in the uniformity of temperature within that room.
If this is not addressed, the temperature around the
light source will be much warmer than other areas
of the garden.
Maintaining a uniform temperature can normally
be achieved by simply creating adequate airflow
within the room. In most cases, this can be accom-
plished by using oscillating fans. Oscillating fans
will continuously move the air around the room.
This will mix the heated air underneath the light
fixtures with the cooler air in the room and create
a uniform temperature. Maintaining a uniform tem-
perature is a very important aspect of a garden’s
overall consistency and can make a huge difference
in a garden’s overall production.
It is also extremely important to address the
consistency of the actual temperature in the growing
area. The better a gardener can maintain a consis-
tent temperature range in his or her garden, the bet-
ter his or her yields will be. To achieve a high level
of consistency, a grower will usually need to invest
in a climate controller along with ventilation fans
and/or an air conditioner. For ultimate control over
temperature, most indoor gardeners choose to use
an air conditioner to combat the excess heat of hor-
ticultural lighting systems. Mini-split air conditioners
have become a valuable tool for indoor horticultur-
ists, allowing maximum control over temperature
consistency. Indoor gardeners who invest in a prop-
erly sized mini-split air conditioning system will not
regret the investment.
For smaller, hobby-sized gardens, a mechani-
cal fan may be the only cooling device required to
maintain a consistent temperature. Most horticultural
fans are rated by the CFM (cubic feet per minute)
of air they can move. A gardener needs to properly
size a fan according to the lighting system’s wattage.
A good rule of thumb is to have a minimum of 200
CFM per 1000 watts of artificial lighting.
Ideal Temperature Range
When trying to maximize his or her garden’s
efficiency, a gardener should try to determine the
garden’s ideal temperature range. The ideal tem-
perature for an indoor garden is the temperature at
which plant growth is maximized. The ideal tem-
perature is crop dependent because plants can dif-
8
www.GardenandGreenhouse.net
August 2017