Thinking of setting up your grow tent on balcony? Well, if you lack sufficient indoor space but have a spacious patio, you definitely can.
However, there are several things you must consider before the setup, such as the availability of lighting. This is because all grow tents require a lot of sunshine during the day and grow light at night. You also have to consider the size of your balcony, types of plants to grow, privacy, and type of pot to use.
With that said, you probably are curious to know how to correctly set up your grow tent on the balcony. I’m going to tell you just below. So, keep reading.
Can You Put a Grow Tent on Balcony?
Yes. If you lack enough space indoors, but your balcony is sizable, you can set up the tent there or on your terrace.
You see, unlike the indoors, you may not need to invest much in ventilation systems on the balcony. This is because there is a lot of moving air outside to keep replenishing CO2 levels. On top of that, during the day, you get free sunlight for your plants.
However, assembling an apartment balcony tent is not the same as doing it indoors. Therefore, you have to consider several things to enjoy better yields throughout, including:
Lighting
Most plants require at least 6 hours of direct sunshine to produce quality yields and a nonstop period of darkness. In case light seeps through the grow tent at night, your plants may suffer from stunted growth. For this reason, you must ensure the balcony is not exposed to lighting from your house or street lamps at night.
Size of balcony
Grow tents come in many sizes to choose from. The smallest size measures 2x2ft, but you can also find 2x4ft., 4x4ft., 3x3ft., and 10x10ft tents. But overall, the right size depends on how spacious your balcony is. If your balcony is the size of most closets, I suggest tent sizes ranging from 2x2ft. – 2x4ft.
Concealment
Putting your grow tent on the balcony does not provide any privacy. For this reason, it may attract the attention of your neighbors. If you don’t want this to happen, I suggest you use a balcony cover. You could use bamboo meshing or green shading mesh to conceal your tent.
Type of grow pot
Another thing you must consider is the type of flowerpot you will use in the grow room. You can choose between fabric, plastic, and air pots. Overall, the most preferred option for balcony growers is plastic pots because they don’t allow the plant’s substrate to heat up.
Fabric and air pots are also excellent choices because they are breathable, allowing maximum airflow throughout the pot. On the flip side, though, they require frequent watering.
Location
In terms of location, I suggest you pick a spot on your balcony that is well protected from rain or winds. The last thing you would want is the strong winds pushing down your grow tent. Even worse, the strong winds may expose your crops to frost damage. On the other hand, heavy rains and storms may damage your crop yield by washing away soil nutrients.
Bugs and spider mites infestation
With your grow tent being outside on the balcony, it will be more susceptible to spider mites. Therefore, you must be proactive about the mites. Also, you should ensure the tent has no holes to keep the bugs from coming in. Most importantly, I recommend keeping your grow room locked as much as possible.
Related: How to clean grow tent spider mites
Types of plants
Some plants are better suited for growing on a balcony and terraces than others. Some of these include auto flowers because of their compact size. Besides, you can plant auto flowers and harvest them throughout the year. This is because the plants never depend on a change in the light pattern just to kick off and maintain flowering.
How to Set Up A Grow Tent On Balcony?
Setting up a grow tent on the balcony is utterly simple. Below is a step-by-step guide to help you.
Step 1: Assembling the tent
Start by cleaning your balcony, including the walls. Then, place a rug or carpet beneath to insulate your grow room. Next, mount your tent using the aluminum frames and the connectors it comes with. Lastly, place the cloth over the bars.
Step 2: Install the grow lights
Once the tent is up, you should install your grow lights immediately. However, this is only if your balcony does not have access to direct sunlight for at least 4 hours during the day.
To install the lights, I recommend you use metal hangers to hang the bulbs above your plants. Then, you can organize the wiring neatly outside to your plugs and timer.
Step 3: Ventilation setup
Proper air circulation in the grow tent is of utmost importance. The best way to achieve this is using an inline fan. This fan helps expel heat and humid air from your grow space. You can also install a carbon filter to keep your grow room free from unpleasant odors.
Step 4: Insulate your tent
Next, you should insulate your tent from top to bottom with closed cell spray foam. This foam helps control the temperature and humidity of your grow space by making it airtight. You could also wrap the entire tent using building insulation or bubble wrap.
Step 5: Test your equipment
First, try giving your tent a shake to confirm if it is securely fastened. This way, you can be sure it won’t fall due to strong winds. Then, place your temperature and humidity meter inside the room to get a feel of how it is running. Once you have confirmed the conditions inside are perfect, you can bring in your plants.
FAQs
Now let’s quickly look at commonly asked questions about setting up an apartment balcony tent.
Can you set up a grow tent in an apartment?
Yes. These tents come in many sizes to choose from. For example, you can get one that fits perfectly on your balcony, terrace, or even the closet. The important thing is you ensure your plants receive adequate sunshine during the day.
How do you keep your grow tent on the balcony warm in winter?
Apart from adding extra HID lights, you can install tube heaters or fan heaters. These two devices can produce consistent heat enough to keep your tent warm.
Do grow tents on the balcony need to be waterproof?
Yes. Your plants in the grow room require consistent watering in the right amounts. However, heavy rains and water run-offs can damage the crops hence the need for the tent to be waterproof.
Conclusion
Sometimes, you may not have enough indoor space for your grow room. In this case, you can set up your grow tent on the balcony or perhaps on your terrace. However, you must consider factors like availability of sunlight, size of balcony, type of plants, and growing pot before the setup. More so, you need to understand how to correctly set up the tent, including insulating and ventilating the room. Otherwise, your plants may not provide you with the best results.
