Martin Lagustan

What Is the Optimal Indoor Humidity and How to Manage It Reference: https://www.growweedeasy.com/humidity Numerous factors can affect the health, growth, and yields of indoor-grown crops, and humidity is one despised by many. Nonetheless, this is a circumstance that must be held with essence, or else failure to control humidity can have disastrous consequences. The Significance of Humidity for Indoor Plants Humidity is the amount of moisture or water vapor in the air. It can be measured using relative humidity (RH), which is the percentage of moisture in a room or environment at any given temperature. The humidity of the environment is significant to plants as it influences how a plant transpires or how much water it releases as vapor. Low RH levels force a plant to release more water, reducing its internal moisture. Meanwhile, high RH levels prevent plants from releasing excess water. Hence, it cannot receive water from its roots. Having balanced RH in a growing room is vital. Otherwise, it will be detrimental to the health of the plants. An imbalance of RH levels can lead to slow growth, proliferation of mold and mildew, manifestation of overwatering symptoms, nutrient deficiency, and more. Understanding VPD Vapor pressure deficit (VPD) measures how a plant reacts or transpires in accordance to the RH of its environment, whether the air dries out a plant or otherwise. For example, higher VPD equates to greater environmental demand for water from the plants. In order to calculate VPD, it is essential to determine the temperature of each leaf of a plant, and the temperature and relative humidity of the environment. Ideally, this provides a way to optimize the conditions of a growing environment. It is, however, rather difficult to calculate because it is almost impossible to measure the temperature of each leaf accurately. On the bright side, measuring the exact VPD of the leaves is not necessary for controlling humidity. What is vital is how temperature and humidity affect the plants. A thermo-hygrometer is a reliable instrument that can measure both to determine the current conditions of the leaves. Optimal Environment Conditions for Different Growth Stages The challenge of cultivating cannabis is not in the growing process itself; instead, it is in maintaining the appropriate humidity and temperature levels in a growing room. Each growth phase demands different levels, and it is imperative that these are followed. This table shows the optimal environment RH levels and temperatures for each growth stage, and its importance. Stages Optimal RH Levels Optimal Temperature Clones 70% to 80% 20°C to 25°C (lights on) 16°C to 20°C (lights off) Seedling Stage 65% to 70% 20°C to 25°C (lights on) 16°C to 20°C (lights off) Vegetation Period Early vegetation period starts at 70% and decreases to 40%, with 5% increments per week 22°C to 28°C (lights on) or 18°C to 23°C (lights off) Importance Young clones do not have developed roots and rely on leaves to absorb water. High RH promotes strong rooting and increased plant growth. Seedlings dedicate energy to developing leaves than roots. Therefore, low RH levels slow down the growing process. The plants gradually rely more on absorbed water from the roots than the leaves. Plus, more developed leaves also mean greater transpiration. Flowering Period 40% to 50% 20°C and 26°C RH levels above 55% will cause bud rot and development of mold. 30% or less RH levels during the late flowering period allow buds to produce more resin. 15°C to 21°C High RH and low temperatures will slow down the drying process. Low RH and temperatures higher than 26°C will considerably deteriorate the potency and flavor of the buds. 30% or less 1 to 2 weeks before harvest Drying Stage Between 45% and 55% Humidity Control Gone Awry Diligence in maintaining optimal humidity levels is worth the bounty it offers. If it were otherwise, dire consequences could occur to as worse as an entire crop gone to waste. Knowledge of how the stomata or pores of a plant react to environmental humidity can help determine what happens when humidity is not controlled properly. When Humidity Levels Are Too Low As humidity reaches a meager amount, the stomata close to prevent internal moisture from further depleting. Although effective, this can only slow down the process of losing moisture. A logical solution would be to compensate the loss by watering the plants, but it can do more harm than good. Because in low humidity, plants absorb water at a faster rate than it can release as vapor because of the closed stomata. In turn, watering will only lead to slow growth, plant stress, overwatering, and nutrient problems. When Humidity Levels Are Too High When humidity climbs beyond optimal levels the stomata only open slightly. Since the growing room is already saturated with moisture, there is little to no space for evaporation. Hence, transpiration and photosynthesis slow down, resulting in nutrient deficiencies, mold development, and elevated medium pH. Managing Indoor Humidity Contrary to what novice growers believe, this task doesn’t have to be complicated if certain steps are followed. As much effort as balancing humidity requires, there are also copious ways to manage and control humidity. Here is a simple step-by-step guide to effectively manage indoor humidity in a growing room: Step #1 - Get a Thermo-Hygrometer To manage indoor humidity, determining accurate RH and temperature levels is a must. A reputable instrument for the task is a Thermo-Hygrometer, which measures both air temperature and relative humidity. Alternatively, a room thermometer and a hygrometer may also be used. Step #2 - Set Ideal Temperature and RH Levels With a thermo-hygrometer intact, determine the current temperature and RH levels of the growing room. This information indicates whether the environmental conditions are appropriate for the ongoing growth phase of the cannabis plants. Step #3 - Adjust Temperature and RH Levels if Needed Follow optimal environmental conditions as shown in the chart in the previous section and adjust as necessary. Below are helpful ways to increase or decrease temperature and humidity. Increasing Humidity · Employ humidifier · Use a swamp cooler · Use a spray bottle · Keep the surface of the medium moist · Hang wet towels or cloth in the growing room Reducing Humidity · Use a dehumidifier · Increase air flow · Do not overwater · Defoliate · Cool the air · Water plants right after the lights are on Increasing Heat · Insulate the grow room · Utilize bigger grow lights · Get a heating mat · Employ a heater with a thermostat Reducing Heat · Add more ventilation · Use a cool tube light reflector · Get an air conditioner · Turn off lights during the day · Turn on lights at night Moisture Matters In the story of growing cannabis, humidity may seem like a villain at first. Although, on a different perspective, having control over humidity can help produce healthy and bountiful yields. With that said, it is all but a matter of balance.