MHBonsai
Chumono
Setting up a grow tent can be daunting to get started. I've been pretty successful with mine for the past several years, so I thought I'd put together a quick guide on what works for me. I grow orchids, tropicals, and several 'houseplants'/kusamono successfully. I assemble it typically in October, and take it down in April. Basically at the 40 degree threshhold for night time temps. I'm in zone 7a.
Tent - I use one like this, but I lay it down on it's side. Kind of unorthodox, but it works great to get more floor space and closer lighting. It's about 7' long, and 4' wide/deep.
https://www.amazon.com/VIVOSUN-Hydr...d=1&keywords=grow+tent&qid=1632831176&sr=8-10
I have a handful of grow lights that I move around depending on what I've got going. Similar to these below. I started angling them at a 45 degrees, and it's effective to cover more area and encourage lower growth on the trees. I rotate the trees regularly to keep the light even:
For temp control:
https://www.amazon.com/Inkbird-Max-...house+light+controller&qid=1632831444&sr=8-12
Outlet fan:
https://www.amazon.com/VIVOSUN-Inline-Booster-Noise-Grounded/dp/B01C82SZRM/ref=sr_1_21?dchild=1&keywords=greenhouse+fan+6"&qid=1632831500&sr=8-21
Heater:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074MX8VN5/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Light control:
https://www.amazon.com/Century-Comp...jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==
And that's the basic kit. I keep it in a garage that holds some heat. The lights alone keep it warm enough inside the tent until the garage gets down to about 50 degrees. When the temps outside get above about 70, the fan kicks on and will cool the tent down. I exhaust out the top of the tent, and keep a low vent open to move air through. Temperature controller I set to turn on the fan inside the tent when it gets above 90 degrees, and the heater turns on at 78 degrees.
The lights have fans built in that circulate air really well.
Water management is a challenge in tents. I water by hand, ever day. This system puts out massive growth on the tropicals and orchids, nearly as much or more than in the summertime so I have to stay on top of watering or they cook. I laid down some corrugated roofing in the base of the tent, on a slope so water flows to one corner of the tent then out a drain line into a bucket. Hard to explain...but you'll have to figure something to get water to drain. Over the top of the roofing material, I run some cedar lattice to make a stable platform and keep the pots out of the water.
I run the lights 16 hours on, 8 hours off, with them off during the hottest part of the day to keep the temps more consistent.
Let me know if you have specific questions, glad to help.
Tent - I use one like this, but I lay it down on it's side. Kind of unorthodox, but it works great to get more floor space and closer lighting. It's about 7' long, and 4' wide/deep.
https://www.amazon.com/VIVOSUN-Hydr...d=1&keywords=grow+tent&qid=1632831176&sr=8-10
I have a handful of grow lights that I move around depending on what I've got going. Similar to these below. I started angling them at a 45 degrees, and it's effective to cover more area and encourage lower growth on the trees. I rotate the trees regularly to keep the light even:
For temp control:
https://www.amazon.com/Inkbird-Max-...house+light+controller&qid=1632831444&sr=8-12
Outlet fan:
https://www.amazon.com/VIVOSUN-Inline-Booster-Noise-Grounded/dp/B01C82SZRM/ref=sr_1_21?dchild=1&keywords=greenhouse+fan+6"&qid=1632831500&sr=8-21
Heater:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074MX8VN5/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Light control:
https://www.amazon.com/Century-Comp...jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==
And that's the basic kit. I keep it in a garage that holds some heat. The lights alone keep it warm enough inside the tent until the garage gets down to about 50 degrees. When the temps outside get above about 70, the fan kicks on and will cool the tent down. I exhaust out the top of the tent, and keep a low vent open to move air through. Temperature controller I set to turn on the fan inside the tent when it gets above 90 degrees, and the heater turns on at 78 degrees.
The lights have fans built in that circulate air really well.
Water management is a challenge in tents. I water by hand, ever day. This system puts out massive growth on the tropicals and orchids, nearly as much or more than in the summertime so I have to stay on top of watering or they cook. I laid down some corrugated roofing in the base of the tent, on a slope so water flows to one corner of the tent then out a drain line into a bucket. Hard to explain...but you'll have to figure something to get water to drain. Over the top of the roofing material, I run some cedar lattice to make a stable platform and keep the pots out of the water.
Gibraltar Building Products 8 ft. Corrugated Galvanized Steel 31-Gauge Roof Panel 13513 - The Home Depot
Make use of this Corrugated Utility Gauge Galvanized Steel Roof Panel for residential, agricultural and industrial buildings applications.
www.homedepot.com
4 ft. x 8 ft. Pressure Treated Pine Wood Square Privacy Lattice Panel 118651 - The Home Depot
Visit The Home Depot to buy 3/4 in. x 4 ft. x 8 ft. Square Pressure Treated Wood Lattice 118651
www.homedepot.com
I run the lights 16 hours on, 8 hours off, with them off during the hottest part of the day to keep the temps more consistent.
Let me know if you have specific questions, glad to help.
. Glad it’s not your tent 
that is my setup. I like the angled lights, get better light coverage! But admittedly looks a little off. 
