tips & tricks
engages and the light cycles of the two
flowering rooms flip-flop. Aside from
recycling heat from one growroom to
another, flip-boxes allow a grower to
have half as many ballasts as lamps.
For example, a grower with an eight-
light flip-box could operate 16 lamps
off eight ballasts. This would allow the
grower to set up two separate flowering
rooms with eight lamps each.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Indoor growers should consider excess
heat waste. In some northern climates,
cold winter temperatures offer some
relief to growers who struggle with
unwanted heat. Depending on the
garden’s ventilation system, growers
may need to make some adjustments
to the system when the outdoor
temperatures take a dive. Some growers
look at the cooler temperatures as
an opportunity to add more lights to
the growroom and capitalize on the
additional light energy. Others see it as
an opportunity to reduce cooling loads
and save a little money on electricity.
Perhaps the ultimate way for indoor
86
grow cycle
horticulturists to create heightened
efficiency in winter weather is to set
up two flowering rooms and recycle
the heat from one room to the other,
eliminating the need for additional heat
sources like electric or fuel-burning
heaters. Depending on growroom’s
geographical location, the winter
season may mean significant changes
for an indoor garden. Growers who take
the proper precautions when setting
up their ventilation systems or those
who take advantage of cooler outdoor
temperatures can hunker down, let it
snow, and enjoy watching their plants
continue to grow.
Understanding how to read your
meter, take a measurement, and
adjust the levels in unison is import-
ant to boost productivity. Maximizing
potential lies in the nitty gritty, and a
prerequisite is simply understanding
the fundamentals. Find a way that
you understand, stick with it, and
be able to convert it inside and out
so you can start to get to know your
plants on a different level.
“IT IS BEST TO
ELEVATE THE UNIT, SO
IT WILL STAY ABOVE
THE ANTICIPATED
SNOWFALL LEVEL.”