Grow Tent vs Grow Room: Which is Best for Indoor Gardening?

When starting a new cultivation process, modern indoor gardeners have a variety of setup and equipment options. Grow tent vs Grow Room is the most common debate in this scenario.

The decision about the garden’s facilities is the basic fundamental choice between purchasing a pre-built grow tent and retrofitting a space into a grow room, and it is at the heart of this planning and purchasing process.

To begin, grow tent is a reusable and portable device. The exterior is usually made of a durable canvas, while the interior is made of reflective materials. This is done to improve the efficiency of the built-in grow lights.

Grow rooms, on the other hand, can be thought of as any interior space with controlled environmental conditions for the purpose of growing plants. It’s a self-contained farm in the interior.

Here we’ve outlined the similarities and differences between these two options to assist you in selecting the best option for you.

Comparison Between Grow Tent vs Grow Room

A grow tent, in simple terms, is a growing unit that is installed in a room. A grow room, on the other hand, refers to an entire room that has been converted into an indoor growing facility, as the name suggests.

Set-Up: Grow Tent vs Grow Room

Grow tents typically have a fabric-covered frame with vents to allow for ventilation. They come in a variety of sizes and include a number of features that allow you to better control the environment in which your plants grow.

On the other hand, you can set up an indoor growing facility inside your home with the help of a grow room DIY. The attic, basement, spare room, or areas that are no longer in use are the best places to set up a grow room.

Having a separate grow room from the rest of the house ensures that your plants are protected from harm from pets, children, or visitors.

Size Difference

You can make a grow room as big or as small as you want. Expert growers use a grow room design to make the most of the space and equipment they have in order to maximize yields and, as a result, their return on investment.

These plans are ideal for those who want to grow plants on a large scale or for commercial use. It is simple to maintain grow room ventilation, and you can use a grow room controller to adjust the facility’s temperature

Area

Grow tents take up a lot less space than an entire grow room, as this statement implies. However, less space means less yield.

So, it all comes down to what you have on hand and what your goals are when deciding whether to use a grow room or a grow tent.

The benefits and drawbacks of a grow tent and grow room will be discussed in the following section to help you decide the right option for you.

Grow Tent

The primary benefit of using a grow tent is convenience, but there are a few additional pros and cons.

Pros

Minimal Space: Grow tents allow you to grow plants in the extra space in any room. If you don’t have enough space to dedicate an entire room to indoor growing, a grow tent will suffice.

Many grow tents come with a ready-to-install frame. Stacking units can be used to make the most of the available space.

Beginner-friendly and Cost-effective: Grow tents are much more beginner-friendly and budget-friendly. The costs of setting up a grow tent with grow light are significantly lower than those of setting up a grow room.

This setup can be used for a limited time to see if you can expand and invest in a large-scale growing facility.

Efficiency: Most grow tents have reflective walls that reflect light and allow your plants to absorb as much as possible.

Long-lasting and Durable: Several tents have a front zipper. This is useful if you have children or pets who might pluck or eat the plants.

The majority of grow tents are made of durable, sturdy materials that will last a long time.

Cons

Appearance: A grow tent in the corner of your bedroom can detract from the overall appearance of the space. Even though it doesn’t take up much space, it still appears to be a large tent in your room.

It’s best to put it in a room that isn’t used very often, such as a storage room.

Constraint Space: In comparison to a grow room, you can only grow a certain number of plants in a grow tent, which puts you at a disadvantage if you want to grow a large batch of crops all at once.

Grow Room

Grow lights, proper temperature, humidity, air circulation, odor and moisture control, and more can all be found in a full-fledged grow room facility.

Individuals who have an entire room dedicated to cultivation should consider a grow room facility. Commercial operations are simple to carry out in such an environment

Pros

Increase in Yield: Because a grow room has much more space than a grow tent, you can easily grow multiple crops in the same space or even a large batch of the same crop.

Manageable Environment: You won’t have to worry about uncontrollable variables or factors like rain, drought, or snow if you grow your plants indoors. High-humidity-loving plants would benefit from a humidifier in the grow room.

Simple Control and Prevention of Pest and Insect: You have more control over pests and insects in a grow room. If a plant becomes infected, it is simple to control because it occupies a smaller space than an entire field.

In addition, pesticides and insecticides can be used to keep pests and insects at bay.

Cons

A Little Expensive: A grow room may necessitate a large number of supplies, materials, and equipment, such as grow lights, which can be costly. Beginners may find it difficult to invest large sums.

Constant Upkeep and Surveillance: Indoor setups necessitate ongoing maintenance and careful observation of how plants react to temperature changes. Some plants are sensitive to heat and may not be able to withstand it, while others may be able to.

Constructed Environment: Nothing beats farming in the open air. Even though modern technology has provided us with grow lights that can mimic the sun, they cannot completely replace the sun. 

In the following section, we’ll go over the factors you need to think about. 

Factors To Consider: Grow Tent vs Grow Room

Environment

Each growing facility is distinct. Some growers may be able to provide a few hours of natural sunlight to their plants, while others may live in colder climates.

Furthermore, different climates may exist in different areas of the same house. It’s possible that the attic doesn’t get as much light as the basement, or that the basement doesn’t get enough air circulation.

The type of plants you want to grow and the space you have available also play a role in determining which setup you’ll need.

Impact on Your Home

A grow setup necessitates some upkeep and maintenance. It can also have a variety of effects on your home.

Plants are natural air purifiers that can help to improve the quality of the air in your home. Some of them, however, have unpleasant odors.

A grow tent or a grow room would usually mask the odor and keep it contained within the space. If you live in a shared apartment, you may need permission from other residents to begin growing plants indoors.

Size and Function of Your Planting Space

You can use a measuring tape to determine the size of your grow room once you’ve determined the location. Consider whether the plant you’re trying to grow would thrive in this size of indoor garden.

Additionally, keep in mind that grow lights and other equipment can take up a lot of room. Depending on the space requirements of the plants you wish to grow, you can set up an indoor growing facility.

They can be as small as 4 feet by 4 feet and as large as 10 feet by 10 feet or even larger.

Alternatively, you can use stacking units to stack your plants. These would allow you to make the most of the available space.

Materials

Some of the most important aspects of a growing setup are materials and equipment. To begin, you should purchase high-quality seeds, soil, and fertilizers.

Low-quality seeds are frequently mixed with dust and sand.

Following that, depending on whether you want to grow in a grow tent or a grow room, you may need to purchase soil, pots, grow lights, fertilizers, and other items.

One grow light may be sufficient for a small-scale setup or a grow tent.

You can link up to a hundred fixtures together for a large-scale or commercial operation. In comparison to small-scale setups, these setups may require more materials and equipment.

Budget

The budget is crucial in the construction of a grow room. It will assist you in determining the amount of money you can set aside for equipment and materials.

A large portion of your budget would be spent on grow lights or a low-cost grow tent.

Other expenses could include pots, soil, seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides/insecticides.

You should also consider the cost of electricity to run the grow lights, as they will need to be turned on for an extended period of time.

Conclusion 

Which one will be a better option for you is determined by personal and objective factors. Tents may be a better option for those who are just getting started with this hobby.

Those who have extra space, on the other hand, can certainly use it for this purpose, as it is a slightly more reliable option. Whichever route you choose, keep in mind that it will take time and effort.

Now that you know what each one requires it will be easier to decide which option is best for you.