SEALED INDOOR ROOMS
CONTROL YOUR GROW
Finally , consider the temperature of the incoming air . In extremely cold or hot months , it may be necessary to buffer the air somewhere first , be it a closet , bathroom , or laundry room , for example . Otherwise , the plants would not like the outdoor air being pulled directly across the garden during the more extreme months . Pay attention to the maximum and minimum temperature and humidity reached between visits to the garden and make adjustments accordingly . A non-sealed indoor room moves outside air through the garden . This provides plants with the fresh CO 2 they need to breathe . Controlling the temperature and humidity of the air inside the garden can be done using these methods and produces a top-notch garden .
SEALED INDOOR ROOMS
A sealed room requires more equipment , but offers a way to completely control the environment . There are no inputs from the outside world . Everything affecting the environment happens from within . Lights produce heat that has to be controlled and cooled , except for in winter when the heat produced by lights can be used to bring up the ambient room temperature if necessary . In most areas , air conditioning will be needed because of the extreme amount of heat produced by the grow lights and other equipment . The air conditioning is the room ’ s only method of obtaining fresh air , so it is important to monitor CO 2 levels . The air is not being exchanged in the room , so the plants are not receiving much fresh CO 2 . Because the room is sealed and fresh CO 2 is not being brought in , it must be supplemented using a CO 2 injection system or a CO 2 generator . Either system would require the use of a regulator and a room controller to measure the amount of CO 2 in the environment and turn the unit off when desired levels have been reached . This is extremely important for safety reasons due to the inherent risk of using CO 2 in a controlled environment . Since CO 2 is heavier than air , it can accumulate to unsafe levels , especially in low areas such as basements , and as we cannot smell it , this effect can be dangerous . Therefore , levels must be monitored closely . Because the room is sealed and there is no ventilation , the humidity will increase rapidly , especially when plants are transpiring and growing quickly . Therefore , a dehumidifier will need to be used to remove excess moisture . In a sealed room , there is no ventilation to remove it otherwise . For added insurance , gardeners can add an extra layer of control and provide ventilation set on
“ A sealed room requires more equipment , but offers a way to completely control the environment .”
a hygrometer controller that would trigger the emergency ventilation fan if humidity levels rise too far above 60 per cent , which is where mold and mildew can begin to occur . In rare instances , such as in extra dry climates or when starting in an empty indoor growroom that is not already full of heavily transpiring plants , a humidifier may be necessary to bring the humidity up to at least 35 per cent . One way to keep the room sealed and still remove heat produced by the lights is to choose lighting fixtures with ducting attachments and sealed glass . They can use inline ducting with a can-style fan , pulling air through the light reflectors . The air can be brought in from outside of the room and passed directly over the lights and removed directly from the room , without mixing with or obtaining any of the air within the room . The room would remain sealed , and the ‘ in ’ and ‘ out ’ holes would be cut just large enough to let the ducting pass through .
72 Maximum Yield USA | January 2017