Grow Tent Setup Guide UK

A grow tent creates a controlled environment for indoor growing. Temperature, humidity, light - all manageable. Here's how to set one up properly without overcomplicating things.

## Quick Picks: Grow Tent Equipment

*LED prices were ~£106 (VIVOSUN) and ~£183 (Spider Farmer) when reviewed. Click "Check price" for current pricing.*

The honest truth: A complete 60x60cm tent setup runs around £200-300. 80x80cm runs around £300-450. The extra space in larger tents is almost always worth the money if you have room.

## Why Use a Tent?

Light containment: Reflective walls bounce light back to plants. Nothing wasted. Your living space isn't lit up at night.

Climate control: Enclosed space is easier to heat, cool, humidify, or dehumidify than an open room.

Pest isolation: A sealed tent makes it harder for pests to reach plants.

Organised growing: Everything in one place. Equipment mounts to frame. Clean and contained.

You can grow without a tent - shelving units, spare rooms, cupboards all work. But tents make optimisation easier and keep growing contained.

## Choosing Size

60x60cm (2'x2'): Entry point. Good for herbs and small greens. Fits in a corner, closet, or spare space. Handles 4-6 small plants or 2-3 medium plants.

Light needed: 100W LED Good for: Starting out, herb gardens, small salad production

80x80cm (2.5'x2.5'): The sweet spot for hobby growers. Room for meaningful production without dominating a room. Handles 6-9 plants comfortably.

Light needed: 150-200W LED Good for: Mixed vegetables, serious herb production, learning before scaling up

120x120cm (4'x4'): Serious production. Room for larger plants like tomatoes. Handles 9-16 plants depending on size. Needs dedicated space.

Light needed: 300-400W LED Good for: Year-round vegetable production, larger fruiting plants

General rule: Buy slightly larger than you think you need. Plants fill space quickly. Extra headroom helps with plant height and heat management.

## Ventilation Essentials

Plants need fresh air. CO2 depletes in enclosed spaces. Heat builds from lights. Without ventilation, problems multiply.

The basics:

Air comes in (intake), passes over plants, goes out (exhaust). The exhaust fan does the work. Intake can be passive (just an open vent) or active (second fan).

Minimum setup:

4" (100mm) inline fan for 60x60cm tent. 5-6" for 80x80 or larger. Mount fan outside tent, ducting runs from top of tent to fan to exterior/window.

Passive intake: Leave bottom vents open. Negative pressure (exhaust fan pulling air out) draws fresh air in through vents.

Better setup:

Inline fan with speed controller (adjust airflow as needed). Carbon filter attached before fan (controls smell from aromatic herbs). Ducting to window or into room (depending on situation).

Fan sizing:

CFM (cubic feet per minute) should turn over tent air at least once per minute.

60x60x140cm = roughly 118 litres = roughly 4 cubic feet Minimum fan: 4 CFM × 60 = 240 CFM (or equivalent in m³/h)

In practice, a basic 4" fan handles 60x60cm easily. 6" fan handles up to 120x120cm.

## Lighting Setup

Position lights centrally. Most LEDs want 30-50cm above plant canopy for vegetables. Adjust as plants grow.

Height guidelines:

Seedlings: 60-75cm above (intensity too high causes stress) Vegetative growth: 40-60cm above Flowering/fruiting: 30-50cm above

Use adjustable hangers. You'll move lights constantly as plants develop. Rope ratchets or chain allow quick adjustment.

Light schedule:

Lettuce and leafy greens: 14-16 hours light Herbs: 14-16 hours light Fruiting vegetables: 12-14 hours light Seedlings: 16-18 hours light

Use a timer. Consistency matters more than exact hours.

## Climate Control

Temperature:

Aim for 20-26C during lights-on, drop 2-5C during lights-off. Most vegetables tolerate 18-28C but prefer 21-24C.

In winter, heat may be needed. A small tube heater (50W) maintains temperature cheaply. Thermostat control prevents overheating.

In summer, LEDs help - they run cooler than HPS. Good ventilation pulls heat out.

Humidity:

Seedlings like 65-70% humidity (delicate and prone to drying). Vegetative growth: 50-60%. Flowering/fruiting: 40-50% (reduces mould risk).

A small humidifier helps in dry conditions. Dehumidifiers help in damp conditions. Often, ventilation alone manages humidity adequately.

Circulation:

A small clip fan inside the tent circulates air. This prevents hot spots, strengthens stems (slight movement stimulates stronger growth), and discourages mould.

Not essential but helpful. Around £10-15.

## What to Avoid

Undersizing ventilation: If it feels stuffy inside the tent, airflow is inadequate. Size up your fan rather than down.

Cheap tents with light leaks: Budget tents sometimes have stitching or zips that leak light. This matters for light-sensitive crops and can create hot spots. Quality brands (Mars Hydro, Spider Farmer, etc.) are better sealed.

Overcomplicating initially: Start with lights, ventilation, and plants. Add automation, monitoring, and optimisation later once you understand your space.

Ignoring fire safety: Grow lights and electrical equipment generate heat. Keep connections secure. Don't overload circuits. Have a smoke detector in the room.

## Complete Setup Costs

Budget 60x60cm setup: - Tent: £40-60 - Light (100W LED): £50-80 - Fan and filter: £50-80 - Hydroponic system: £30-50 - Accessories: £20-30 - Total: Around £200-300

Mid-range 80x80cm setup: - Tent: £55-90 - Light (200W LED): £100-150 - Fan and filter: £80-120 - Hydroponic system: £50-100 - Climate monitoring: £20-40 - Total: Around £350-500

Serious 120x120cm setup: - Tent: £80-130 - Light (400W LED): £200-350 - Fan and filter: £100-150 - Hydroponic system: £100-200 - Automation: £50-100 - Total: Around £600-900

## Our Recommendations

For beginners with limited space: 60x60cm tent with 100W LED. Start with herbs and leafy greens. Learn your environment before scaling.

For committed hobbyists: 80x80cm tent with 200W LED. Room to experiment with different crops. Meaningful production without massive commitment.

For serious year-round growing: 120x120cm tent with 300-400W LED. Handles tomatoes, peppers, and full vegetable rotation. This is proper indoor farming.

Buy quality ventilation from the start. Fans are the heart of the system. A good inline fan lasts years and runs quietly. Cheap fans are loud and fail.

Take our quiz for recommendations tailored to your space and growing goals.