Tents
Without the tent, there is no grow tent kit! We have a variety of tents in different sizes and styles to suit your needs. LITE tents are a great choice for those of you who are just getting started. These tents typically are lined with reflective silver mylar material and come with 16mm poles and plastic corners.
If you’re looking for durability and increased reflectivity, consider opting for a BudBox Pro tent in white. It’s a common misconception that mylar is the most reflective material. However, studies have shown that white lined tents are more reflective. Pro tents come with much thicker poles and metal corners to provide a sturdier structure than LITE tents.
Understanding light
There is no question that light is light, whether that be from the Sun or from a lightbulb in your kitchen. However, there are certain aspects which differentiate these.
The Sun provides a full spectrum of colours in the light it emits, while LEDs only contain certain colours that are seen as more beneficial for plant growth.
Studies suggest that by mimicking sunlight in an artificial environment we can achieve better results when growing. Artificial lights provide a continuous colour distribution, much like the Sun. However, colour deficiencies are still noticed when using artificial lighting.
The downside to using artificial lights is that when dealing with a large space energy consumption can be quite high. It is often noted that a lot of the energy used is wasted through the dissipation of heat and not for actually projecting light onto your grow area.
What light do plants really need?
Many believe that more light equals better results. The reality of the situation is, once again, plants need a cycle similar to what we need. They need waking hours and sleeping hours.
At the end of the day we need to go to sleep to recharge our bodies, ready for the following day. And just like us, plants need a period of darkness in order to repair and re-energise.
Depending on the stage of your plant, you can opt for different lights. Different wavelengths are beneficial to the plant depending on what stage the plant is at in its lifecycle. Red light is recognised as more beneficial during fruition and flowering, whilst blue is seen as better for vegetative growth.
Many indoor growers prefer to use one light throughout the entire grow cycle. Metal Halide lights are often used throughout the vegetative stage due to the high quantity of blue and UV rays that they emit. HPS lights emit higher levels of red wavelengths, making them more ideal for fruition and flowering. Many opt to just use one of the above throughout the entire cycle of their plants as they do still have a broad spectrum.
Lights can be used to control the cycle of a plant. It can be a huge advantage for indoor farmers to have control over this as they can delay the plant from flowering right until the final production stage where they are transported to consumers. The reason for this is it greatly enhances the freshness of the flowers when they arrive at their final destination, resulting in a longer lasting product for the consumer. You may not think this is so important, but think roses on Valentine’s Day.
Following on from the above, different plants require different amounts of light. For example, a plant may benefit from a schedule of 18 hours light and six hours darkness. This would ensure the plant has plenty of light during the vegetative stage ensuring a strong, healthy structure for when it is flipped to flower. By changing your cycle to 12 hours light, 12 hours dark, you can simulate the changing of the seasons. The decrease in available light tells the plant that the season is coming to an end and it is time to throw out its fruit and flowers. Interruptions to this light cycle may cause a plant to revert back to the vegetative stage so it is essential that dark means dark!
Many choose to experiment with different light cycles to see if they can increase their yields and quality of produce. For example, cucumber has been observed to take advantage of additional light all the way up to 22 hours. Tomatoes on the other hand were not observed to benefit from additional light.
LED kits
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HPS kits
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CFL kits
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LEDs
In addition to a versatile spectrum, LEDs are far more durable than other lights. They generally last approximately one year before the quality of light begins to deteriorate. An LED should not be expected to run at its peak performance after this time.
Further to this, LEDs emit far less heat than HPS and CFL lights. Cooler temperatures can be a great benefit during the warmer months as the overall temperature of your space should not rise out of control. During the colder months, many opt to use an additional heater as most of the heat from LEDs dissipates from the back. Research shows that LEDs have become much more popular and the momentum is expected to keep. Their versatility in terms of shape draws the attention of many growers. They come in strips, panels and bulbs. Quantum boards mean LEDs can be easily controlled remotely when operating in large indoor farming areas.
Photon LED Board Complete Grow Kit 0.6m
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Lumatek Attis LED Complete Grow Kit 0.6m
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Maxibright Daylight LED Grow Kit 2.4m x 1.2m
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HPS
High Pressure Sodium lights have been the go-to choice for growers for many years. They emit massive amounts of light which is great for the flowering stage. Whilst this may seem great, it does come with a cost. In addition to emitting massive amounts of light, they also emit massive amounts of heat. The result of this huge output of light is that the actual light emitted is not ideal for the vegetative stage. Many use HID (High Intensity Discharge) lights in conjunction with HPS to ensure their plants are provided with a broader spectrum. This will in turn increase the cost of the setup.
HPS lights are generally cheap to buy and are mostly standardised, meaning they are easy to compare when shopping between brands. Although cheap to buy, the running costs of HPS lights can be astronomical in a large space. Due to the large amounts of heat produced, measures are often put in place to maintain proper temperatures such as additional ventilation equipment or AC units. HPS bulbs generally need replacing every 12-18 months depending on how much they have been used.
Now you have a much better understanding of the different types of light, and their uses, you should now be able to choose which light best suits your needs.
To hang the lights, simply secure the rope ratchets that are supplied with your grow tent kit to the anchor points on the light. It’s always best to make sure that the light is completely level. This way, you’ll know that you are achieving even light distribution across your crop.
LUMii Black HPS Complete Grow Kit 2.4m x 1.2m
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LUMii HPS Complete Grow Kit 1.5m
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Maxibright Digilight 400V HPS Grow Kit 2.4m x 2.4m
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What’s the extraction fan for?
Extraction is essential for any type of growing. The role of the extraction fan is to ensure that there are constant air exchanges in the grow space. Without this, air will stagnate and humidity will rise, causing numerous problems. If noise output is a concern for you, make sure you pick a EC fans run much quieter than AC fans, making them a better choice. They are also far more energy efficient as when you lower the speed, you will also reduce the power draw of the fan, making it far more economical to use over a long period of time.
Acoustic ducting is essentially multi-layered ducting with foam/rockwool insulation inside. As the vibrations pass through the ducting, this added layer helps absorb some of the sound, thus minimising the overall noise output of the extraction kit. To connect these components together, use the fast clamp and quick-release clamps supplied in the kit.
What else can I add to my kit?
Depending on your needs, we offer a variety of different add-ons that you can add to your kit. If you select the Media & Nutrients package, you will receive enough soil, pots and saucers for the kit size that you have ordered. The nutrients supplied are from industry leaders Biogreen so you’re guaranteed to get good results.
You then have the option of basic add-ons, or complete add-ons. The basic add-on package includes a Thermometer/Hygrometer so you can keep an eye on your temperature and humidity at all times. As well as this, you will receive a small RAM Clip on Fan to get the air moving in your grow space, a 1L jug for mixing your nutrients, and 2 x 5ml pipettes for dosing your nutrients.
If complete add-ons are selected, you will receive everything from the basic addons, as well as a Smart CO2 bag, a pH pen so you can really make sure your plants are up taking nutrients at an optimal rate, as well as both pH down and pH up to bring these levels within range. You will also receive a 20L bucket.
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