Quick Guide to Assembling a Grow Box (Grow Tent)
In this article, I’ll explain how to quickly assemble a grow box and what you’ll need for the process. There are several approaches to choosing a grow box:
1. Budget Option – DIY Assembly
As you might guess, this involves building the box yourself. Find instructions online for assembling a simple cabinet, buy the necessary materials, and follow the steps. The main advantage is that materials will cost less than a ready-made solution, plus you can choose the exact dimensions you need.
Note: The optimal area for one plant is about 0.36 sq. meters (as mentioned in a previous article). Use this as a guide to determine the size of your box based on the number of plants you want to grow. I’ll cover growing in limited spaces in a future article.
Back to assembly: In addition to the cabinet itself, you’ll need either penofol (reflective insulation), white paint, or foil to line the inside of the box. Once the cabinet is assembled, make two holes: one at the bottom on any side for air intake (I prefer to leave this passive), and another at the top or on an upper side for air exhaust. The exhaust hole should match the diameter of your ducting.
Install a few hooks in the ceiling for hanging the lamp and fan. To adjust the lamp height, I use chains, which are available at any hardware store. You can also buy double-sided hooks to connect the chains and other elements.
After choosing a suitable fan, buy a carbon filter that matches its diameter if you need to control odors. Select ducting that fits your fan, and get metal clamps or plastic zip ties for secure connections. Assemble the components in this order: filter – fan – ducting. Do not reverse the order! This setup provides good airflow pressure.
If you’re using an HPS lamp, follow the same connection scheme, then attach a cool tube with the lamp and another piece of ducting, connecting the other end of the cool tube to the exhaust hole. When connecting, the fan should come before the lamp; otherwise, hot air from the lamp could melt the fan.
Next, you’ll need a timer—either mechanical or electronic, both available at electrical supply stores. Connect your lighting to the timer. Ventilation should run 24/7, though some people prefer to sync it with the lamp’s on/off cycle.
Once everything is connected and hung, place your plant inside and adjust the lamp height. For HPS lamps, keep at least 8 inches (20 cm) from the plant; for LED or CFL, you can place them closer to prevent the stem from stretching too much early on.
That’s basically it! If you’re building the box yourself and need to control odors, in addition to the filter, make sure all joints are sealed. Use caulk on all corners, and apply self-adhesive weatherstripping to the door for extra tightness.
2. Buying a Ready-Made Solution
This option has its own advantages. If your budget allows and you’re not confident in your DIY skills, a ready-made grow box might be best. You can find them in specialty stores, choosing the size, features, and appearance you want. You can also ask if they offer custom builds if none of the available options suit you.
3. Grow Tent – My Favorite
You can make a grow tent yourself, but for me, that’s too complicated—you’d need to order materials, sew them together with zippers, and build a frame. It’s a hassle. Fortunately, there’s a wide selection of grow tents from various manufacturers and sizes available online, from 12×12 inches (30×30 cm) up to huge “mammoths” that can fill an entire room. The size you choose depends on how ambitious your project is. Prices for small tents are quite reasonable, usually under $100 (10,000 rubles). You can also check classified ads for used tents at a lower price.
Grow tents are easy and pleasant to assemble and disassemble. They come with mounting kits for lamps, a waterproof floor layer, a highly reflective interior, and are fairly airtight, allowing you to create a controlled microclimate inside. Under ideal conditions, you can expect a yield of 1 gram of dry product per watt of light. Use this as a benchmark to strive for perfection by experimenting with different growing conditions.