Controlling the humidity in grow tents is essential to ensuring optimal and healthy plant development. In addition to making sure that plants get the right amounts of moisture, dehumidifiers help stop the growth of pests, mold, and mildew. However, it is difficult to get a grow tent dehumidifier size depending on the climate of a specific area. Below is a guide to assist you in measuring the right size of dehumidifier for growing tents in humid and arid conditions.
Guidelines for Selecting a Grow Tent Dehumidifier
Before diving into climate specifics, it’s essential to understand the factors that influence dehumidifier sizing:
Tent Size
Diffusion of greater-size grow tents demands stronger dehumidifiers for the expulsion of moisture from the air.
Plant Density
It may be obvious, but the more plants you have, the greater the rate of transpiration which in turn will dictate the capacity of the dehumidifier.
Growth Stage
Most plants in the flowering stage require low humidity, and this stage usually involves high dehumidification.
Dehumidifier Capacity in High Humidity Areas
High ambient conditions (above 70%) are a common characteristic of the humid environment, like the coastal zone or the tropics, and it means that the control of humidity in a grow tent is difficult. The external conditions, specifically the relative humidity affect the air quality that gets into the tent which quickly can cause RH values to rise inside.
Conditions for Humid Regions
High Dehumidification Capacity
Like any other climate, the PPD of the grow tent dehumidifier is important when purchasing one for humid climates. Moderate-quality dehumidifiers whose PPD ranges from 30-50 are ideal for compact growth tents, particularly 4×4 feet, but complex tents require dehumidifiers with 70 PPD and above. Among brands providing grow tent dehumidifiers of various ranges, Yakeclimate is at the top of the competition and leading the market.
Continuous Operation
In most climate conditions, grow tent dehumidifiers may require to be in service throughout the day to ensure the right level of humidity is attained. It is recommended to select models with automatic humidity sensors and continuous drains to make no effort to adjust settings constantly and to empty the tank frequently.
Air Circulation and Filtration
For preventing mold and mildew, a grow tent dehumidifier with an incorporated fan assists in enhancing air circulation. Those with air purification filters are also favorable in regions that are humid since they can easily spread mold spores.
Energy Efficiency
Some dehumidifiers will work for several hours in a humid environment since they remove moisture from the air. As such, it becomes important to find a model that uses less power to ensure that energy costs are not through the roof.
Sizing Tips for Humid Climates
If you are growing in a small grow tent of 3×3 or 4×4 feet, and the environment is very humid, select a dehumidifier of 40-50 PPD. For medium tents (5X5 feet or larger) use 60-70 PPD. Tents with relatively greater areas or arrangements with plants densely distributed might need commercial units with PPD ratings equal to or more than 80. If you are looking for a specific grow tent dehumidifier size, then Yakeclimate is the right choice to get a variety of options in dehumidifiers.
Sizing Dehumidifiers for Dry Climate
Indeed, in areas with low relative humidity such as areas with hot arid, or semi-arid climates such as the desert, the barriers encountered are quite different. Even though low humidity levels are characteristic of dry climates, a grow tent requires consistent dehumidification, especially in the flowering phase when humidity levels should be low.
Factors to Consider in a Dry Climate
Moderate Dehumidification Capacity
In arid regions, most of the newly evolved moisture mainly stems from plant transpiration. Consequently, the grow tents in arid areas usually demand a PPD-rated dehumidifier of less density. The small tents could be served well by models with a PPD between 20 and 30, whereas large tents can be fully operational even with a PPD of between 40 and 50.
Shorter Operating Times
Indeed, grow tent dehumidifiers used in dry climates may not be required to operate all the time. If a model has a programmable control panel or an automatic shut-off, it ensures that energy wastage is eliminated together with over-drying.
Sizing Tips for Dry Climates
When it comes to small grow tents, choose the dehumidifiers with the 20-30 PPD. For medium to large tents, a 40-50 PPD model is adequate. The model should also have an in-built humidity setting that automatically regulates the humidity level without worsening the dryness.
Conclusion
The size of the tent, the quantity of plants, and the local environment all affect how big a grow tent dehumidifier should be. Whereas dry climate regions only need low-capacity models for infrequent usage, humid climate regions demand high-capacity models with effective humidity management. Concerning these aspects and the right choice of features, growers can regulate the humidity and promote healthy plant growth by ordering them from trusted manufacturers such as Yakeclimate among others.