The art of discretion as an indoor grower is based on sight, smell, and sound. If these three factors are well covered, you should never need to worry about an unexpected knock on the door or for any neighbors to ever suspect you of being a green-fingered enthusiast. In this article, I explain all you need to know about how to soundproof your grow room or grow tent, why you should soundproof in the first place, how to make a DIY muffler at home, and above all, my top tips for a silent grow location.

Why should I soundproof my grow room or tent?

Well, why not? Running a quietly operated indoor grow room is not only pleasant for your own sake; it will also remove any concerns that a close-by neighbor may become aware of what is happening one wall away. 

The amount of noise you create is like an audio footprint that needs to be well-considered. Not only will soundproofing your grow tent, converted room, attic, or basement make life easy, it will also keep away the unwanted presence of police or thieves. 

What are the noisiest parts of my grow room and tent?

Exhaust fans, oscillating fans, wall fans, and hydroponic pumps will be your main source of noise. Sometimes, it can be difficult to reduce the noise levels of industrial-powered fans, especially large-sized ones with the capacity to remove up to 1300+m3/h- those will produce 45–55 decibels of sound. 

The sound of air passing through ducting is also one of the main culprits of a noisy grow space. As a first-time grower, you may plug in all your equipment and be overwhelmed by the noise output. I remember the first time I set up my extraction at home while living with my parents. It was so loud you could hear it while watching TV downstairs, which bothered them deeply. 

9-12 inch fans at full speed can also become noisy, especially if clipped to tent poles or sat directly on the floor. You would be surprised at the difference mounting a fan correctly can make inside a tent or grow room wall. The other main source of noise you may encounter if working with hydroponics is the required aquarium pumps and air pumps 

Once plugged, air pumps will make a loud and clear humming sound close to the 50-decibel mark. Not only will air pumps be switched on 24 hours a day, they may become louder over time until they need replacing. This can also be the case with water pumps, which circulate nutrient solution back to the reservoir. 

Ready to learn more about building the perfect grow room? Please sign up for our Grow Bible below and learn all the tips and tricks from Robert Bergman himself!

How to soundproof my indoor cannabis garden

The extent of how much time, effort, and money you invest in soundproofing your grow room will be based on budget, space, and experience. Below are some of my personal favorite ways to help you significantly reduce the amount of noise pollution to consider.  

1. Passive cooling grow lights

In recent years, passive-cooled technology using heat sink designs has allowed horticultural grow lights to operate in silence. Unlike some older LED lights with noisy internal fans prone to dust and breaking down, passive-cooled lights mean operating a discreet and quiet grow room as far as lighting is concerned. 

The benefits of passive cooling lights

There is no need to be concerned about internal fans malfunctioning, which is what t I enjoy about using passive-cooled lighting.  When the internal fan of a grow light stops working or begins to lose power substantially,  you can be left jeopardized, causing a temperature and humidity fluctuation.   

Avoid these mistakes

• Spending your hard-earned money on cheap LED lights.
• Low PAR levels; they’ll only produce small yields, so do your research.
• Forgetting that high-powered LED lights may not be the most cost-effective.
• Choosing old designs with a small output of light and outdated tech.

2. Acoustic ducting

Traditional aluminum ducting is cheap and cheerful, but if you are prepared to invest in acoustic ducting, you can significantly reduce noise levels. I always use acoustic ducting attached to silencers and find this is the most silent and discreet way to transport high volumes of air. The cost of acoustic ducting compared to standard aluminum can be 2–3 times the cost; however, it is well worth the investment over time. 

The benefits of acoustic ducting

Using acoustic ducting can take the edge off, allowing your room to exhaust air in a quiet and discreet fashion. However, it is worth knowing that acoustic ducting can be expensive. When installing in a large-sized room, your costs may rapidly increase. 

Avoid these mistakes

• Allowing the ducting to droop when you are hanging the equipment.
• Installing without a face mask for protection from asbestos. 
• Handling the ducting with skin exposed. This can cause irritation.
• Attaching the ducting with a loose fitting, causing air to escape.

3. Silencers

In my opinion, silencers are one of the most effective means of controlling noise levels. They act as a muffler, allowing air to pass without losing power or efficiency. I always like to use two silencers and connect one on either side of the extractor. You will be amazed at the difference.

The benefits of silencers

Silencers are one of my personal favorite additions to any indoor secret garden. They are lightweight, solid in design, and will last for years. You can easily attach them to ducting, and when using two, you will find the noise levels will drop to a level all the members of your house will be happy with. 

Avoid these mistakes

• Overcrowding inside small-sized tents when installing silencers.
• Installing too few. Using one works well, but spend the extra money and buy two.
• Incorrect fir. Make sure that the silencer has an airtight, secure fit.

4. Plug dimmers

These simple but highly effective devices act by connecting to the plug socket then allowing you to change the power output. Turning a dial left or right allows airflow and noise to be lowered at will. Plug dimmers work like a charm when using large-sized extractors or for those who sleep in the same room as their tent or stealth grow box.  

I recommend never lowering the dial below 25%, as this can cause some ventilation systems to switch off or produce such little output it is not worth it doing.  Plug dimmers are a wonderful tool for a visiting landlord, bedtime, and finding the sweet spot that works for you while providing adequate levels of exhausted air.

The benefits of plug dimmers

Plug dimmers are an excellent way to reduce noise levels and the amount of power received, thus reducing electricity bills. One thing I love about these cheap and highly effective devices is their versatility. They can also be used on house lamps to lower lighting. 

5. Using T.T. fans

RVK fans are the large-sized round extractor fan that is most commonly used when growing cannabis indoors. The only issue with RVK fans is the fan’s noise when spinning at full power and the noise from the air being produced. T.T. fans are smaller extractors that can serve the purpose of a small-sized stealth grow box and are far quieter than the RVK model. 

The benefits of T.T. fans 

Growers operating a stealth grow box will benefit the most from T.T. fans. These small-sized fans are light, easy to hang, and make little noise when on full power running 24 hours a day. 

Avoid these mistakes

• Wiring the T.T. fans wrong and causing a blown fuse (easily done).
• Buying low-powered commercial bathroom exhaust fans.
• Having short plug wires. Make sure your plug wire is at least 2 meters. 
• Not replacing the T.T. fan after every second harvest.

6. Acoustic wooden boxes

You may have seen these in your local grow shop or online and thought,  what is that? These wooden boxes with soundproof foam lining are designed to house an RVK fan and eliminate the noise produced by the moving parts. When connected to a plug dimmer, acoustic wooden boxes can really pay off big time.

The benefits of acoustic wooden boxes

What I like about acoustic wooden boxes is that they allow you to sit the box firmly on the floor. This means you can connect the ducting from the box through the top of the tent, giving you plenty of space inside the tent.

Avoid these mistakes

• Hanging the heavy wooden box inside the tent using chains and metal hooks.
• Making a poor-quality homemade version that lacks efficiency. 

7. Silent operating hydroponics

One way to grow the biggest yields possible and operate a silent grow room is to use certain hydroponic systems that do not use loud air pumps like DWC. Dripper systems with hydroton and NFT tables with a pump left on 24 hours a day are both great ways to produce minimal noise while maximizing your grow space. This is because NFT water pumps run quietly, use a small flow of water, and only make a dripping sound. Dripper systems can run 24 hours a day (with 100% hydroton) or in 15-minute segments, again only producing a little noise when operating. 

The benefits of silent operating hydroponics

I recommend using hydroponics once you have a few grows under your belt and are familiar with the plant, feeding schedules, pH, and E.C. maintenance. Once you get the hydro bug, you never look back, and it can quickly develop into a passionate hobby, as it did with me! The main benefits are yield, short vegetative times, and a clean grow room. 

Avoid these mistakes

• Loud air pumps can be a nightmare, especially if sleeping in the same room.
• Vibrating water pumps will shake floorboards and cause reverberation. 
• Large reservoir systems can use much more nutrients and take up more space. 
• Only using one air stone; instead, use extra air stones to avoid pressure buildup.

8. Electronically commutated fans (E.C.)

In the same way LED lighting changed indoor growing, E.C. fans have also become the preferred choice for the experienced grower. For these,  an exhaust fan designed to convert A.C current into direct current (D.C) works with a silent brushless motor. These high-priced exhaust fans have adjustable speeds, produce little noise, and are energy efficient compared to RVK fans. 

The benefits of E.C. fans

These fans may set you back in the financial department; however, after buying my first-ever E.C. fan, I cannot recommend them enough. You can adjust the power using a dimmer with most E.C. fans, allowing you to operate a silent room.

Avoid these mistakes

• Focusing on a  good deal only and going with a non-reputable, cheap brand.
• Not checking the amount of air per hour they can exhaust.
• Hanging inside without assistance, E.C. fans can be quite heavy.

Grow room specific soundproofing considerations

Sound-absorbing materials are an excellent way to convert a spare room,  old cellar, or basement to a warm, temperature-controlled environment. Not only will they act as an insulator, they also reduce reverberation and noise. Below are some precautions to consider while planning for your next indoor space. 

Weatherstripping tapes on doors & windows 

• This is especially important to prevent light breaks and ensure an airtight seal.
• Easy to apply, and for the extra small cost, it is well worth it.

Padding dry walls 

• Sound will become muffled through padded walls.
• Using acoustic foam ducting or asbestos foam works well.
• Padding will also help prevent cold spots and moisture build-up.

When you have set up your soundproof grow room, it’s time to get the seeds for your grow! You can find a selection of our best seed deals below.

My top tips for operating a stealth and silent grow room

Top tip #1:  

Always make sure that the ducting is airtight when installing your indoor ventilation. Use duct tape or metal clips. This will help you achieve a top-quality airtight fitting. 

Top tip #2:

Be aware of the noise coming from your house or apartment. This refers to where the air is being blown out and if it can be heard from a close-by neighbor, or worst case, standing in front of your house. Do sound checks and listen for any humming or whirring noises. 

Top tip #3: 

Be careful when removing the trash and keep nutrient bottles, pots, soil, leaves, and stems out of sight. There is no point in running the world’s quietest grow room and not taking care when it comes to discretion.

Top tip #4

Use foam or rubber mats to sit oscillating fans on top of. The layer of mat between the moving fan and the floor will reduce the amount of reverberation through the floorboards.

My final thoughts

I have invested thousands of dollars in all types of ventilation equipment over my lifetime. I wish I had been aware of many of the points covered in this article beforehand.  Operating a near-silent grow room is possible, especially for those currently working with a stealth grow box design. 

Avoid cheap equipment that is only destined to fail over time, and always be aware that an old fan, air pump, or water pump can become very noisy and, in some cases, can develop into a nuisance for any indoor grower or neighbor. Make sure your grow tent is always sealed and airtight and all ducting is firmly attached. 

Be prepared to invest in making your grow room/tent acoustically sound, and you will always have the ultimate peace of mind as an indoor grower. For those willing, try and build a rapport with your neighbors. 

As always, if you want to take your growing skills to the next level, I recommend reading Robert Bergman’s Grow Bible!

So you have a basement and a dream. What’s next? 

When people think of home growing, they immediately jump to growing in a closet or a tent. While that’s feasible and possible, those with space in their basement might want to make the most of it.

Although it can be rewarding, building a grow room in a basement takes a lot of thinking about the equipment you’ll need and the environment you want to create for your plants. Basement grow rooms can allow for enhanced security and easier light control. However, the downsides include humidity and cleanliness issues and infrastructure problems. 

Are you curious about building a basement grow room? We’ll walk you through the good, the bad, and the different considerations to remember.

The pros and cons of growing cannabis in your basement

Upsides of growing cannabis in your basement

Growing weed in a basement lends itself to many upsides concerning traditional worries about cultivation, such as stealth, ventilation, light control, and pest management. 

Regarding stealth and security, a big worry with growing at home involves people smelling and hearing your grow. A basement grow provides odor control and noise reduction by being directly underneath your home. With suppressed odor and noise, the likelihood of anyone detecting your grow or attempting to steal your crop is significantly reduced. 

Environmental control is a massive and essential part of making the most of your grow from a plant health and yield standpoint. Basements tend to run cool and damp, both of which are usually a problem when it comes to cannabis, but with the proper preparation, you can make this an advantage. Dehumidifiers and heat mats will be your friends in cool, damp environments. Cool temperatures from the floor can stunt root development, and moist environments make a hospitable environment for pathogens like powdery mildew. 

Another beneficial aspect of growing weed in a basement is that basements typically don’t have windows. This simple fact significantly reduces the possibility of light leaking into the room and messing up your veg or flower cycles by shocking your plants in their night periods.

Downsides of basement cannabis cultivation

Considering the challenges and inherent issues you’ll face with using your basement for an indoor grow room is just as important as considering the benefits. Again, basements often have more moisture, making them susceptible to mold and bacteria growth. Use fans to circulate the air and dehumidifiers to control the extra dampness. It’s essential to keep fresh air and prevent harmful matter from growing on your indoor cannabis plants.

You need to address infrastructure challenges to make a proper grow space out of your basement. Unfortunately, establishing adequate water supply, electrical outlets, and heat sources can be demanding. However, overcoming these challenges is essential to provide indoor cannabis plants with the resources for healthy growth.

Unlike a traditional indoor grow room, basement grow rooms tend to be cooler, which can slow down plant growth and cause a shock to your roots. To build a DIY grow room under your house, you must optimize your plant’s climate to produce high yields and top quality. You’ll also need to consider how to make it warmer in your basement, like using heaters or considering the type of light you use – such as whether or not it generates heat.

If you want to read the basics about starting your grow, please sign up below to receive our grow bible and weekly grow tips and seed deals!

Designing and building a grow room in your basement

Basement grow room design can be separated into equipment and infrastructure. Sure, equipment planning is necessary for any grow space, but you’ll need to take special considerations when dealing with a basement environment. 

When you build a grow room, the most prominent points to consider for basements are ventilation and humidity. The best way to maintain these two growth pillars is with dehumidifiers, fans, and filters.

Dehumidifiers, fans, and filters will help keep your space optimal and your plants happy— Especially the carbon filter, which can help keep most of the odor inside your weed grow room. Most other concerns for the room are infrastructure-based and centered around prepping and sealing your room.

CO2 enrichment for your basement grow room

Additional growth supplementations are a typical consideration when growing cannabis. CO2 is a perfect solution for boosting your plant’s growth. It also helps boost your plant’s photosynthesis process. You can use CO2 in a basement grow. Ensure you maintain proper ventilation around your room when supplementing CO2 and keep your ppm between 1000-1500.

Proper climate control and ventilation are key for a basement grow

Basement grow room ventilation will be a top priority for your grow room. Basements are typically deep underground and sealed to separate the environment from the floors above them or areas like closets. To encourage good ventilation, consider placing fans in different regions of the room. This helps keep your canopy from dead zones that make the perfect environment for pathogens. Aside from pathogens and pests, having fresh air move through your canopy helps encourage the growth of stronger branches.

Have a separate space for the vegetative and flowering stage

A basement grow room can be set up in a few different ways. You can set up a multi-room basement into separate flower and veg rooms, or you can veg or flower simultaneously in a single-room basement.

Tents are another option for creating different environments for veg and flower plants in the same room. Even if you’re using two separate rooms, ensuring they’re sealed off is essential. Remember, each cycle has specific light requirements, leading to the potential of causing veg plants to pre-flower by exposing them to too much light. 

Make the most of any available space, but if you want to grow plants in both their veg and flower stages, it’s smart to keep them in separate spaces. Here’s why: having different areas to grow your veg and flower plants lets you do “perpetual” growing. That might sound like a fancy term, but it isn’t all that complicated.

Here’s how perpetual growing works: In one portion of the grow room, you’ll grow veg plants to the size you’re comfortable with before transferring them to a grow tent where they’ll flower. Once those veg plants are out of that space, you’ll replace them with new veg plants that will grow at the same time as your flowering plants. 

As your veg and flower plants grow, you’ll begin harvesting your flowering plants and hanging them up to dry. As you pull these plants down, you can transfer your vegging plants to the flower tent and start the cycle over again. This flow ensures that you constantly have flowering plants to harvest and continuous product coming in.

The importance of a clean environment when doing a basement grow

When it comes to the environment of your basement grow room, it’s imperative to consider the cleanliness of your basement as well as your ability to ensure your grow is as pest and pathogen-resistant as possible. 

Contamination can happen quickly if you don’t efficiently clean your space and supplies. Mold, heavy metals, and other bacteria can form and pose significant risks to your growing marijuana plants.

If you’re planning to grow in tents, clean both the inside and outside of your grow tent with a mixture of one part 30% hydrogen peroxide and one part water. This mix ensures it’s strong enough to kill pathogens and light enough not to harm your plants or your body, should you get it on your eyes or skin. Safety is a priority! 

Another aspect of keeping a clean environment is ensuring you minimize the possibility of bacteria and pests by using an Integrated Pest Management plan. If left unchecked, you can attract mites, fungus, mildew, and other preventable ailments to your plant, but not if you have the right plan! Need supplies? ILGM makes a line of tailored preventative feed solutions to keep your plant safe against threats.

Check out Robert’s Plant Protector series for your IPM needs!

Bergman’s Plant Protector

• Protect your plants from diseases and harmful pests.
• Consists of three 20 ml bottles
• Enough plant protection system supplies for up to 20 plants
• Suitable for soil, hydroponic and all other grow mediums

Final thoughts on basement cannabis cultivation

Embarking on a basement cannabis cultivation adventure offers opportunities and challenges. The advantages include enhanced security, precise light control, and potential stealth. The challenges are the environment. 

While dampness in basements can be a concern, you can mitigate it with tools like dehumidifiers and heat mats. Excess moisture invites mold and bacterial growth; adequate ventilation and dehumidifiers help maintain a healthy growing atmosphere. 

Crafting an efficient basement grow space requires meticulous planning of equipment and infrastructure. Addressing infrastructure needs, such as water supply and proper heat sources, is fundamental for a successful setup. Prioritizing ventilation, humidity control, and cleanliness is also essential. 

Your basement can evolve into a thriving environment for cannabis, provided you embrace safety, hygiene, and climate control. Have more questions about growing indoors? This article is part of a comprehensive series on optimal indoor cannabis cultivation. 

Happy growing!

Growing marijuana indoors is a popular choice for many cannabis growers. Indoors, growers can control their plant’s environment and minimize pest issues. Additionally, many growers use indoor grow tent kits when constructing their indoor grow space. Grow tents come in many sizes, but even small grow tent kits include three key components: tent, light, and inline fan. This article will discuss basic grow tent kits for beginners, as well as some advanced options as well.

Grow Tent Options

Grow tents come in many sizes. Growers can fill an entire room with a 12ft x 12ft  (3.7m x 3.7m) grow tent or occupy a corner with a 2’ x 2’ (0.6m x 0.6m) tent. Professional growers often use a 4ft x 8ft (1.2m x 2.4m) tent or larger to fulfill commercial demand. 

Although you can go large, most personal consumption growers prefer small grow tent kits. Small grow tent kits have a 5ft x 5ft (1.5m x 1.5m) or smaller footprint. This article divides small grow tents into two categories: beginner grow tent kits, and hobby-level grow tent kits. The difference is the number of plants they can contain.

Why buy a grow tent kit?

Purchasing your first indoor grow tent kit can be exciting time for any grower. One advantage of purchasing a grow tent kit is the convenience. All of the pieces arrive simultaneously. You’re not stuck with a light and waiting another week for the tent to arrive. With small grow tent kits, you can start playing with your new toys as soon as they arrive. Whether you are a new grower or an old grower, it’s hard to beat the excitement of setting up a new kit.

You have options! Many kinds of indoor grow tent kits are available; some include a few of the major items, while others have every little detail and tool covered. There are a variety of prices, as well as quality levels. We’ll cover some of the pros and cons below. After reading this section, you can decide for yourself which kind of small grow tent kit will be the right one for you.

Pros and cons of buying a ready-made cannabis grow kit

Grow tent kits for beginners are a great idea, especially for those overwhelmed by the number of choices when setting up a proper grow. Simply select an all-inclusive kit and be done with it. A drawback to this approach would be for growers who already have some of this gear or want to mix and match their ideal set-up. Both approaches are correct; it boils down to your preference.

Pros

For growers who are excited to get started but don’t want to spend hours researching all of the latest options, small grow tent kits are for you. Indoor grow tent kits range from the basic three components to everything, including soil and eye protection. Whatever your comfort level, there is a grow tent kit to meet your needs. 

With small grow tent kits, growers know the pieces will fit together properly. The inline fan has the proper air exchanging capacity for the tent’s dimensions. You know the carbon filter will fit the collar on the inline fan. All of these little details are accounted for. Added bonus? By buying this equipment as a designated kit, growers usually save money compared to buying the pieces individually. 

Cons

Certain growers may find some drawbacks to buying all-inclusive indoor grow tent kits. Experienced gardeners will lose control of their choices, or they may be buying redundant or unwanted gear. For example, many grow tent kits come with analog timers. I prefer and will only use digital timers (you can learn more about that in our article about the Best timers for grow lights). These drawbacks tend to be small. .

Your indoor grow tent kit is only as good as the company that makes it. This means, you must consider the company’s primary product when buying a kit.  Do they have a great reputation for making grow tents, but their in-house lighting brand is less than optimal? Would you feel comfortable buying a complete kit from that company, knowing you might get a great tent but rolling the dice on the lights? Consider the strengths of the companies and the products you choose in your kit. Some kits on the market will mix and match products from different brands to assemble a worthy indoor grow tent kit.

Is it cheaper to build your own tent?

Like many questions related to growing cannabis, it depends. If materials are cheap locally, but grow tent kits need to be imported, which includes duties and taxes, building a tent may be cheaper. Usually, the cost of materials, tools, and time equals the price of a professionally constructed grow tent. 

Although DIY grow tents can be made to fit custom footprints, manufactured grow tents are built better and generally last longer.

If you want ideas for the top DIY grow tent styles, check out our article – How to build a DIY grow tent for a complete list of materials and step-by-step instructions.

What items usually come with a marijuana grow tent kit?

Small grow tent kits will come with three key items as the base gear, and then from there, has customizations to include items like circulating fans, pots, nutrients, SCROG nets, etc. The base gear has three pieces. These key items are the most important pieces of equipment contributing to your success in the garden. With any kit, evaluate the quality and read the reviews for the following three items.

1. Tent – Check for reviews regarding light leaks or zipper problems
2. Lighting – The industry has moved beyond HID lighting; look for kits with LED
3. Inline fan / Carbon filter – Exhaust ducting and clamps to attach the duct should be included as well

What items don’t come with a grow tent kit?

Without going into every little component down to a plant marker tag, a few necessities are missing from most cannabis grow tent kits. Most new growers (and experienced growers) prefer to use soil or coco as a medium. These items are heavy and cost a lot of money to ship. They are usually not included in cannabis grow tent kits. 

Neither are the pots to put them in or the watering can to feed them. There are also many nutrient options to decide on. Companies making grow tent kits leave that decision to the grower. Your plants need much more than a grow tent kit; the biggest contributor to your success that doesn’t come in any of the marijuana grow tent kits is good genetics. You can find some awesome seeds with great genetics in our store..

Marijuana grow tent kits will have the big pieces packaged together, but the little details are left to the grower.

Marijuana seeds do not come with your grow tent either, but luckily at ILGM we have a large assortment of the best cannabis seeds to grow indoors. Shop now by clicking below.

Shop Indoor Seeds

• Indoor-thriving plants
• For windowsill or under lamps
• Feminized and autoflowers seeds

What to consider when buying a ready-made grow kit?

• Location and available space: 

Your house has many locations that are ideal for growing cannabis.First, consider where you will place your ready-made grow tent kit. Tents will almost always be square or rectangular. Does that fit in your designated area? 

Next, set an amount of money you’d like to spend, an amount you could spend up to, and then an amount you could have if you waited one more month of saving. Now, let the shopping begin.

• Manufacturer and quality:

Brand longevity and reputation are important to consider. Check reviews from various sources, and read the good and the bad. Ask yourself, will I be growing in one year? Will I wish I had more space in the tent for a few more plants? The answers are usually yes and yes. If possible, buy slightly larger than you currently need; this will allow you to expand without the need to purchase new equipment.

• Quality of the LED lights:

It’s odd, yet a few of the indoor cannabis grow tent kits for beginners have included lights that are underpowered for the size of the tent. This can limit your quality and yield.

To determine if your kit’s lighting is suitable, check out our article discussing the best LED grow lights and look for the section “How many watts of LED grow lights do I need?”.

I discovered this mismatch in a small percentage of grow tent kits, so it is worth checking before buying.

A list of the best ready-made grow kits for beginning cannabis growers

Below, we’ve listed eight brands offering  indoor grow tent kits. Although we’ve highlighted one particular model and size, each company offers a variety of sizes to fit growers’ needs. We placed tents that hold 2-4 plants in the beginner grow tent kit category. Our hobby-level grow tent kit category focused on larger tents because growers can have more plants in them.

Many of the companies listed below have been around for years. They have had the time to receive product feedback and progressively improve their products. Having a track record is important because it reveals the quality of not only the products but of the customer service as well. Always look at reviews from multiple sources before making your purchasing decision. 

Four grow tent kits for beginners

In this category, we considered kits with a smaller footprint. Many new growers are hesitant to commit too much space to the hobby. However, most quickly learn that they enjoy the art of gardening and want to expand and have more plants. To discover how many plants fit in the different sizes of grow tents, visit our article – How many plants can you grow in a grow tent? 

BudGrower 

Most beginner grow tent kits don’t come as complete as this kit from The BudGrower. This all-in-one solution includes everything from eye protection to an extension cord and gloves. The BudGrower indoor grow tent kit makes an ideal solution for new growers overwhelmed by the plethora of options. This kit stands out from the rest due to the completeness it offers. (**Hint – make a checklist of items)

Pros

• Key three components (light, tent, inline fan)
• Quality materials – On par with industry standards
• Complete tool kit
• All items arrive at the same time
• Many components can be used in other tents later

Cons 

• You might already have some of this equipment
• Shipping may cost more due to the weight of the soil
• Locked into their product selection

VIVOSUN

VIVOSUN is a brand name trusted by many home growers for their small grow tent kit needs. This kit offers great potential for home growers with limited space. It is also an excellent choice for gardeners who like to customize and use their own soil blends and nutrients. 

Pros

• Key three components
• Quality materials – On par with industry standards
• Provides flexibility, allowing growers to personalize other components
• Integrated Smart controller with thermometer and hygrometer
• Monitor grow room conditions from your devices (cell phone, tablet, etc.)

Cons

• Growers will need to purchase other pieces before growing
• The light is underpowered
• May be cheaper to buy pieces individually from other brands

Super Closet, or other grow box 

When beginner growers aren’t worried about the budget, solutions like the SuperStar from Super Closet are an excellent option. These units offer a discrete appearance, which can help conceal your indoor garden if your tent sits in an open room. Grow boxes like this are fully contained and generally use hydroponics instead of soil growing. 

Pros

• Key three components
• High-quality light
• Hydroponic growing = faster, larger growth
• Discrete appearance
• Low maintenance system

Cons

• Expensive compared to similar small grow tent kit options
• Can’t be quickly disassembled in case of inspection
• Hydroponics can be more difficult to learn compared to soil growing

Package deals

Many marijuana grow tent kits consist of products manufactured by the same company. Beginner growers can expand their options by looking at popular grow equipment-based websites for package deals. These indoor grow tent kits mix and match products from different brands to offer what the online retailer feels is a superior combination for cultivating.

Some online retailers will let you custom-build your package. Cultivators can choose which brand and how many items to include. Exercise caution; this may be a fancy way of selling individual items without a discount for purchasing as a package. In many cases, however, you can find exactly the components you desire and save a little bit of money by assembling a custom package. 

Pros

• Purchase only the gear you need or as much as you want
• Ability to choose by brand preference
• It can save money compared to individually buying each piece
• Equipment is shipped together
• It saves growers from over-researching the plethora of options

Cons

• It may be more expensive compared to similar “pre-packaged” grow tent kit options
• Customer service and warranty claims with numerous companies instead of one
• Smart controllers may not be beneficial if the integral pieces do not communicate

Four hobby-level grow tent kits

In this category, we explored grow tent kit options with a footprint of at least 4ft x 4ft (1.2m x 1.2m). Growers utilizing this footprint will often have more than a couple plants at one time. A reasonable supply of cannabis flower for 2-3 adult consumers can be grown in 4ft x 4ft (1.2m x 1.2m) or 5ft x 5ft (1.5m x 1.5m) indoor tent kits each grow cycle.

Spider Farmer 

Spider Farmer offers growers flexibility in their options. This unique approach allows growers to pick the pieces they need. The available options can work for a variety of budgets. The selections cover most of the basics, although there will still be a few items like soil and nutrients to purchase later.

Pros

• Key three components
• Quality materials – On par with industry standards
• Customizable
• Options for seed starting and post-harvest
• Smart Controller integration 

Cons

• Only one access door
• Poles aren’t as thick as select competitors (these poles are rated for 150 lbs [68 kg], which is more than adequate)
• No mounting plate for the smart controller on the front of the tent

Mars Hydro

Mars Hydro is another familiar name amongst indoor growers. This 4ft x 4ft (122cm x 122cm) offering looks very similar to the Spider Farmer tent and inline fan design. Still, the subtle difference is the preference for lights, the primary product of each company. 

Manufacturers use different diode brands (e.g. Samsung, Bridgelux, Osram, etc.) or models (Samsung LM301B or Samsung LM301H), giving each brand a unique lighting spectrum. This small detail tends to build brand loyalty for lighting manufacturers.

Pros

• Key three components
• Quality materials – On par with industry standards
• Competitive pricing 
• Includes timer, grow bags, and trellis net
• Five-year warranty

Cons

• Only one access door
• Not all reviews are great ones (although this remains a highly popular and used brand)
• No Smart controls for monitoring conditions or controlling fan speed based on set parameters

AC Infinity

AC Infinity is a brand known for its higher-than-average build quality and industry-leading customer service. However, you will pay a little more for this gear. Still, the aforementioned facts negate the hesitation of growers working with a larger budget. This hobby-level grow kit comes with two oscillating fans, which are essential for moving air within the canopy. 

Pros

• Key three components
• Quality materials – above industry standards
• Multiple access doors
• Smart controller integration
• Mounting plate for Smart controller on the front of the tent

Cons

• Lighting is not their primary product
• The capabilities of the Smart controller may overwhelm new growers (although they aren’t required for the equipment to function)
• May not be available worldwide

Gorilla tent

Gorilla Grow tents have a long and celebrated reputation in the indoor growing community. Their gear has stood up to the stresses of commercial-type uses and still features one of the tallest ceiling heights available. Known for durability, these tents also feature a 1ft (30.48cm) extension if growing large sativa plants is your jam.

This indoor grow tent kit selects upper-end products for every aspect of its kit. The special LED light has precision controls for UV / IR and spectrum. These options give growers unique control and can be used to maximize yield. For people working with an unlimited budget, this small grow tent kit would be worth investigating.

Pros

• Key three components
• Quality materials – well above industry standards
• Tallest tent on the market
• Customizable light spectrum
• Available as soil or hydroponic kit

Cons

• Large investment for new growers
• Typically takes two people to assemble
• Overkill for a person seeking to grow 1-2 plants……. But you can also grow into it over time!

Conclusion

There are many types of grow tent kits for beginners, and growers can find kits with just the basics, all the way to the complete package. Prices will vary based on size and manufacturer, but there is a kit for every budget. The brands listed in this article also have additional indoor grow tent kits in different sizes, which you can explore to fit your needs.

Buying online can be a great option for growers without access to these components locally, and many of the companies listed in this article ship products worldwide. Piecing together your own collection of gear can be exciting for some but exhaustive for others. Small grow tent kits are perfect for the latter. 

One thing that experience has taught me is to buy at least a little bit larger than you currently think you will use. This can apply to the tent size, the light strength, and even the cubic feet per minute (CFM) of the inline fan. Odds are, you are going to enjoy this hobby. If you buy a kit that just meets your current needs, you may find yourself buying a whole new indoor grow tent kit shortly thereafter….. The bright side to that scenario is you now have two set-ups and can run a perpetual harvest.

How did you get started with grow gear? Did you piece together a kit, or did you find a grow tent kit for beginners? Have you ever gone the DIY tent route? We’d enjoy it if you would share your experience in the comments below.

In trade, we’d love to offer you a free copy of Robert’s Grow Bible. Here you’ll learn how to grow the best cannabis, which you can master after your indoor tent grow kit arrives. Pick up seeds at ILGM today and get your grow adventure started.