10 Tops Tips on How to Keep a Clean and Tidy Indoor Cannabis Grow Room
An example of a clean indoor cannabis grow room
Growing cannabis indoors should be a clean and clinical style operation, and will often be a reflection of the grower. Maintaining a sterile and tidy indoor grow room will not only ensure the quality of your crop is the best it can be, you will eliminate the concern over pathogens and insects. In this article, I provide 10 top tips to think about when growing indoors, and what to consider allowing you the most professional growing environment that can be achieved.
Top tip #1 - Frequently sweep the floors
When growing with soil or coco coir, organic matter and bits can spill onto the grow room floors. Even though it may only be small amounts, it is important to sweep up any debris off the floor. My top tip here is to have a dustpan and brush close by, or a portable hand held hoover and to do daily cleaning duties.
Top tip #2 - Deep clean with bleach
Once you have harvested your crop, taken away all the pots and thrown your growing medium away, your indoor growing space is now ready for a thorough deep clean. You would be amazed at how much dirt and dust builds up inside during a grow. My top tip here is to use a strong bleach solution and to wash the inside of the tent walls, poles and floor, or scrub the walls and floors of your converted cellar or attic space.
Top tip #3 - Wash carbon filter covers
For those who use a fabric sleeve cover over the carbon filters to prevent dust, will notice that after 3 months, the filter will be grey coloured. The cover has served its purpose very well and is now ready to be cleaned in the washing machine, or hand scrubbed until new. My top tip here is to use a washing machine to get the best results when cleaning the carbon filter covers. Never use one that is already clogged, and always wash new.
Top tip #4 - Throw out old harvested pots
I have been inside plenty of grow rooms during my time, where old pots from the previous harvest are still inside the grow room, or close by in another room. Usually the pots will have a chopped stalk inside with the roots and growing medium still intact. My top tip here is to throw away your old pots and growing medium after each harvest. Wash the pots again if you do not have more money to invest, but for the sake of preventing insects, throw them out!
Top tip #5 - Keep nutrient bottles clean
This tip is mainly for organic growers who like to pour their nutrients out, but not wash and wipe the bottles clean afterwards. Organic nutrients will mostly be made from black strap molasses and as excess nutrients build up on the bottles, flies and midges can become attracted to the bottles, causing the room to smell and look untidy. My top tip is here to give the tops of your nutrient bottles clean and wipe them down after use with a towel.
Top tip #6 - Plenty of fresh air
Poor air flow and ventilation inside your grow room will be one of the main reasons why high humidity builds up, combined with damp and wet walls and ceilings. Not only is this a prime breeding ground for powdery mildew and mould, spider mites will also find this environment perfect for laying eggs and causing serious damage to your crop. My top tip here is to make sure your ventilation is working well, and you have air currents blowing from oscillating fans 24/7.
Top Tip #7 - Wash tent side vents
Grow tents will often have at least one side vent built in, and most times two. Growers who keep their vents open to allow fresh air to be pulled through, may notice dust build up on the fine mesh, reducing the amount of potential air that can enter the grow room. My top tip here is give the side vents a good cleaning with hot water and bleach until they are totally clean and fully transparent again.
Top Tip #8 - Clean oscillating fans
Have you ever noticed after a 3-4 month long indoor grow, the oscillating fans in your grow room have built up black debris and dust on the ends of the blades and the face guard? The more dust that enters the fan, the greater the chance of it slowly breaking down and losing efficacy. My top tip here is to take the guard face off the fan and, with hot water and bleach, to wipe down the fan blades and soak the metal face in water to ensure a proper cleaning and dust removal.
Top Tip #9 - Remove dead foliage during 12/12
During the flowering period, some older growth may begin to die and hang off the plants. Yellowing fan leaves over time will attract insects that are looking for weak cell tissue to use as a food source. This is the main reason why fly sticky tape comes in a bright yellow colour, so my top tip here is to simply remove any dead or old foliage and keep the canopy green and healthy.
Top Tip #10 - Hydrogen peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is basically distilled water with oxygen inside and can be bought locally at a 3% food grade ratio. Hydroponic growers will use hydrogen peroxide to keep their roots bacteria and pathogen free. There are so many different uses when growing cannabis indoors and hydrogen peroxide, from deterring insects, breaking down algae, washing roots and killing pathogens. My top tip here is to always keep small 3% food grade bottles around for sterilizing equipment and killing bacteria.
My conclusion
It can be easy to let your indoor growing space become dirty and to let old foliage hang around. Insects will be attracted to unclean rooms, especially with old pots from the last crop lying around. By following the basics such as frequently sweeping, deep cleaning and keeping organic nutrient bottles wiped clean.
You will immediately notice the difference in cleanliness and your ability to prevent insects or pathogens in the first place. The best advice I can give, is to be as professional and clinical as can be, and spend the time and effort to maintain an indoor cannabis grow room investors would be proud of!
S
Stoney.Tark
