Growing Indoors
Why should I grow indoors?
How do I control the environment in an indoor growroom?
What is a Carbon Filter?
Why should I grow indoors?
Growing indoors is the next step along from growing in a greenhouse. The greenhouse was first used to extend the growing season and to protect sensitive plants from being damaged by inhospitable weather. Indoors your in complete control of almost all elements of the growing environment. You control the lighting, allowing you to use for light for higher yields and also manage the photoperiod, allowing you to choose when your plants grow and when they flower. Which makes it possible to harvest fresh fruits, flowers and herbs in the middle of winter.
Since the indoor growroom is protected from the outdoors there are fewer problems with pests and diseases and no worries about when it will rain. Growing indoors gives you maximum control - you can grow any plant, anywhere, anytime.
How do I control the environment in an indoor growroom?
When growing indoors its upto you (the gardener) to control all variables needed to grow strong healthy plants with high yields. Outdoors mother nature is in control - wind, rain, C02 etc. Indoors you must replicate everything, an oscillating fan becomes the wind, a sprayer or watering can the rain and intake and extraction fans control fresh air and C02.
Good air movement is the key to success. Extraction fans are used to take away the stale hot air from the growroom, and an intake fan replaces it with fresh air rich is CO2.
It has been scientifically proven that cell for cell plants use as much air as humans do. After around 2 minutes that plants stomata (what the plant breathes through) have used all the available C02 within the air so it will need replacing, which can easily be done with intake and or extraction fans. It is a good idea to have 50% air going into the room and 100% air coming out. This creates negative pressure which ensures good air circulation, helping the plants grow and also helps to keep pests at bay.
What is a Carbon Filter?
Unwanted odours can be a problem for indoor gardeners. Whether you are growing tomatoes, peppers or your favourite herbs, a carbon filters will remove any odours that come from your garden. Carbon filters work using activated carbon extracts odours from the air.
Carbon filters are very easy to set up and generally only takes a minute or so. Simply hang the carbon filter next to your extraction fan and attach using duct tape. The best arrangement is to have the filter first and then the fan, so it sucks the air through the filter before it leaves the room. They can also be used to blow air through, depending on your preference. A Carbon Filter is a great item to have in your growroom, not only does it take care of 99% of plant odours it can also be used as an intake to makes sure the air going into the room is free of contaminants.
Usually, the activated charcoal in your carbon filter will last for a minimum of 12 months and some higher quality filters will last a few years. A carbon filters is a must if you are concerned about unwanted odours.