How to Eliminate Odors from the Grow Room

When growing indoors one of the main problems is the smell that our plants produce.

Although the smell of their plants is pleasant for every grower, it is not obvious that this is the case for everyone or that it should be felt outside the cultivation room. In fact, in every self-respecting grow room there is an odor abatement system, from the simplest to the most sophisticated. Below we show you some ideal possibilities for your needs.

Surely you have happened to identify the presence of a plant by its smell. This is because flowering plants especially give off a very strong aroma that is difficult to hide.

To avoid being a nuisance or having your privacy invaded by uninvited onlookers, it is important to take precautions.

Naturally, the period in which the plants give off the strongest odor is during flowering, and depending on the species this can become very intrusive.

What methods should you use to eliminate odors from a grow room?

Both in small and larger crops, the most effective and most used method is to install anti-odor filters.

The anti-odor filter that works best is certainly the activated carbon filter , they come in different sizes and capacities and are a faithful ally of growers.

It is very important to use a filter of adequate size, in fact, in addition to the diameter of the inlet flange, the filtering capacity is fundamental.

An activated carbon filter only works if connected to a aspirator/extractor with which the air from the cultivation chamber is conveyed through the filter itself. It is good practice to use a filter that has a capacity equal to or greater than that of the aspirator to which it is connected.

Furthermore, carefully check the connections between the aspirator, duct and filter so that they have a perfect seal, even small air infiltrations make the effort made in vain.

How does an activated carbon filter work?

The operation of the activated carbon filter is passive mechanical. The air is forced inside the filter and must necessarily pass through a chamber filled with activated carbon which purifies the air from odors, neutralizing them.

How long does an activated carbon filter last?

The life of an activated carbon filter depends on the use and essentially on the concentration of odors. An optimal operating period is usually indicated. In any case, always keep your nose alert to understand if the filter begins to show signs of falling, it means that the time has come to replace it. In any case, the life of the filters is always a few years for domestic use. Even if some filters offer the possibility of being refilled, we strongly recommend not doing so because very powerful presses are used to construct the filters which compress the activated carbons, and this operation cannot be done at home, furthermore the quality of the carbons active ingredients is very important for them to be truly effective. We add in note that it is an operation that should be done outdoors because activated carbon, especially after being consumed, produces a very fine black powder, which is difficult to contain and clean.

Which course to choose?

As mentioned before, the flow rate of the Filter must be adequate to that of the extractor. In general, for years a formula has been used to calculate the air extraction value in a cultivation room by considering the cubic meters available, therefore the width, length and height of the room and multiplying this value by 60. As better indicated in the article on air exchange in grow rooms.

There are also other filters, for example those with coconut fibre, although less effective and much rarer to find on the market.

Remember to always buy a new filter because the filters lose effectiveness with use and therefore you could find yourself with a product that begins to fail in the middle of your cultivation.

ACTIVATED CARBON FILTER POSITIONING DIAGRAM IN THE GROWBOX:

Other methods for eliminating odors

Ozone:

Another method to eliminate odors is to use an ozone generator, also called an ozonator. In addition to purifying the air, ozone also serves to sanitize the environment. Although it is an effective method, it must be remembered that ozone in excessive concentrations becomes dangerous for humans, it is therefore very important to regulate its presence and have full control of the system using precise and reliable control instruments.

The combination of ozonizers and activated carbon filters allows for double safety in odor control, allowing the ozone to be dosed always below the safety thresholds.

Specific deodorants:

There are specific cultivation deodorants that help camouflage odors. Unlike filters, these products do not eliminate the odor particles produced by plants but generate very strong odors that do not allow you to perceive those produced by your plants. They can be of various types:

• Solid
• Gel
• Liquids

Solid deodorants are placed inside the grow room near the extraction system or near the air outlet. They are slow release and even if they are not the most effective they have the advantage of lasting a long time and not having to continuously dose them in the environment. Among the absolute best are Ona Block and Zerum Block Stick

Gel deodorants are used in 2 ways. The first is to open them and let them evaporate like solid ones, they have a much quicker release and need to be changed more often. Another method, most used by growers, is to spread the gel in the ventilation pipes in order to be even more effective. This method naturally needs to be repeated often in order to always be effective. The best products on the market are Ona Gel and Zerum Gel .

Liquid deodorants are vaporized in the grow room, they are used exclusively as an additional measure because they have a higher volatility and should be used several times a day.

In any case, any of these methods does not guarantee the elimination of odors, for example, a dog's sense of smell would easily identify the presence of other odors even if they are disguised.

Home Methods:

Naturally there are many home-made methods to deodorize and disguise odors, which have similar effectiveness to deodorants, as an example we mention the best known:

• The Glass of Vinegar
• Lemon and cloves
• Candles and incense
• Vanilla essence

Vinegar : Place a glass of vinegar inside the growroom. The smell of vinegar is very strong and will disguise that of your plants. The glass should be replaced every 3 days

Lemon and cloves : cut a lemon in half and insert a handful (10/15) cloves. Change the lemon every 3 days.

Candles and Incense: lighting scented candles and incense will help make the smell less noticeable.

Vanilla Essence : take 15ml of vanilla essence and mix it with a spoonful of oil, heat in the oven at 150°. After a few minutes you will start to smell a delicious smell of sweets, this method, even if it disguises the smell, could make some greedy neighbors appear!

How to solve the problem of odors in outdoor cultivation?

Unfortunately, all the methods used indoors are ineffective in outdoor cultivation. The only precautions may be to place your plants near others with a very strong smell, such as lavender or mint. The use of some species of plants with penetrating odors, as well as serving to camouflage odors, can be an excellent natural method to keep insects and parasites away.

All information contained is for informational and educational purposes only. We urge all users not to make any practical use of this information in connection with cannabis seeds. In fact, let us remember that:

In Italy the cultivation of cannabis seeds is prohibited (Art. 28 and 73 of Presidential Decree 309/90) if you do not have a specific authorization (Art. 17 Presidential Decree 309/90)

Therefore, cannabis seeds may be used exclusively for collecting purposes and for genetic preservation and are marketed with the reservation that they are not used by third parties in conflict with the law. Cannabis seeds are excluded from Presidential Decree 309/90, which means that they are not to be considered narcotic substances (L. 412 of 1974, Art. 1, Paragraph 1, Letter B; New York single convention on narcotics of 1961 and table 1 Ministry of Health decree 11 April 2006).