“
By controlling
the photoperiod,
we are simply telling the
garden which season it is.”
This can be tough to do in winter without a heater and some
sort of thermostat control to automate temperature. On the other
hand, some varieties are not very heat tolerant, so thermostats or
timers are often used with fans to remove heat from the garden.
Thermostats can automatically maintain a set temperature. Some
thermostat controllers have separate day and night settings as well.
Fans
Often, a simple exhaust fan with a passive intake is the most
effective way to remove heat from the growroom. Hydroponic shops
sell can-style fans that connect ducting to light fixtures, also known
as reflectors, and remove the heat produced by the intense grow
lights. Besides using thermostat controllers, fans are often controlled
with timers set to run when the lights are running. This setting will
remove heat during the day and preserve heat at night.
Automation Hydro Growers Should Consider
Temperature control is vitally important and often challenging.
A simple window air conditioning unit will do wonders in an
indoor grow environment but keep in mind this will also remove
humidity. This is usually a desired effect in growrooms
because the transpiration of the plants as they vigorously
grow puts lots of humidity into the air, which usually
needs to be removed. An AC unit will do a good job
of this. HVAC units will also automate heat control by
simply setting a thermostat.
Humidity
Growroom automation makes hydroponic
production more efficient and allows for
production at a faster rate. Start with dialing in
automation of your growroom temperature and
photoperiod, then consider additional automation
such as irrigation, nutrient dosing and humidity.
Humidity control will allow your plants to thrive in
a given temperature. Plants will grow faster, bigger,
and stronger if their environment is balanced at a
desirable temperature and humidity level. The
plants can then drink water and nutrients and
allow for photosynthesis to occur at a more
rapid rate. The excess humidity must be
removed for the plants to continue growing
at this level of hyper-efficiency.
Hygrometer Controllers
As described before, AC units
offer humidity reduction by
default, but how do you
control humidity levels
independently? Like
AC units, fans
also remove
humidity.
After automating
temperature and
lighting, automation of
humidity is an upgrade that
makes a lot of sense. A hygrometer
controller is an easy way to automate humidity control to a
specified relative humidity, represented by a percentage setting.
A good target is somewhere between 30-60 percent, depending on
the species of plants being grown. Be careful not to allow humidity
to remain above 60 percent for extended periods of time in order to
prevent molds. If this is a concern, you can always utilize additional
circulation or oscillating fans.
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Maximum Yield