Grow tents have been essential for home growers for years. But with legalization and the convenience of online shopping today, the market may seem flooded with options.
It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the myriad options, so here’s a guide to help navigate buying the right grow tent for your garden.
Why Use a Grow Tent?
A grow tent allows the homegrower to have a contained space that protects the plants. Plus, you don’t have to do any construction or remodeling to your property to accommodate a grow.
Tents also streamline the growing process because they’re quick to set up and provide support to hang lights, fans, and other equipment, and also allow for ventilation.
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Buying a Grow Tent
Below are some things to look for when buying a tent, and a few tents that we recommend in different price ranges, so you can find the grow tent that best fits your needs.
Size
Grow tents range in size and height and one of the most important things to consider is how big of a space you want to grow in.
Height is the primary concern, and it is often overlooked when trying to grow in a small space. It’s best to maximize the height of your tent so that the grow lights are far enough above the plants. This will also give more room for air filters, wall fans, and ducting.
All of these additional inputs add up quickly, making space tight inside the small tent. You also won’t be able to grow wall-to-wall and need to account for horizontal growth—if growing in a 4’ x 4’ tent, you’ll really only have a 3’ x 3’ space for the plants.
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Durability
Cost translates into durability of materials and lower-end products tend to be made with flimsier materials, often leading to problems. Tears in the exterior, broken joints, low-quality zippers, and poor seals all show up quickly in a tent that isn’t built properly.
You’ll be using your tent daily and it’ll be continually jostled around every time you visit your garden, so make sure it’s sturdy.
Features
While growing inside a protected, enclosed space is a simple concept, there are a number of features that can help the growing process. Some appealing features include:
- Quick-viewing windows to check on the progress of your plants
- Cinchable upper and lower intake/exhaust ducting vents to easily connect fans
- Large door openings or full-side exposure to easily access your plants
- Removable waterproof floor trays to collect water runoff from your plants
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Our Picks
Here are our favorite tents with a standard base size of 4’ x 4’, in different price ranges:
Top Shelf: Gorilla Grow Tent (~$365)
(Courtesy of Gorilla Grow)
Gorilla Grow Tents are the most durable and reliable grow tents on the market. They’re made with metal connectors and poles and a thick wall material. They allow for 360 degrees of access to your garden and sell height extender kits to increase the height from 6’11” to 8’11”.
These tents are built to last for years, making them a must for anyone who doesn’t want to mess around with low-quality products.
Mid-Level: Secret Jardin DRII Pro 120 (~$240)
(Courtesy of Secret Jardin)
Dropping down in price doesn’t mean much of a sacrifice with the Secret Jardin DRII. Secret Jardin has been making tents for over a decade and they are committed to continually improving their products.
These mid-range tents are inspected thoroughly before shipping, can hold 65 lbs. of equipment, and are made with a patented technique that keeps toxins from off-gassing from the tent material.
Low-Level: Oshion (~$75)
(Courtesy of Oshion)
The Oshion mylar grow tent is our answer for someone who needs something quick, simple, and inexpensive. There are many tents ranging from $70 to $130, but we found that the Oshion is the best at this price point. The tent is made of a thick, durable 600D mylar, has a removable base tray, and multiple duct openings and viewing windows. While this tent probably won’t last for years, it will get you off the ground and growing.
