How to build a cheap grow room that works
Setting up a grow room has never been easier.
Realistically, you could spend £350 and start a home grow that will deliver some seriously BIG yields.
But before you begin to plan or build an indoor grow room, there are four main things to consider:
- Find a suitable space – cupboard, shed, garage, spare room, loft, etc
- Pick a grow tent & configure to the area
- Choose the right grow lights – coverage and intensity.
- Select and set-up suitable climate control
Find a suitable grow space
Choosing where your grow will live is the most important decision. Once it’s sorted, everything else just follows on.
It needs to be somewhere accessible, which can prevent light from leaking out and be air tight (to stop smells escaping).
The loft area is popular with a lot of home growers, but it is sometimes possible to use a shed, garage or spare room.
Pick a grow tent
After selecting a suitable spot, buying a grow tent is the easiest and cheapest way to build a grow room set-up.
Remember, the size and shape MUST suit the available space!
We would also recommend choosing a tent from trusted brand like Secret Jardin and Bloomroom. They cost a bit more than cheaper alternatives, but they’ll last longer and deliver better value for money in the long run.
Best budget option: Secret Jardin DP90 - 90 x 60 x 90 - £52.96
Top of the range: Bloomroom Attic Large - 2.4 x 1.2 x 1.8m - £319.96
Choose the right grow lights
There are loads of grow lights now available – each style with its own purpose and benefits.
So, which one is best for a beginner’s grow room set-up?
Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs): A low power option designed for use with sees, cuttings and mother plants. CFLs are only really suitable for use in propagators.
Best budget option: Maxibright T5 - 2 tube 2ft - £68.95
Top of the range: Maxibright T5 – 8 tube 4ft - £179.95
LED grow lights: Most people use LEDs for their main grow because they operate at a cooler temperature and are cheaper to run. As a general rule, the more you spend the better the light spectrum you’ll enjoy.
Best budget option: Lumatek Attis 200w - £269.95
Top of the range: Gavita Pro 1700e - £1,094.95
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Grow Lights: If you want your plants to enjoy optimum growth, HID lights will do the trick. For the best value, opt for a dual spectrum light which emits red and blue light suitable for the vegetation & flowering stages.
Best budget bulb: Sunmaster Dual Spectrum lamp - 150W - £15.95
Top of the range: Philips SON-T 1000W - £69.95
Our top tip buying tip is to choose grow lights according to the size of your grow space and the intensity required.
As a beginner on a budget, you won’t go far wrong with LED grow lights. With energy prices reaching records levels at the start of 2022, it’s also a good idea to run the lights at night when electricity costs are lower.
Set up a climate control system
There are two basic ways to control the climate in a grow room:
- Creating an ‘Air Exchange’ is usually the cheapest and most popular option.
- For a slightly bigger budget, it might be wise to use a ‘Closed Loop’ system.
Air Exchange: This system involves extracting stale, hot and humid air and replacing it with cooler, air which is rich with CO2. It’s fairly easy to set up the ducting, carbon filters and extractor/intake fans and they don’t cost the earth.
Closed Loop: In this climate control system, hardly any air enters or escapes the grow space. The air inside constantly needs treating with a dehumidifier and the addition of CO2. Due to the costs involved, this is probably not the most cost-effective option, especially for beginners.
For inspiration and ideas, take a look at our wide range of grow room ventilation products or call 01926 511151 for FREE advice from our experts.