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Are you thinking about starting an indoor garden, or, maybe you’d like to grow your own herbs all year long?
Perhaps you are in the process of expanding currently existing indoor growing equipment? If so, you may need a grow tent.
Whatever the case, investing in grow tents makes a world of difference to your crops’ overall health and success rate if you are planning on growing indoors.
That said, from the amount of light that plants receive to maintaining the correct temperatures and humidity levels, there are many factors that impact how well your crops grow and thrive, and they may vary greatly from tent to tent.
In this guide, we not only discuss what grow tents are, what they’re used for, and how to set one up, but we also go over some of the best units currently on the market.
Read on below! Discover which grow tent is right for your indoor gardening needs, and how to set it up properly.
What is a Grow Tent?
Grow tents are exactly what they sound like: tents designed specifically for growing crops indoors in tandem with other equipment like lights.
They are lightweight, come in various sizes, and are made from a range of materials.
Mylar is the most popular and high-quality fabric used in grow tent manufacturing. Grow tents enable you to grow fruits, vegetables, herbs, flowers, and even small trees, indoors, all year long.
How to Set Up A Grow Tent
Setting up a grow tent is incredibly simple:
1. Unpack the Package Contents
The first step is unpacking the contents of your grow tent’s original packaging.
Once you’ve opened the package and emptied it, double-check for warranty slips, guarantees, and instructions.
If you’re dealing with a complete grow kit, rather than simply a tent, take your time and make sure everything is there.
2. Lay Out the Parts of the Tent
Lay the pieces of the grow tent out on the floor where you want to set it up.
Put the tent’s fabric to one side, and the poles to the other, and then check for damage or missing parts. Go over each component and make sure you know what it is for before moving on.
3. Read the Instructions
To ensure that you’re not missing anything before you start putting the tent together, have a look at the instructions manual or installation details that came with the grow tent.
Most of the time a list of the pieces is included for you to refer to.
4. Connect poles and Errect the Tent
If you’re not missing anything, the next step is spreading out the tent and connecting the poles. Each tent is different, so make sure you don’t skip reading the manual first. Most of the time this step is as easy as snapping some poles into connectors on the tent and standing it up.
5. Hang Lights and Final Touches
Once the grow tent is set up, and you’ve double-checked its integrity, it’s time to move in the growing equipment.
That means setting up your containers with soil, hydroponic systems, or whatever your plants will be growing in, as well as hanging grow lights and making other final touches.
Our Top Picks for the Best Grow Tents
Now that we’ve discussed what grow tents are, and how to set one up, let’s look at a few of the best tents currently available:
Best Micro Tent: VIVOSUN 2ft x 2ft x 3ft
Our first pick for small grow tents to consider buying this year is the VIVOSUN 2ft x 2ft x 3ft Micro Grow Tent is one of the best small units currently on the market.
It comes in black with fabric that keeps all the light in better than other tents, thanks to the 100-percent reflective Mylar.
The material is extra thick, tear-proof, and supported by strong metal poles, the whole unit weighs 10.8lbs.
This VIVOSUN grow tent is an excellent choice for professional growers and newbies alike.
What we like about it
It’s the perfect size for small grows, new growers, and seasoned vets. It’s also more affordable than other brands, without compromising quality.
Best Small Tent: Spider Farmer® 2ft x 2ft x 5ft Indoor Tent
This 2ft x 2ft x 5ft Grow Tent is a high-quality unit from Spider Farmer, meant for indoor growing purposes of a wide variety.
The tent is 100 percent reflective, waterproof, and solid. The tent has a size of 70 x 70 x 160 CM, weighing 13.66lbs, making it more than suitable for two decent-size plants.
You can use it in grow rooms, for large indoor grows, for separate grow cycles like vegetative and flowering, or for full-cycle growing.
What we like about it
The tent is made with high-quality materials, is produced by a well-known manufacturer, and fits most small indoor growing needs.
Runner-Up Best Small Tent: MELONFARM 2ft x 2ft x 4ft Tent
The next item on our list is an underdog, but well worth the mention, the MELONFARM 2ft x 2ft x 4ft Grow Tent.
The unit is made of 600D Canvas, which is tear-proof and has a metal frame with metal corner connectors.
The package comes with two-layer vents which prevent light leakage and a removable tray for easy cleaning. You can observe how your plants grow thanks to the observation window.
What we like about it
It is an excellent alternative to the Spider Farmer if you’re on a tight budget.
Best Medium Tent: Spider Farmer® 4ft x 4ft x 6.5ft Indoor Tent
The Spider Farmer®4ft x 4ft x 6.5ft Indoor Grow Tent comes in black and purple and is made of high-end 600D Oxford cloth material.
You can use it for all of your various indoor grow purposes, and thanks to the 99-percent reflective Mylar, your plants will grow and thrive more so than in other tents.
It is an ideal grow tent that offers easy access to your plants through the easy-to-access observation window.
What we like about it
This grow tent is our top pick for those looking for a high-quality unit capable of housing a medium-size indoor grow.
It’s made by a well-known and trusted manufacturer. is made of high-end materials, and comes with a guarantee.
Runner-Up Best Medium Tent: VIVOSUN 4ft x 4ft x 6.66ft Tent with Observation Window
The VIVOSUN 48in x 48in x 80in Grow Tent is another great product from the best grow tent brands around, with dimensions of 4ft x 4ft x 6.66ft, weighing 37.2lbs.
The VIVOSUN Hydroponic Mylar grow tent is 100 percent reflective, which boosts the output efficiency.
The fabric used is extremely thick, with the inside lined with a non-toxic PE material, and comes in black.
What we like about it
This grow tent has a large observation window for easy viewing from outside of it, it also comes with a tray floor. It’s also made by an industry leader of indoor growing products.
Best Large Tent: Spider Farmer® 5ft x 5ft x 6.5ft Indoor Tent
When it comes to the best large grow tent, Spider Farmer offers an oversized grow tent for indoor growing operations like hydroponics, mushrooms kits, and soil-grown fruits and vegetables.
The Spider Farmer 5x5x6.5 Grow Tent is quick and easy to set up and has room for more plants than most tents thanks to the larger than average dimensions.
The tent measures 5ft x 5ft x 6.5ft and comes with sleek-looking black and purple fabric.
What we like about it
You can use it for larger soil growing operations, aeroponics, hydroponics, and even aquaponic systems, than most grow tents allow for.
We also like that it’s made by a well-known company, not some no-name brand from God only knows where.
FAQs
How much do grow tents cost?
The price of a grow tent depends on several factors, including the sort of materials it’s made out of and what size it is.
The larger the tent, the more expensive it is. The smaller the tent, the more affordable it is.
How long do grow tents last?
Depending on the quality of the materials used in the grow tent’s construction, a grow tent may last anything from a couple of years to a couple of decades before needing replacing.
Mylar grow tents typically last the longest.
Are grow tents worth it?
If you are growing a crop indoors, that requires lots of light, and higher humidity than the environment you’re growing in, grow tents are absolutely worth it.
They help regulate light, temperature, and humidity levels, as well as reduce pests and the spread of bacteria or disease.
A Final Word
Grow tents increase the chances of survival for your indoor plants, they increase yields and even make great temporary shelters for outdoor plants during the winter.
Whatever your reasons for thinking about buying one, hopefully, our guide helps clear up any questions you have.
Our overall top pick for the best indoor grow tent is the Spider Farmer®4ft x 4ft x 6.5ft Indoor Grow Tent.
It’s larger than small tents but doesn’t take up as much space as a large grow tent. At the same time, it allows more than enough room inside for growing enough crops to supplement your family’s diet.
Do you have a grow tent at home? If so, what kind is it, and would you recommend it over one of the items on our list? We’d love to hear from you in the comments section below!
Thanks for reading! Happy grow tent setting up!
Suggested Reading: A Guide to Complete Indoor Grow Kits
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