Yo, what’s good? It’s your boy Dan, coming at you with some knowledge on how to grow some fire cannabis. One of the most important things you need to know about is humidity control, whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned grower. Lucky for us, dehumidifiers make it easy to keep the humidity in check all year round.
So, why is humidity control so important? Well, cannabis plants love warm temperatures and warm air holds more moisture than cold air. That means controlling the humidity in your grow room is key to creating the perfect environment for your plants. In this article, we’re gonna break down how to do just that using a dehumidifier.
What’s a Dehumidifier?
A dehumidifier is an appliance that reduces the humidity in a particular area. People use dehumidifiers to control the humidity in their homes for comfort and to prevent the growth of mold and mildew. But they also have commercial and industrial applications, like reducing the humidity in indoor swimming pools, gyms, ice rinks, storage warehouses, and more.
How Do Dehumidifiers Work?
There are two main types of dehumidifiers: refrigeration and desiccant. Refrigeration dehumidifiers draw in air from the environment over a refrigerated coil where water present in the air condenses on the coil and then drips into a collection tray or bucket where it can be disposed of or recycled.
Desiccant dehumidifiers work by drawing ambient air through a wheel covered with desiccant (a water-absorbing substance such as silica gel). Instead of dripping into a tray, the water absorbed by an adsorption dehumidifier is removed during the regeneration phase by evaporating the moisture from the desiccant with a stream of warm air. This now-moist air then condenses on a metal plate, from where the water drips into a collection tank.
How to Choose the Right Dehumidifier for Growing Cannabis
Now that you know what a dehumidifier is and how it works, let’s talk about how to choose the right one for your grow room. Here are some things you’ll want to keep in mind:
Your Budget
Listen up, fam. Your budget is gonna play a big role in what kind of dehumidifier you can afford. Unfortunately, not using a dehumidifier is gonna lead to mold or pest issues that can ruin your entire crop. So, make sure you consider both buying and running costs early on and budget accordingly. Don’t skimp on this equipment – it’s crucial to your success.
Portable vs Fixed Dehumidifiers
Portable dehumidifiers collect water in a reservoir tray that needs to be emptied regularly. Fixed dehumidifiers use drainage pipes to run the collected water into a drain or larger container (where it can be reused). Both have their pros and cons; portable models are easy to move around but require more hands-on attention while fixed models automatically drain collected water but are more complicated to set up.
Reservoir Volume
The size of your reservoir is another important factor when choosing your dehumidifier. Larger reservoirs mean less frequent emptying but take up more space and are more expensive. If you’re growing in a small space, you may need to use a smaller dehumidifier and empty it more often to avoid limiting your grow space even further.
Grow Room Size
Most dehumidifiers on the market today are efficient enough for small grow rooms or tents. But if you’re an experienced grower with a large-scale grow room, you’ll need to invest in a larger dehumidifier that can effectively manage the space you’re working with.
DIY Dehumidifiers
Listen up, homies – if your budget is tight, there are DIY options out there that can help control humidity in your grow room. While they won’t compare to commercial options on the market, they can be useful if you’re short on cash.
For example, you can make your own DIY humidifier using two 5-gallon buckets and rock salt! Drill some holes in one bucket and place it inside another without holes. Pour rock salt into the top bucket and place it inside your grow room. As moisture is drawn from the air by the rock salt, it will condensate and drip into the reservoir bucket at the bottom.
Remember that this homemade option isn’t as effective as commercial models, but hey – it’s better than nothing!
Managing humidity is key to growing healthy cannabis plants and harvesting great bud. Invest in a dehumidifier from the get-go for complete control over humidity levels or try out one of these DIY options if you’re strapped for cash. Peace out!