A lot of indoor gardeners wonder if having a grow tent that is too big for the number of grown plants could have any drawbacks
Can a grow tent be too big? Grow tents can be too big when the number of grown plants is significantly lower than the grow tent’s capacity. Large grow tents could significantly increase the monthly running costs. Grow tent size must be compatible with the number of grown plants.
Space Limitations
As we all know, grow tents are available in various sizes. When it comes to big-sized grow tents, the most common space limitation is that they occupy too much space.
A large-sized 10ft X 10ft grow tent can easily occupy an entire room or even a large portion of it. This can be an issue for those who are limited in space. Imagine sacrificing 100 square feet of your home to grow indoor plants, this can be an extremely difficult decision to take especially if you live in an urban area where housing prices are skyrocketing every year.
Additionally, If you are planning on insulating the area around your grow tent, it can be a very costly mission to do. Grow tents require insulation in order to maintain the right temperature and humidity levels for the plants, and the insulation of big-sized grow tents tends to be more expensive than smaller ones. This can be a problem for those who are on a tight budget.
Heat Management Problems In Large Grow Tents
Growing plants in a large grow tent can be a challenge when it comes to managing the temperature. Many growers struggle with the difficulty of maintaining a constant internal temperature.
Not only are large grow tents less likely to maintain internal heat, but also the monthly heating costs will be extremely costly for any indoor gardener to use. Large grow tents could be a financial nightmare for any grower, especially in winter seasons when temperatures tend to fall below 32°F degree.
Some of you might think of insulating your grow tents in order to get around this problem. However, insulating a grow tent is not an easy task nor a cheap task to do.
Ventilation Problems Of Large-Sized Grow Tents
There is no indoor grower that doesn’t know about the importance of ventilation in a grow tent. Of course, there will be no need for a ventilation system if you are planning on using supplemental CO2. However, the percentage of growers using supplemental CO2 is relatively small due to the expertise it requires.
Grow tents with large sizes will require a large volume of air coming in and going out. This task must be fulfilled by a more advanced ventilation system. You must get large-sized ventilation fans. Moreover, a large grow tent like the 10ft X 10ft must be covered by at least an 8-inch carbon filter alongside an 8-inch exhaust fan.
Poor Lighting Problems Of Large Grow Tents
Poor lighting is a common issue for large grow tents. Too large of a grow tent can lead to inadequate coverage from the lights, leaving certain areas of the tent too dark and undersaturated. This can lead to stunted growth and reduced yields for the plants.
In a small grow tent, grow lights are usually centered and focused above the plant. The reflective mylar lining ten
Another problem with too large of a grow tent is that it can be difficult to find a lighting setup that covers the entire area. Often, growers will have to buy multiple lights and strategically place them in order to get the best coverage. This can be costly and time-consuming, and it can be difficult to get adequate coverage.
The High Running Costs
If you are still reading, you have probably guessed by now that running a large-sized grow tent is a pretty expensive job to do.
Most of your running costs will be monthly electricity bills. As I have mentioned before, heating up a grow tent with a large size like the 10ft X 10ft grow tent would be extremely costly. You will most probably need more than one heater to cope with the continuous heat loss.
The large size of the ventilation fan will also add up to the monthly electricity costs.
Don’t get me wrong, I am not against owning large grow tents. Large grow tents could be extremely profitable if the internal space is fully utilized. However, it becomes a financial burden if a grower gets a grow tent of an extremely large size that he is not intended to use.
How To Choose The Right Grow Tent Size
In order to avoid wasting money on monthly running costs you will need to choose the right grow tent size. There are a lot of factors that determine the sizing of the grow tent such as the plant’s size and the available space.
However, the following table is a basic guide that I have created to help you know an estimated size for the number of plants that you are planning to grow.
| Grow Tent Size | Number Of Plants |
|---|---|
| 2ft X 2ft | 4 |
| 3ft X 3ft | 6 |
| 4ft X 4ft | 12 |
| 4ft X 8ft | 16 |
| 10ft X 10ft | 32 |
Some growers do get a large-sized grow tent when compared to the number of plants they are currently growing. This is often done to keep enough space if they decided to grow more plants in the future.
By doing so, many indoor gardeners will struggle to maintain vital conditions at minimal levels like heating and lightning. Instead, you should assess the situation yourself.
If the initial batch of plants you are planning to grow could fit into a 2ft X 2ft grow tent but you decide to get a 10ft X 10ft to grow tent, then you’re going to run yourself into a great hassle.
On the other hand, if you are planning to get a slightly larger tent size, the drawbacks could be minimal.
If you are intending to grow more plants in the future, you could easily purchase another tent and place it beside the one you already own.
