Everything You Need to Start Your Very Own Closet Grow Op!

There’s nothing more fulfilling than growing your own cannabis. For most beginners, the daunting task begins when considering all the equipment that’s needed to start a closet grow operation. We’ve considered every facet to make your first growing experience as simple as possible. Join us as we list everything you’ll need to start a high-yielding closet grow op.

A Basic Grower’s Principle

Before we begin, it’s imperative that we mention a fundamental principle that will keep your growing experience stress free. The idea of KISS (Keep it Simple, Stupid) means always to streamline whatever you do in life, especially when growing cannabis. Growing marijuana can be as simple or complicated as you make it, and this principle should be your guiding light in your new found hobby.

When posed with any situation in the grow room, just remember: KISS!

Measuring Your Available Space

The first thing you should do before purchasing any equipment is to measure your available closet space. Closets are generally small, but not always, so it’s essential to know what amount of space you’re dealing with.

Start by measuring the length, width, and height. These three components will give you a clear understanding of your closets’ upper limit when dealing with air intake, lighting, air circulation, and plant count.

Requirements Checklist for Starting Your Closet Grow Operation

● Grow Tent (optional)
● Lights
● Timers
● Lighting Accessories
● Inline Fan
● Circulating Fan
● Medium
● pH meter
● EC meter (if growing in hydroponics)
● Thermometer with built-in hygrometer
● Extension cords (if necessary)
● Trays

Grow Tents

For convenience sake, placing a properly sized grow tent within your closet will create a cleaner growing environment. If you choose not to invest in a grow tent, then a mylar roll is necessary to place on the four corners to increase the amount of light received by your plants.

Lighting

For a closet grow operation, you won’t need a 1,000-watt high-intensity discharge (HID) bulb unless you have a large 8’x8’ walk-in closet. HIDs, such as HPS (high-pressure sodium) and MH (metal halide) produce far too much heat for the average closet grow, so we can’t recommend this type of lighting.

In the circumstance of closet grow spaces, the best option falls onto the categories of CFL, T5, and LED lighting. These three lights are capable of producing copious amounts of cannabis while keeping the grow closet fresh.

T5 Lights

T5’s are flexible because they come in an array of options, such as 2-4 bulbs that measure 2’ in length. These usually have a built-in switch that allows you to dim the lighting by 50% or more. The heat that T5s produce is minimal, so they can be placed ideally directly above the plant canopy.

Hanging T5s is usually a breeze, as they come pre-installed with hangers on both ends. To attach to your preferred method of hanging.

CFL Lights

CFL (compact fluorescent light) bulbs are ideal in the closet grow room because they use even less power than T5 lights and are incredibly cheap. Hardware stores have aisles dedicated to CFLs, so you’ll have a plethora of options.

Generally, a 40-100-watt CFL in the 4100K color spectrum is ideal for a small growing space. The heat output is minimal, and the plants will thrive with a decent amount of lumens provided.

LED Lights

LEDs are at the cutting edge of lighting technology because they reduce the amount of power required to push out a high amount of lumens. LEDs are generally the most expensive of these three options, but they eventually pay for themselves in electricity costs.

LEDs are ideal because they can be placed just above the plant canopy without the possibility of heat stress. LEDs also have the advantage of having multiple LED diodes in a full spectrum of colors.

Timers

Timers are an absolute necessity in any grow room. These can be purchased in local hydroponic stores or at your local hardware store. They can be as simple as a general timer with a single outlet, or they can be expensive digital timers that are strictly marketed to growers.

Lighting Attachments

When hanging your preferred choice of lighting, it’s vital that you choose lighting attachments that are rated to hold the given weight of your lamps. The last thing you want to walk into is a destroyed garden because of a fallen light.

Rope ratchets are ingenious tools that allow you to heighten or lower your lights rapidly. If you aren’t using a grow tent, then you’ll need to hold the rope ratchets securely by installing strong fish-eye hooks into the ceiling.

Thermometer & Hygrometer

It’s critical that you always know the temperature and humidity level in your grow closet. The most common mistake for beginners is not to purchase a dual thermometer/hygrometer. Knowing these levels will enable you to increase or decrease specific components in your grow space to meet the needs of your cannabis plants.

Inline Fan & Circulating Fan

Air circulation for cannabis plants is equally crucial as the water and light that they receive. Since you’re growing in limited closet space, it’s best to purchase a 4” inline fan. Any larger and you may find yourself with too much intake or exhaust power.

A 4” inline fan attached with 4” circumference ducting will adequately create the ideal amount of airflow in your closet grow operation.

A circulating fan is also highly recommended because it pushes air in all directions to decrease the chance for mold in your prized cannabis garden.

Growing Medium

The medium that you choose is essential because it will dictate how your plants will grow. When growing in hydroponic or aeroponic systems, an EC and pH meter are absolute requirements. If growing in soil, various amendments are needed.

Soil

Soil is potentially the easiest method for growing in a closet. All that’s needed are bags of soil depending on the number of containers that need to be filled. The number of containers is dependant on the number of plants you choose to grow.

Just as we stated in the very beginning, you can make your soil mix as complicated or as straightforward as possible. For this reason, we recommend an organic compost mix that doesn’t require additional amendments.

Although a pH meter isn’t a requirement when growing in soil, it’s still recommended if problems arise in your plants.

Hydroponics or Soilless

Hydroponics is an excellent way to streamline your closet grow operation. Although they are incredibly efficient, they do require more know-how compared to soil growing. They’re also much more expensive because of the additional tools needed in maintaining the garden.

If you choose to go down the hydroponic route, a simple soilless medium is ideal for the budding grower. Soilless mediums such as coco coir are extremely forgiving because it holds a large amount of moisture and can be re-used after harvest.

Trays

Trays are needed in the growing room because they make clean-up a breeze. Whether hand watering or automated watering, any spills can turn into a headache. Trays can be placed underneath your plants, and any runoff will be efficiently caught in these containers.

Your New Journey

Growing cannabis is not only enjoyable because of the eventual harvest, but also for the learning experience. By beginning this new endeavor, you’re opening the doors to the wide world of cannabis. Through trial and error, you’ll eventually find your green thumb.