possible
cross contamination.Your disease- and pest-free plants will
thank you. Plus, putting away clean tools means they’re
ready for the next use.
Clean pH and TDS meters regularly and according to the
manufacturer’s instructions.
Maintain a clean fan by keeping its blades and filters free
of dust and dirt. Clogged filters can reduce their efficiency;
proper upkeep will keep airflow at a maximum.
Maximize the amount of light shining through lights and
hood glass by keeping them clean and clear. Dust builds up
slowly over time (making it hard to notice), but clearing it
away is a relatively simple task to keep up on. Ideally, give
them a good dusting once a month.
Clean measuring cups after using and label spray bottles to
avoid confusion. This sounds elementary, but pouring the
wrong liquid is not a mistake you want to make.
Yourself
Your hands, hair, clothes and feet can all be conduits of disease, so
it’s best practice to keep yourself as clean as can be!
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Before entering the growroom, thoroughly wash your
hands. And if you’re a smoker, wash anything that’s been
touched by tobacco because exposure to it can easily
spread disease like the tobacco mosaic virus.
If you were recently in a greenhouse, field or anywhere
with heightened exposure to pests, shower and change
clothes so as to not bring bugs into the growroom.
As much as our pets are parts of our lives, they have no place
in a growroom.They can easily transfer pests to plants, leave
behind fur and even munch on your growing babies.
If you want to be über meticulous, wear latex gloves while
working in your pristine growroom. Some people even
wear booties on their feet as an added provision.
In the case of growing, there’s no such thing as being too careful. Keep in mind that hot water and bleach are excellent disinfectants and that routine is your friend.Your plants’ livelihoods
are affected by many factors, so the more control you have over
those factors, the better odds your plants have at growing into
healthy, lovely ladies. And since everything is connected—from
the hands handling the plants to the containers housing them to
the air being circulated by the fans—make sure those connections are clean. MY
Maximum Yield USA | September 2012
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