Best Grow Tents and How to Choose them – The Setup Guide
Best Grow Tents To Grow Marijuana
A grow tent is a wonderful solution for people engaging in horticultural activities. It is particularly great for those looking to grow marijuana in a small space. Such a tent gives you an excellent opportunity to form your own indoor garden.
No need to take up the back of your house in order to create a garden. With indoor grow tents, it’s now possible to grow plants within a house or garage. Some models are designed to be super stealth and they resemble a piece of furniture or a file cabinet, which is useful if your neighbors are nosy.
Did you know? Grow tents provide the ideal environment for growing marijuana and other plants. They allow you to keep your plants warm if the weather is cold by using artificial warming system. Likewise, you can keep them cold if the weather is extremely hot by using the appropriate ventilation like in-line fans.
Plus, these tents appear to be very customizable and can be equipped with a variety of accessories. You can even purchase complete growing tent kits that come with the basics such as scrubbers, light bulbs, fans, power strips, reflectors, carbon filters, timers, and so on.
Choosing the best grow tent is a complex task, though. There is a wide range of options on the market to choose from. This article is meant to help you pick out a grow tent that will perfectly suit your needs.
The Benefits of Having a Grow Tent
Having a growing tent is an ultimate solution if you want to grow plants out of the garden and without soil. It gives you plenty of perks and benefits.
Year Round Yields
It is pretty easy to control and set up all the elements necessary for producing the healthy plants all year round. That allows you to grow your plants during the whole year and enjoy year-round yields.
Since the growing tent involves the controlled environment, your crops will only depend on how you’ve adjusted the internal environment. With a grow tent, you can create any specific growing environment in accordance with the needs of the particular plants. Your plants will not have to suffer the harsh weather outward so that you’ll be able to grow them throughout the year.
Better Yields
Inside grow tents, the photosynthesis essential for growing weed is significantly increased. This results in better and healthier yields. That lets you harvest higher crops than you would otherwise reap growing your plants outdoors. Some growing tents are capable of producing double yields compared to traditional outdoor growing.
Full Control
Growing marijuana indoors could be a daunting challenge as you may have a tough time controlling the amount of temperature and light. In an ordinary room, it’s very difficult to manage optimal conditions all the time. This is where the grow tents come in. An indoor growing tent lets you have full control over your plants.
Light is certainly a major issue when growing weed in an outdoor environment. With a tent that’s equipped with the proper grow light, you can easily overcome this issue. As a grower, you can accurately determine what amount of light should reach your plants as well as when to apply it.
Once the interior surface has collected light rays, your tent will reflect diffuse light. That doesn’t only help your plants use the light more efficiently but also cuts down on your electricity bill.
The tent also prevents the light from dispersing because it’s completely sealed. That also means you will not have odors in your room. In addition to light, you will be able to control humidity and temperature by means of sprinklers, fans, and other units.
No Pests and Diseases
Apart from the light, humidity and temperature, a grow tent also enables you to control the pests. It gives more security to your plants than they’ll have outside. You’ll have fewer problems with pests and diseases that can wreak havoc on your plants.
Easy to Store and Move Around
Another great benefit of grow tents is that they are very flexible and easy to move around thanks to their lightweight design. With little effort, you can move your tent from one place to another.
On the top of that, a typical grow tent takes up a little space, allowing you to keep it just about anywhere in your house. For example, you can store it in your bedroom, living room, garage, or a corner of the cellar. Smaller models can even be kept in a closet space.
Top 5 Products
VIVOSUN 48”x48”x80” Mylar Hydroponic
$
iPower 96″x48″x78″ Hydroponic Water-Resistant
$
Apollo Horticulture 96”x48”x80” Mylar Hydroponic
$
Gorilla Grow Tent GGTLT22 Tent
$$
Gorilla Grow Tent GGT59
$$
Best Grow Tents Buying Guide
If you wanna buy a grow tent then you should get familiar with its key features first. Our guide will help you navigate through the jungle of growing tents. Below, you can familiarize yourself with the most important factors and features when shopping for an indoor grow tent.
Size
One of the first things you will need to look at when buying a grow tent is its size. The size ranges from 2’ x 2’ to 10 x 10 feet or even larger. How to pick the right size? We suggest that you choose the size according to the number of plants you’re going to grow and the room where you plan to keep the tent.
Be sure to accurately measure the height, length, and width of your growing space. The grow tent is supposed to be somewhat smaller than that space for easy maintenance and setup. For small growers, we recommend a 2′ x 2′ tent or 3′ x 3′; it is particularly suited for mother plants (up to two plants). A 4′ x 4′ tent lets you fit four mature plants at a time. You will need a grow tent that is at least 5 feet by 5 feet large if you want to grow more than four mature plants. For instance, 10 x 10 feet tent can accommodate from 12 to 18 marijuana plants at once.
As for the height of the grow tent, it greatly depends on the size of the certain plants you intend to grow. It should be tall enough to comfortably accommodate all your plants. The standard height of the grow tents is about 7 feet and it fits well in the typical residential 8-foot ceiling. Yet, your best bet is to buy a grow tent that has adjustable poles which allow for varying heights. Note that the tent height will dictate what growing and lighting systems you can use.
Weight Limit & Frame
Check out the tent weight rating to be sure it will hold all the equipment and items you plan to use. The frames of grow tents are usually composed of snap-together metal poles with different connection and corners pieces. Weight limit of a grow tent depends on the materials used for the framework and other components. Therefore, make sure the frame is capable of supporting everything you intend to hang in your tent, including bulbs, electrical wires, and other accessories. It should be able to hold up to 300 pounds.
For solid construction, it is vital that the framework is strong and the stitches are hard. Most tents are constructed with interlocking poles, but there are also models with height-adjustable poles. The poles are commonly made of steel, weaker metals, or plastic. Preferably, it should be made of the tough material such as steel because it provides the greater durability.
The framing poles tend to rotate and wobble over time, which may cause degradation of the whole framework. At worst, it will wiggle out and give rise to a structural failure. To avoid this, look for the poles that involve an interlocking snapping mechanism. Once you’ve assembled the frame, they will lock in place and secure the poles permanently.
Pay close attention to corner construction, too. A lot of grow tents come with a 3-prong plastic corner for the poles. That’s okay, but top-of-the-line models contain metal corner interlocking pieces.
Entrance & Windows
You will often enter and exit the tent throughout the entire production cycle – when planting, tending, transplanting, and harvesting your plants. So it’s important that the entrance of your grow tent is large enough. It should allow you to easily get in and out.
Most growing tents are fitted with view windows which allow you to monitor the progress of your plants without having to enter the tent and disturbing growing environment. On the other hand, they mustn’t let any light or heat escape. In many models, the viewing windows are tightly secured with velcro fasteners that keep light from leaking out of the tent. Those windows also ensure that the CO2 buildups stay inside the tent.
Fabric Thickness & Strength
Thick fabric with a great thread count will reduce the chances of tearing and make the tent last longer. While the vast majority of grow tents are made from light proof materials, only those with thicker fabric will be able to resist tear and wear for years. Besides, they offer better insulation from heat, smell, and noise while keeping any diseases, airborne spores, or pests out of plants. A denser fabric also prevents light from leaking.
The density of a fabric is measured in so-called denier (D). Tent density varies widely and it can be anywhere from 120D to 1680D. Go for the outer fabric that is 600D thick or more, as that thickness is proven to hold up well.
Rip and heat resistance is a must. If the fabric is also mildew and fire resistant, that is another thumbs-up for a tent.
Light Reflection & Light-tightness
Inner coating must be highly reflective to keep the light inside the tent. The best grow tent has to be completely light proof so that no light can escape. To avoid leakage of light, choose a tent with an inner liner that reflects at least 95% of light.
Manufacturers offer different solutions to achieve the maximum light efficiency. Some light-tight tents come with diamond-patterned mylar seems for the best light reflectivity. Others have the double or triple stitches around the zipper and/or on the roof. Overlapping velcro flaps can also be found in many models.
Ducting & Cord Ports
While all growing tents have numerous ports for electrical cords and ventilation ducting only the best ones have dual cinching ports. Those let you block the light rays that come through the ports altogether.
There Are 3 Main Types of Ports
- Ventilation ports – They are usually protected with velcro flaps which can be raised when you want to release hot air.
- Exhaust ports – Smaller grow lights usually have one outtake and one intake port, whereas the larger ones have more exhaust ports.
- Cord ports – Those ports let you simply plug in any growing gear.
Look out for the size and placement of each port to make certain that it will match equipment you need to install. You can use mesh vents during the vegetative stage when light leakage is still not a problem. During the flowering stage, we recommend using a U-shaped bend in ducting port that acts as an intake vent.
Multiple Tents vs Multiple Chambers
Many growers prefer having 2 separate grow tents – one for flowering and another for vegging. There are also tents consisting of two or more chambers for the same purpose. While the multiple chambers allow for better organization, many models offer limited space for vegging, which have negative effects on plant growth. So if you want to grow large plants for big yields, we recommend that you use two separate tents.
Zippers
More often than not, the grow tent has an entrance via a zipper you will have to zip down in order to access to your plants. Remember that the zipper is one of the first points of failure on the grow tent in most cases. That’s because you’ll enter the tent regularly and frequently while tending your plants, meaning you will use the zippers almost every day.
Plastic zippers tend to get spoilt after a while, so will have to replace them every now and then and spend money. Your best choice is to buy a tent with heavy-duty metal zips. Poorly constructed zips are prone to wear and tear, which is why they should be of the best quality. High-quality zips are those that are easy to zip up and down, which ensures light integrity. The zippers that are hard to zip are more likely to get damaged and let the light escape.
Extra Features
Once you have reviewed all the key features, you also need to take a look at the extra features, such as flood trays and tool pockets.
It is desirable that your tent has flood tray(s) just in case the watering system fails for some reason or you accidentally spill water. The flood tray is located on the bottom and it’s usually attached to the poles. Tool pockets are also very helpful because they let you keep your humidity meter, TDS meter, EC meter, thermometer, and other smaller tools. They can be also used for holding the things like journal, nutrients, clippers, as well as other gardening tools and accessories.
Top 5 Grow Tents Reviews
There is a vast sea of indoor growing tents on the market today. Once you’ve dived in, you will find hundreds of different models with a whole lot of features. So, how to know which one would be right for you? Let’s review the best options available to determine which grow tent is perfect for you.
1.VIVOSUN 48”x48”x80” Mylar Hydroponic
The VIVOSUN 48”x48”x80 is a heavy duty indoor grow tent, applicable for greenhouse plants as well as hydroponic growing.
PROS
- Highly reflective Mylar interior, provides light proof and tear proof support.
- Heavy duty double stitching construction with thick fabric material and heavy duty construction.
- Metal pole support for secure and stable operation.
- Easy assembly and designed for both beginners and advanced users.
- Adequate and properly placed vents for ventilation and cooling. Convenient sock vents to ensure that the vents close properly.
CONS
- Minor light leaks might not be to the customer satisfaction.
- The Mylar floor tray may not be waterproof enough for some users.
Summary: Overall, this is a sturdy Mylar hydroponic grow tent with plenty of features. It features two filter straps, removable Mylar floor tray, double stitching, and heavy-duty zippers. If you’re looking for a high-quality reasonably priced grow tent, then look no further than Apollo Horticulture.
2. iPower 96″x48″x78″ Hydroponic Water-Resistant
iPower is a well-liked brand by many gardeners around the globe. With this hydroponic water-resistant tent, you can cultivate a variety of herbs throughout the year. Controlling climate and light inside the tent is quite easy so that you will be able to grow any kind of plants.
PROS
- Heavy duty metal poles provide up to 110 lbs. of supported weight.
- Easy view and observation window allows for wide angle view without the need to getting inside the tent.
- Convenient tool bag pouch, which is within easy reach.
- Water-resistant floor tray helps secure spills and allows for easy clean up.
- Double layer ducting holes for ventilation holes located at the top and bottom. Includes removable cover.
- Heavy duty construction including light proof mylar, double stitching and heavy duty fabric.
CONS
- Possible light leakage from the zipper and the stitching.
- Heavy duty zipper may cause problems with snags and failure to close properly.
Summary: The iPower indoor grow tent features high durability, easy to assemble components and affordable price, which makes it the top pick for many shoppers. Besides, this product is backed by 1-year warranty and great customer service.
3. Apollo Horticulture 96”x48”x80” Mylar Hydroponic
The Apollo Horticulture 96” x 48” x 80” with Mylar reflective interior lining is an easy to assemble large grow tent. This grow tent has distinctive heavy duty design and is easy to assemble. It was designed to beginners and experts.
PROS
- Double stitch construction with heavy duty zippers.
- Thick metal pole construction, and designed to be sturdier with heavier loads.
- Uses Mylar for interior lining, providing 100% reflective, light proof and tear proof construction.
- Mylar is highly reflective and provides reflective light and heat insulation.
- Easy assembly, it can be easily put up by a single person.
CONS
- The zipper is heavy duty but may cause problems as it easily snags when zipping.
- Slight light leak, you might want to use duct tape to seal the leaks.
Summary: This huge growing tent is primarily intended for expert users. Due to the bulky design, it’s not suited for most apartments and houses. You can set it up in a greenhouse, though. The tent is made of top-quality materials to last for a long time.
4. Gorilla Grow Tent GGTLT22 Tent
The Gorilla Grow Tent GGTLT22 is the brand’s light model. Capable of up to 170 lbs supported weight. Standard height of 6’7” extensible up to 7’7”. Light construction uses 210D density fabric.
PROS
- Large EZ View windows allow for convenient viewing without any need of entering the grow tent.
- Designed for small footprint of 2’x2.5’ (5 sq.ft. Area)
- Sturdy interlocking steel frame construction.
- Optional height adjustable by 2’, no need to buy a new one when the plants grow tall.
- Durable canvas construction, for a safe growing environment, and long grow tent lifetime.
CONS
- Zippers are not as durable as those on the main product line.
- Getting in and out is a problem because of the large number of velcros and zippers to navigate.
Summary: If you’re searching for a cheap yet strong grow tent then Gorilla LTGGT22 is perfect for you. You’ll get a height adjusting tent with all the necessary features to boost your yields. It is great for both beginners and experts.
5. Gorilla Grow Tent GGT59
The Gorilla Grow Tent GGT59 is made of heavy-duty 1680D thread density fabric. It is 5’x9’ (floor space is 45 sq.ft.) and 6’11” high. It is extensible to 9’11” high.
PROS
- All steel construction with interlocking pins, for easy assembly.
- Diamond Reflection Technology interior walls reflects up to 30% more of the light, resulting in better plant growth.
- Heavy duty 1680D thread density, up to 9 times denser than other grow tents.
- Adjustable height, with 1’ extension kit included; 2’ extension kit optional.
- Double cinching 10” ducting ports for ventilation, fans, A/C or other needs.
CONS
- Heavy duty zippers may cause some problems.
- A/C leaks are common.
Summary: If you’re in need of a big growing space and intend to grow tall plants, then consider buying this large grow tent. This king-size tent is designed in such a way that novices can also use it.
Wrapping It Up
Purchasing a grow tent is a key to growing weed indoors, as it lets the growers have full control over their crops throughout the year. Such a tent can create a favorable growing environment and address the issues with harsh weather conditions, diseases, and pests. That’s why more and more people prefer indoor to outdoor farming. However, finding the best grow tent that has a perfect quality-price ratio is a difficult task.
As you could see, there are a number of things you must take into consideration. Start with the size. It will mainly depend on the plants you intend to grow and the available size of your indoor area since you should get the tent that fits well in your space.
Pay attention to those models that aren’t suggested for small space. Once you’ve determined the most appropriate size, you will need to decide which features suit you best. Take a closer look at each detail mentioned in our buying guide.
Any of the growing tents reviewed above is designed to support the growth of plants and serve for a long time. We’re pretty sure that you’ve already shortlisted a few ones. Your final decision will depend on your quality requirements and your budget. Happy shopping!
Next Steps are Important!
Now that you have purchased your first growing tent all you need is:
- Growing lights – you can choose from HPS Lights or LED lights
- And marijuana seeds that you can purchase here!
