When growing indoors in a grow box, it can happen that the plants that you care for emit odours, especially during the flowering phase. So-called volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are carbon-containing substances that change into the gas phase through evaporation and thus "pollute" the air. And you can smell it! Since no one wants to disturb the neighbours with their gardening, there are of course a few remedies to eliminate annoying odours.
Here are the five most important methods for neutralising odours in the grow room:
1. control and lower temperature and humidity.
Temperature and humidity can have a not inconsiderable influence on the development of odours in the flowering phase. Apart from that, these are absolutely significant factors in flowering anyway, as the humidity should be rather low so that mould cannot form. In addition, activated carbon filters also no longer work if the humidity is above 70%. This is definitely too high.
As a quick remedy, a dehumidifier and an air conditioner are generally recommended.
How else to control humidity is described here, and there is also a remedy if the plants are too warm.
2. the air must circulate
Air circulation not only helps to prevent mould, heat accumulation or excessive humidity, but also ensures that odours are removed. A combination of recirculation fans in the grow room and an exhaust system that draws stale air outside and cleans it is ideal. In larger grow rooms, there may also be a supply air system with slightly less power. 3.
3. provide a slight negative pressure in the grow room
If slightly less air is supplied to the grow room or grow box than is exhausted through the exhaust system, a slight negative pressure is created. This prevents odours from escaping uncontrollably and they will only get out through the exhaust system.
When using a grow box, this happens more or less automatically if you do not use a supply air system. The exhaust system then pulls the air outside and new air is drawn in through small openings in the grow box. The openings for supply air should be larger than the openings for exhaust air.
If an active supply air system is used, it should always have a lower flow rate than the exhaust air system.
4. odour-neutralising gel
If there are strong odours in the last weeks of flowering, an odour-neutralising gel can help. This sounds great at first, but it is important to know that, strictly speaking, these gels do not neutralise odours, but mask them. However, it can definitely help as an additional measure.
The gel should not be placed near the plants in the grow room, but rather where the stale air is transported away. This is the only way to be absolutely sure that the plants do not take on parts of the smell of the gel.
5. activated carbon filters
Activated carbon filters are by far the most effective method of air purification. An activated carbon filter is a must for any good indoor grow. The exhaust air should first be drawn through the activated carbon filter and then transported further outside by the tube fan, where an odour-neutralising gel can be used at the outlet or even in the air tube itself, if necessary.
To prolong the life of the activated carbon filter, the filter fleece should be changed at regular intervals.
