When you grow marijuana, the first three things that you need to consider are that you are giving your plants proper air, water and lighting. However, once these three are sorted, you’ve got to look beyond the basics and start looking at improving the efficiency of your overall process of growth. Growing indoors gives you the advantage of tweaking climatic factors and humidity is one such element that can help improve the quality of your plants significantly. Over the course of this article, we shall be looking at the best dehumidifiers for grow tents and grow rooms which can help your cannabis plants grow in a better manner.
In addition to reviewing the best options that you have when it comes to buying dehumidifiers, we shall also attempt to understand the role of humidity in the plant’s life cycle and how dehumidifiers can help you improve your plant’s growth as well as overall produce. We shall also be looking at some factors that you need to consider before you buy the dehumidifier of your choice, as well as answer some frequently asked questions about these devices. Before all of this, let us first begin with the most basic question of it all.
What is Humidity and Why is it Important to the Plants?
Understanding humidity can get quite complex if we get in the technical details. However, for simplifying our understanding, humidity can just be understood as the amount of moisture content present in the air. Humidity is beneficial for the growth of marijuana plant in different ways during the different phases of the plant’s life cycle. When the plant is young and still growing towards maturity, it requires a high humidity so that it can easily absorb water from the air and need not put pressure on its roots.
However once the plant matures, growers need to ensure that the humidity levels are lowered because a mature plant is one which is preparing to bloom or is already producing flowers. At this stage in its life cycle, the plant needs lots of nutrients. Nutrients are mixed with water and are provided via the soil – hence the roots are the ones which absorb these nutrient-rich waters. Hence the humidity needs to be lowered with the help of dehumidifiers and this ensures that the plants are not taking in water from the moisture but from the roots instead – thereby providing a smooth flow of nutrients.
Top 5+ Best Dehumidifiers for Grow Tents and Grow Rooms
Now that you know what dehumidifiers are and why they play such a major role in the life cycle of the marijuana plants, let us cut straight to looking at some of the best dehumidifiers for grow tents which you can buy off the internet right now in just a matter of a few clicks:
| Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Eva-dry Edv-1100 Electric Petite Dehumidifier, White | $47.66 | Buy on Amazon |
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Dry-Packs 750 Gram Silica Gel Canister Dehumidifier - Moisture Indicating | $19.99 | Buy on Amazon |
1. Frigidaire FAD505DWD Dehumidifier
- Capacity: 50 pints
- Size: 24.65 inches x 11.32 inches x 16.08 inches
- Warranty: Full 1-year parts & labor warranty, limited 5-year sealed system warranty.
For those looking for a really great humidifier – one of the best humidifiers for grow rooms, the Frigidaire FAD505DWD ticks all your boxes! This is a great humidifier as it can remove as much as 50 pints of moisture from the air in the room. This makes it suitable for a large room which can be as big as 1500 to 3000 sq. ft. Moreover, for those with a larger need, there’s a 70 pint variant of the same which is also available. The moisture removal capacity of this dehumidifier has been much appreciated over the years. Growers have found this to be one of the best devices to help ensure that your grow room is maintained well.
The bucket that is a part of this dehumidifier has a capacity of two gallons and there’s a full-tank alert system which will notify you when the tank is about to get full so that you can throw away the water. This dehumidifier from Frigidaire is one of the best dehumidifiers for grow rooms – especially for those growers who not only want to take care of the moisture in their room, but also the molds and mildew in the air. Moreover, it also comes with a washable mesh filter which is easy to clean as well as maintain. Finally, there’s a 5 year warranty on the entire device along with a one-year warranty on parts and labor.
Pros
- Removes 50 pints of water from the air – great for grow rooms
- Perfect fit for rooms between 1500 to 3000 sq.ft.
- Comes with a full-tank alert system which will let you know when the bucket is about to be full
- Filter is easy to clean
- 5 year warranty
Cons
- Loud noise when the compressor begins to age/fail
- Thermal protection could be improved
2. Eva-dry Edv-1100 Electric Petite Dehumidifier, White
- Capacity: 8oz
- Size: 6.5 x 8.5 x 5.3 inches
- Warranty: One-year manufacturer warranty
While the one that we saw above was a great dehumidifier for a grow tent, this one right here is one of the best dehumidifiers for grow tents. A perfect fit for a 4×4 grow tent, the Eva-dry Edv-1100 is a nice little dehumidifier for growers who want a device that fits in their grow tent and makes sure all the moisture is removed off the air inside it. Portability is one of its best features as it is tiny and lightweight – weighing in close to just one pound!
This dehumidifier comes with a special “Peltier Technology” which makes sure that it produces minimal sound. Many growers complain of dehumidifiers being quite loud. However, this one takes care of that problem really well. Coming to its actual feature of dehumidification – this device has a capacity of 8oz and also consumes very little electricity while operating. There’s an indicator which will tell you when the bucket is full and needs to be emptied. Moisture, molds, mildew and odors – all of them are taken care by this Eva-Dry dehumidifier. This one is a good fit for areas up to 1100sq.ft. but we recommend using it for much smaller areas because that’s where it performs the best in.
Pros
- Makes very little noise
- Easy to operate – simply plug and play
- Very light in weight and easy to move around
- Removes moisture, molds and mildew with ease
Cons
- Some growers might want a larger capacity
3. HomeLabs Small Dehumidifier
- Capacity: 9 ounces / 250 ml per day
- Size: 6.5 x 5.3 x 8.5 inches
- Warranty: Limited 2-year manufacturer warranty
HomeLabs is a trusted brand name when it comes to household consumer electronics products. This is one of the best dehumidifiers in the markets for growers who are looking forward to buying a small and lightweight device which they can keep inside their grow tent to ensure that their marijuana plants are getting an optimum environmental condition for growth. The tank in this dehumidifier has a capacity of 18 ounces (about 500ml) while the dehumidifier can extract moisture up to 9 ounces per day – meaning you have to dispose the water once every two days (if you use continuously).
Not only can you use this dehumidifier inside your grow tents, but you can also use it in your kitchens and bathrooms where you might want to ensure that there’s no moisture in the air. This is perfect for rooms up to 150sq.ft. There’s an auto shut-off function on this dehumidifier which will automatically turn off the device and glow a light on the top which indicates to you that the tank is full. This is a very lightweight dehumidifier too, as it weighs just about 2 pounds.
Pros
- Tank capacity of 18 ounces, can dehumidify 9 ounces a day – great for grow tents
- Lightweight and hence easy to move around and carry
- Easy cleaning
- Warranty of two years
- Auto shut-off ensures the device does not get damaged and you know when to empty the tank
Cons
- Not suitable for large areas/rooms, but one of the best dehumidifiers for grow tents
4. EVA-DRY E500 Mini and Renewable Dehumidifier
- Capacity: About 6-8 oz
- Size: 5.5 x 2.5 x 5.5 inches
- Warranty: 5-year manufacturer’s warranty against defects
Another product from Eva-Dry on our list of the best dehumidifiers for grow tents and grow rooms – but this one’s a little different than all that you’ve seen so far. All the dehumidifiers that we’ve seen so far on our list are electric in nature and need to be plugged in to a power source to function. This one, however, is non-electrical in nature. This dehumidifier from Eva-Dry is one of the best dehumidifiers for grow tents and functions on a renewable silica gel technology – meaning you need not put any power source into it.
There’s an indicator window on this dehumidifier which eventually turns from orange to green over time. This means the capacity is full. Then you need to plug it to a well ventilated area for about 12 to 14 hours and then you can use it again. This dehumidifier can last growers for up to 10 years, as claimed by the company. Out of those 10 years, there are five years that you can get a manufacturer’s warranty against defects – which is also pretty cool. This is a dehumidifier meant only for small or very small places and can cover about 500cubic feet of area. It is simple and easy to operate, there’s no noise and there are no spills as well.
Pros
- Completely non-toxic
- Simple and easy operation
- Portable and can be carried around with ease – best suited for grow tents
- Can be kept in small spaces
Cons
- Growers have reported that larger beads take a much longer time to dry when plugged in
5. Dry Packs Silica Gel Canister Dehumidifier
- Capacity: Capacity not specified but carries 750gm beads
- Size: 4.5 x 4.5 x 6.5 inches
- Warranty: Details not specified
When it comes to renewable-use dehumidifiers, this Dry-Packs dehumidifier just stands out because of its unique build and style. This metallic dehumidifier carries 750gms of beads which make it a great option to dehumidify small spaces such as vaults and grow tents. You can also use it in tool bags, laptop bags etc to keep your devices safe from humidity. The manufacturer claims it can offer you a lifetime of dehumidification.
What is the best feature about it, which makes it one of the best dehumidifiers for grow tents of about 2×2 ft or smaller nursery units is that it is very small – so small that you can keep it practically anywhere without causing much of a hassle. Once the moisture is fully captured the beads turn green and then you need to recharge it for about 2-4 hours. All in all most users who have used it have found it to be pretty effective for small spaces.
Pros
- Small in size – great for small grow tents
- Can also be used in bags, safes and cabinets
- Lightweight and easy to move around
- Charges fast and can carry quite a bit of moisture
Cons
- The manufacturer needs to make more details available about the product
Buyer’s Guide to Dehumidifiers – How to Buy The Best Dehumidifier for Growing Marijuana?
Now that you know which the best options are when it comes to buying a dehumidifier for growing marijuana, you must also know what all to look for before you make a final purchase. These are some of the factors that you need to mind and you can use these points as a checklist to ensure that you are getting only the best quality products which suit your needs.
The first and foremost thing that you need to keep in your mind is that you must always make sure that the dehumidifier you are buying is big enough for the area in which you are growing. Don’t buy a small dehumidifier for a big grow room or a big dehumidifier for a small grow tent – this needs to be ensured that the size of your growing are and the area covered by your dehumidifier match well. Then there’s also the capacity of the tank as well as the dehumidification capacity – these are two different things that people often confuse. The tank capacity is generally larger while the dehumidification capacity is the amount of water that the dehumidifier can take out of the air in a day.
Always ensure that all safety standards are followed and there’s no risk of fire in the dehumidifier of your choice. Noise is another concern as dehumidifiers tend to make some noise (getting a non electric/renewable dehumidifier will solve this problem but they’re usually not as powerful as the regular electric dehumidifiers so there’s that). One more thing that you must know is that filters of a dehumidifier need frequent cleaning – make sure that the dehumidifier you are getting is easy to clean and maintain. Also check if you are getting any extra filters along with the device as they are always quite helpful. Your dehumidifier also needs to be portable enough to easily be moved around. The warranty that you get also matters – always ensure that you are getting the maximum possible warranty.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Dehumidifiers
Now that you know which are some of the top options that you have in the markets when it comes to buying the best dehumidifiers for grow rooms and grow tents, let us look at some of the most commonly and frequently asked questions about dehumidifiers. These are some doubts that you might be having as well so do go through these answers to get a clearer picture:
1. Is it compulsory to own a dehumidifier to grow marijuana?
No, you can grow a marijuana plant without using a dehumidifier as well. However, if you own a dehumidifier it will help you ensure that your plants are growing in a much better way. This is especially important if you are growing weed in a tropical climate where humidity is naturally very high and there’s a lot of naturally occurring moisture in your air which can be harmful for your plants.
2. What happens if there’s high humidity?
While humidity is good for the growth of marijuana plants to some extent, having too much humidity would mean you risk rupturing certain cells and portions of your plants because they will have more water than they could carry! Having high humidity also makes it harder to have the nutrients travel up the plant’s body via the roots because most of the moisture the plant needs, it gets from the environment. If the humidity was low, then the plant would rely on the roots and therefore absorb the nutrients along with the moisture.
3. Is very low humidity bad for the plants?
Yes, very low humidity is also bad for the plants because that would mean you would have to constantly provide water via the roots which will add undue pressure on the roots as they will keep exerting themselves. This could be avoided in the early stages of plant’s growth cycle by ensuring the humidity levels aren’t very low.
4. How big should my dehumidifier be?
This depends solely upon your growth setup. If you are using a grow tent that is too big – then you need to get a dehumidifier which can dehumidify a larger volume of air. However, if you’re using a small grow tent then you would be ok using a smaller dehumidifier too. The best dehumidifiers for grow rooms need to be more powerful and the biggest in size because it is easier to dehumidify a tent compared to dehumidifying an entire room.
5. Is it legal to use dehumidifiers to grow marijuana?
While using dehumidifiers is totally legal in any case, you might end up having some legal troubles if you are growing marijuana in a region where it is illegal to grow weed. Make sure you’ve confirmed it with your local law enforcement agencies that growing weed is allowed in your area – and that you are growing the permissible quantity of weed as well.
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Conclusion
We hope that this article helped you find the best dehumidifier for your grow tent or your grow room. Dehumidifiers are something of a luxury in the world of growing weed – they’re an added bonus to ensure your yield is increased and that you get a good quality of marijuana after the process of growth is over. We hope that by this point in the article, you have a fair idea about what to expect from the best dehumidifiers for grow tents and grow rooms and know what all to look in it before you buy it. If there are any more queries and questions or if there’s something you feel we haven’t talked about, do let us know over email or comments and we shall get back to you. Till then..
…Happy Growing! 🙂