The smell of grow tent in a growing season can be a turnoff for many growers. This leads a lot of newbie growers to wonder, are grow tents smell-proof?
A traditional grow tent does not hold back any type of smell. However, by understanding what are the factors that result in increasing odor production and how to regulate them, a smell-proof grow tent might be achievable.
A grow tent on its own does not provide any smell-proof capabilities. Odors can and will leak from a grow tent all the time through various different pathways. Does this mean that the dream of running a smell-free grow tent isn’t doable, absolutely not.
Unlike any other source of content on the web, I am going to show you how much it is going to cost you to turn your grow tent into a smell-proof fortress. First thing first, you need to have a deep understanding of the main factors that result in a smelly grow tent.
What Causes A Smelly Grow Tent?
When we are talking about a grow tent smell, there is really a variety of factors that control such things.
High Relative Humidity In A Grow Tent
If you have a grow tent that produces a smell, high humidity is probably the cause.
High relative humidity will most probably result in your carbon filter getting clogged. When humidity inside a grow tent is high, it means that the water vapor percentage in the air is at high levels. Water vapor tends to adsorb into the micro pores inside carbon particles and prevent them from adsorping odor organic compounds.
If your carbon filter has ever been clogged, especially if you run a humidifier inside the grow tent, go check this detailed article I wrote on how to unclog a grow tent carbon filter.
One way to reduce humidity levels is by using a dehumidifier. Dehumidifiers remove moisture from the air, and this can help to keep the air at a lower humidity level. Additionally, you can also open up your grow tent to allow some air circulation. This will help to reduce the amount of moisture in the air.
Grow Tent Smells Musty
On the other side, high humidity can cause mold and mildew to form, as well as a chemical called ethylene. Ethylene is a gas that’s used in the production of fruits, vegetables, and flowers.
When it’s present at high levels, it can cause the growth of mold and mildew. This can lead to a smell that’s characteristic of these types of tents – a smell that’s often described as musty or damp.
The musty smell might be accompanied by greenish-white spots starting to grow on the grow tent canvas or any fabric that is susceptible to water.
In order to avoid this problem, ensure to keep the humidity level under control as much as possible by using proper ventilation and air circulation. This will help to reduce the amount of ethylene present, and it will also eliminate any potential smell problems.
High Grow Tent Temperature
Grow tent temperature could rise up in a lot of cases. It might be the result of excess heat produced from operating grow lights. Moreover, areas with hot weather might be another result why a grow tent is hot.
In general, high temperatures will result in significantly increasing the plant’s transpiration. This is a process by which water moves from the soil through the plant stem until it evaporates from the leaf’s surface.
Transpiration is a natural process that occurs in every plant. However, when it happens in excess, especially in a closed environment such as a grow tent, it leads to critically increasing humidity levels.
The high transpiration rate would also boost the production of the odor from the plant leaves, which we are trying to reduce in the first place.
Grow Tent Rot
One of the biggest concerns growers have when using grow tents is the potential for rot. Rot is a common issue with any type of plant, but it’s especially critical when growing in a grow tent. When rot occurs, it produces a smell that can be unbearable. In addition, root rot can result in plant death, and it can also lead to the production of mold.
Rot can happen as a result of fallen leaves or remnants from the previous growing cycle. These remnants often decompose producing a very unpleasant smell.
It is also very common to encounter root rot, especially if you are using hydroponics where the roots are suspended freely in a nutrient solution.
To reduce the chance of rot occurring, make sure to keep your grow tent clean. Remove all debris regularly. Also, make sure to keep your water and air circulation high to prevent moisture accumulation. And finally, always use quality soil and water.
A Smell-Proof Grow Tent Cost Breakdown
Now, we’ll break down the cost of turning an average grow tent into a smell-proof grow tent. A smell-proof grow tent will require several items in order to be able to hold odors from leaking outside. I am going to discuss each item starting from the least expensive till we reach the most expensive one.
Odor Neutralizer For Grow Tent
Odor neutralizers have excellent abilities in absorbing and neutralizing foul smells that are produced inside a grow tent.
A Grow Tent Will Use An Average Of 25$ Per Month Worth Of Odor Neutralizers
This is by far the cheapest and easiest option if you want to eliminate bad odors inside your grow tent. However, this is not a one-time purchase. You must consider it as a recurring expense that you will have to pay each month. Odor neutralizers dry up and you will need to replace them with new ones.
When it comes to odor neutralizers, nothing really could match the ONA Gel properties. You would be wasting money buying any other option.
As your grow tent size increase, the amount of odor neutralizer required will increase. However, you should start by testing out the 25.5 oz ONA Gel jar and see its impact on the grow tent’s smell.
Step 1: Punch a couple of holes onto the tin cover top
Step 2: Place the jar behind an oscillating fan or a ventilation fan
Step 3: Check the jar regularly to replace it when the gel drys out
Grow Tent Oscillating Fans
Every grow tent should have 2 oscillating fans to keep the inner air circulating constantly.
A Grow Tent Will Require An Average Of 29$ Worth Of Oscillating Fans
If you’re looking for a way to make your grow tent smell-proof, an oscillating fan must be on your purchase list. These fans are designed to circulate air throughout the grow tent, preventing smells from becoming overwhelming. Plus, they help to keep the air fresh.
To get the most out of your oscillating fans, make sure to install one on the grow tent’s lower half and the other one on the upper half to keep the air circulating evenly.
Grow Tent Carbon Filter
A grow tent carbon filter is a simple yet crucial item if you’re looking to make your grow tent smell-proof and reduce the amount of odors inside. Most probably, you purchased a carbon filter while you were first setting up your grow tent. However, you need to make sure of its quality.
I have reviewed the best 7 carbon filters available on the market and decided that the iPower carbon filter does by far provide the best value for money. If you want to know how I got to this conclusion you can read my review right here.
If you are thinking of making a DIY carbon filter, you can check this article to see the cost breakdown and decide whether it is worth it or not.
A Grow Tent Carbon Filter Will Cost An Average Of $60.
High-quality carbon filters are made of Australian Virgin Charcoal. Australian Virgin Charcoal comes with a rating of either 1200 IAV or 1050 IAV.
1200 IAV carbon particles are slightly superior to that of 1050 IAV. However, both provide excellent smell adsorption capabilities.
If your carbon filter does not have Australian Virgin Charcoal particles, getting an upgrade will significantly reduce odors in your grow tent.
Also, you need to maintain your carbon filter clean and do any filter replacements if required. You can check out the article I wrote on how long a carbon filter should last in a grow tent.
Grow Tent Ozone Generator
An ozone generator is an add-on appliance that will definitely boost your grow tent’s smell-proof capabilities.
A Grow Tent Ozone Generator Will Cost You $70.
Ozone generators create ozone, a molecule composed of three oxygen atoms, which has the ability to react with organic substances like odors and change their molecular structure. Changing the molecular structure will result in the could odor being unrecognizable to the human olfactory nerves. This can help to significantly reduce or eliminate bad smells in the grow tent.
Ozone generators can also be used to reduce the presence of mold and other contaminants in the air as well.
Grow Tent Smart Exhaust Fan
This is by far the most important item any grower could purchase to smell-proof any grow tent.
A Grow Tent Smart Exhaust Fan Will Cost An Average Of $160
First, let me tell you how crucial a strong exhaust fan is to a grow tent. You need your exhaust fan to produce high power and faster speeds to create negative pressure inside the grow tent.
Simply, negative pressure happens when you run the exhaust fan at a rate that is faster than the ventilation fan by around 20%. When negative pressure occurs in a tent, air will be flowing in naturally following the laws of physics. At this stage, there will be almost no smell leakage from inside the tent, and your grow tent would be considered nearly 90% smell-proof.
Having a strong exhaust fan is a critical thing, but owning a smart exhaust fan is the next big thing. An exhaust fan that connects to your mobile phone will provide you with immediate access to control critical growing conditions like humidity and temperature.
It’s critical to understand that negative pressure does not work effectively if you are placing your carbon filter outside of the grow tent.
As I have mentioned before, high humidity and temperature will produce a foul odor for any grow tent. Controlling them is the ultimate step towards a smell-proof grow tent.
Thick Canvas Grow Tent
Changing a whole grow tent is not an easy decision to make. However, if your grow tent is made from low-quality canvas, it could be one of the main reasons for the odor to leak out of the tent. This is by far the most expensive item on the aforementioned list.
A Thick Canvas Grow Tent Will Cost Around $185.
There are various canvas sizes for a grow tent. It starts off from 200D until it reaches 2000D. For a grow tent to prevent any odor leak, you should aim for at least 1680D canvas.
A grow tent with high-quality thick canvas will also be manufactured using double stitches and a durable zipper.
The Cost Breakdown
| Smell-Proof Grow Tent Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Odor Neutralizer | $25 |
| Oscillating Fans | $29 |
| Australian Virgin Charcoal Carbon Filter | $60 |
| Ozone Generator | $70 |
| Smart Exhaust Fan | $160 |
| Thick Canvas Grow Tent | $185 |
| Smell-Proof Grow Tent Total Cost | $529 |
