Growing in a grow tent

KarenSoCal

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I live in low desert, where in summer it is routinely 115° to 120°. We have multiple days of 120° to 123°, and this past summer I saw 126° at my house for the first time. We get no rain in summer at all. And now and then we get dust storms with high winds.

I have finally given up on growing anything. Between the heat and burning sun, anything I plant does OK for a while in spring. Then the heat comes, and the plants just wither and die.

So, I have ordered a 4'x3' grow tent. I have no idea where to begin when it gets here. I don't even know how to set it up or what all I need to use it.

Has anyone ever used a grow tent? I want to grow food for my tortoise primarily, including some edible flowers.

Any and all help is appreciated!
 

Srmcclure

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Have it in an air conditioned room, you'll need air movement, so a small clip fan or 2, a grow light (keep in mind grow tent lights raise the temp in the tent like our uvb ones do) and keep a few vents open to allow air movement and to keep temps lower and adjust the vents according to temp. If it gets too hot in the tent you may end up having you get an inline fan ( which is kind of like a filter that moves air)

Here's a pretty decent light for growing: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07TQ55VYN/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20

So, my husband has his medical cannabis license and these are some of the things he deals with. If you have any specific questions we'd be more than happy to answer all we can ?
 

KarenSoCal

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Have it in an air conditioned room, you'll need air movement, so a small clip fan or 2, a grow light (keep in mind grow tent lights raise the temp in the tent like our uvb ones do) and keep a few vents open to allow air movement and to keep temps lower and adjust the vents according to temp. If it gets too hot in the tent you may end up having you get an inline fan ( which is kind of like a filter that moves air)

Here's a pretty decent light for growing: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07TQ55VYN/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20

So, my husband has his medical cannabis license and these are some of the things he deals with. If you have any specific questions we'd be more than happy to answer all we can ?

Oh my, thank you so much!

I have an inline filter/fan...the only thing that hasn't arrived yet is the tent.

How do I know which wattage light I should order? And will one be enough? This is the tent I ordered. I think it has a divider that can make it into 2 growing areas. Should I get 2 lights? Which wattages? (I'm not sure I got the correct link matched with the descriptions ?)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HQMX3S1/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20

This is the inline fan...

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08BF5GWKZ/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20

And this is a fan speed control...

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0714FFG4F/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20

I also got a thermo/hygro to monitor temp and humidity, and some adjustable cords to hang stuff.
Is there anything else I need? Will I use regular potting soil?
 

Srmcclure

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Ok, so those types of tents are designed for one side being flowering plants and the other side is veg'ing plants. They require different light needs for the different stages so this makes it easy for someone to have some going and ready to swap over whenever it's time to chop the big'ns down and have them curing lol. Most of those you can use it or leave it open i think, so its up to you really.

My husband's tent right now is 24in x 48in x 68ish I think and he runs 2 lights, but since your tent is not as long you could probably get one really good light and call it done. My hubs is the master of grow light knowledge so I can't tell you exactly which one and why he picked them ( it has to do with light diodes and all that craziness) but I know these 2 are really good for their price

This is one of his
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B082Y1PMWF/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20

And this is the other one he has
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083JVY569/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20

The first light i sent you in the other post is what we are going to use for our other plants in a 2x2x3 because it was an extra light and extra tent. We used it when he had a smaller tent.

I'd also get a little cheap plug in timer for the lights to be on a schedule if you don't have one laying around from your babies already. Just makes things easier and plants like schedules too ?


The plants are currently sleeping so as soon as their lights come one I can take a picture of how he set it up too. ?

We have been using this soil for all of our plants (including his special ones lol ) and they LOVE it! Anything we put in it seems to do really well. If your starting a cactus pad in a pot though you may have to add sand or whatever it asks for. I can't remember what we did... I think we just put one in the dirt and waited to see what happened lol
organic-potting-soil-fx14000-64_1000.jpg
 

Toddrickfl1

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Have it in an air conditioned room, you'll need air movement, so a small clip fan or 2, a grow light (keep in mind grow tent lights raise the temp in the tent like our uvb ones do) and keep a few vents open to allow air movement and to keep temps lower and adjust the vents according to temp. If it gets too hot in the tent you may end up having you get an inline fan ( which is kind of like a filter that moves air)

Here's a pretty decent light for growing: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07TQ55VYN/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20

So, my husband has his medical cannabis license and these are some of the things he deals with. If you have any specific questions we'd be more than happy to answer all we can ?
How much you charging for a gram of "dandelion"?
 

Srmcclure

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Oh my, thank you so much!

I have an inline filter/fan...the only thing that hasn't arrived yet is the tent.

How do I know which wattage light I should order? And will one be enough? This is the tent I ordered. I think it has a divider that can make it into 2 growing areas. Should I get 2 lights? Which wattages? (I'm not sure I got the correct link matched with the descriptions ?)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HQMX3S1/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20

This is the inline fan...

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08BF5GWKZ/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20

And this is a fan speed control...

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0714FFG4F/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20

I also got a thermo/hygro to monitor temp and humidity, and some adjustable cords to hang stuff.
Is there anything else I need? Will I use regular potting soil?
20201130_081618.jpg
20201130_081627.jpg
20201130_081639.jpg
Its a bit jumbled because im the organizer and thats his tent and I dont mess with it lol, but there is a basic idea of his layout. I kept all plants out of the pictures just in case lol.
All his vents are closed except the one the inline is pushing out of and his back mesh vent to allow air in
 

Maro2Bear

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Oh my, thank you so much!

I have an inline filter/fan...the only thing that hasn't arrived yet is the tent.

How do I know which wattage light I should order? And will one be enough? This is the tent I ordered. I think it has a divider that can make it into 2 growing areas. Should I get 2 lights? Which wattages? (I'm not sure I got the correct link matched with the descriptions ?)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HQMX3S1/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20

This is the inline fan...

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08BF5GWKZ/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20

And this is a fan speed control...

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0714FFG4F/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20

I also got a thermo/hygro to monitor temp and humidity, and some adjustable cords to hang stuff.
Is there anything else I need? Will I use regular potting soil?


Here’s another option for a fan unit...

➡️➡️ https://thehouseofhydro.com/products/waterproof-fans
 

KarenSoCal

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Maro2Bear

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Mark, have you used this?
This would just be to move air around, correct? It doesn't have any other function.

What I'm trying to ask...with the exhaust cannister pushing stale air out, and fresh air coming in through an open vent, is there a need for more circulation?

Sounds like you will have enough air circulation with the system you have. 4 x 3 ft isn't that large. Id wait until you get it set up & get things growing. I would also think a lot depends what you are growing,for how long. Etc. Growing greens & weeds & tort food etc should work fine. Swapping trays of greens in and out, trimming & feeding etc.
 

KarenSoCal

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@Srmcclure

One side veg and one side flower should work out well for me. My main goal is to grow greens, esp endive/escarole/radicchio for Sulafat. If I have space I'd like to add some seed mix from Tortoise Supply, and maybe another veg that we could share. I eat the veg and he gets the greens! Hopefully I could also supply Thistle the skink's vegs. She eats anything.

On the flower side I want to grow edible flowers and weeds. I don't know where to get weed seeds, but I'll find something.

My tent is 4' x 3', so it's as long as your husbands. I think I will order 2 of the lights you linked (2nd link in post # 4). Could you run this by your hubby and see if he agrees? But I need to order them today...on sale for Cyber Monday!

I'm pretty sure I have a timer laying around. If I don't, I have a "smart" power strip. Boy do I love those things! I can program each of 4 outlets with on/off times, and even multiple on/off cycles. YES!!

I've never seen that soil here, but I've never looked for it either. I'm sure I could order it online.

Funny...cactus is one of 2 plants I can grow. I do live in a desert. Here's my spineless...

20200824_183244.jpg

The one other is mulberry.
 

Srmcclure

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@Srmcclure

One side veg and one side flower should work out well for me. My main goal is to grow greens, esp endive/escarole/radicchio for Sulafat. If I have space I'd like to add some seed mix from Tortoise Supply, and maybe another veg that we could share. I eat the veg and he gets the greens! Hopefully I could also supply Thistle the skink's vegs. She eats anything.

On the flower side I want to grow edible flowers and weeds. I don't know where to get weed seeds, but I'll find something.

My tent is 4' x 3', so it's as long as your husbands. I think I will order 2 of the lights you linked (2nd link in post # 4). Could you run this by your hubby and see if he agrees? But I need to order them today...on sale for Cyber Monday!

I'm pretty sure I have a timer laying around. If I don't, I have a "smart" power strip. Boy do I love those things! I can program each of 4 outlets with on/off times, and even multiple on/off cycles. YES!!

I've never seen that soil here, but I've never looked for it either. I'm sure I could order it online.

Funny...cactus is one of 2 plants I can grow. I do live in a desert. Here's my spineless...

View attachment 312030

The one other is mulberry.

The viparspectra or what ever its called is my husband's favorite because its dimmable and he says it offers a bit more, but he also really likes the bloomplus. I think he was leaning more towards the bloom though. He said for the price difference you cant beat it. ?

And I'm sure other potting soil would be great too, thats just what we get because its good for 'his ladies' lol. We get it at a nursery or ace hardware carries it sometimes
 

Toddrickfl1

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@Srmcclure

One side veg and one side flower should work out well for me. My main goal is to grow greens, esp endive/escarole/radicchio for Sulafat. If I have space I'd like to add some seed mix from Tortoise Supply, and maybe another veg that we could share. I eat the veg and he gets the greens! Hopefully I could also supply Thistle the skink's vegs. She eats anything.

On the flower side I want to grow edible flowers and weeds. I don't know where to get weed seeds, but I'll find something.

My tent is 4' x 3', so it's as long as your husbands. I think I will order 2 of the lights you linked (2nd link in post # 4). Could you run this by your hubby and see if he agrees? But I need to order them today...on sale for Cyber Monday!

I'm pretty sure I have a timer laying around. If I don't, I have a "smart" power strip. Boy do I love those things! I can program each of 4 outlets with on/off times, and even multiple on/off cycles. YES!!

I've never seen that soil here, but I've never looked for it either. I'm sure I could order it online.

Funny...cactus is one of 2 plants I can grow. I do live in a desert. Here's my spineless...

View attachment 312030

The one other is mulberry.
I'm pretty sure if you Google "Weed seeds" none of the ones your actually looking for will pop up lol.
 

Srmcclure

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The spectra lights are amazing and he would have tons of them if I'd let him lol?


I'm pretty sure if you Google "Weed seeds" none of the ones your actually looking for will pop up lol.
Bahahaha nope! ???

I buy a lot of my tort weed seeds on etsy actually if im looking for certain kinds. They also have sellers that sell tort graze too ?
 

KarenSoCal

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Maro2Bear

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Wow! They're cool, but ???!

I know.......way over priced.

I finally found the other website that i wanted to send to you. All kinds of things ...soil, nutrients, lighting, etc

 

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