The Proper Ventilation for a Grow Room

Intake

• The intake of fresh air into a grow room is one essential part of good ventilation. An intake fan is typically added to a window that is otherwise covered to bring outside air into the grow room while still allowing the grower to have control over the environment. The intake can also be brought in from the rest of the house instead of a window. A fan is placed at an access point and set so as to draw fresh air into the grow room, helping to keep both the humidity and temperature under control. The intake is usually placed low so that cool air is drawn into the room.

Exhaust

• A grow room requires an exhaust fan to blow stale air out of the room. The fan is typically placed near the ceiling so that the hottest air is removed. It should exhaust to the outside since a steady influx of hot, humid air would make a house quite uncomfortable if it were continually blown into the living area. When placing the fan itself on the ceiling isn't practical, ducting can be used to create an exhaust vent on the ceiling that leads to the fan and then outside.

Circulation

• Another essential element of grow room ventilation is a fan to provide circulation within the room. The intake and exhaust fans will keep the air moving to some extent, but there will be areas of the grow room that don't get the benefit of air circulation unless a fan is set up specifically for that purpose. This fan should move the air in the middle of the room, particularly if there are a lot of plants. A carbon dioxide (CO2) injection system can be added to provide the growing plants with this vital compound, boosting their ability to grow and thrive.

Considerations

• Plants in an improperly-ventilated grow room may fall victim to a number of problems. Damp, stagnant air can cause mold, mildew and fungal growths. Plants may also not grow as well since still, humid air allows the buildup of moisture on the leaves, interfering with the plant's respiration. In many cases a grow room with poor ventilation may also build up heat, causing the plants to stop growing and possibly killing them.