How do I maintain plant growth while working full time

It can be a daunting task for novice growers who work full time to take care of their plants. There are so many things that can go wrong and if nobody is there to fix potential issues the results could be disastrous. Luckily, there are many ways to minimize the risks and with the right equipment along with a little planning growing plants while working a full-time job is actually very simple and easy.
Plants need a growth and rest schedule. Traditionally, plants receive light during the daytime and rest during the night time. Fortunately, this schedule can in fact be reversed to help suit individual growers’ needs. By waking the plants up and providing them with light during the night and allowing them to rest during the day, growers can minimize the risks and ensure they are available to fix any issues that may arise during the growing period.

What equipment can growers utilize to make growing while working a full-time job easier?

LED Grow Lights

LED grow lights are the most important part of any indoor growing setup because they are the primary light source for plants. Most plants need at least 4-12 hours of light per day to meet their photosynthetic needs. An efficient grow light must have a strong light intensity. In general, plants grown in low light tend to be bone dry with light green leaves. Similar plants grown in very bright light tend to be shorter, with better branching and larger, dark green leaves. We therefore recommend that growers choose a led grow light with a light intensity of 100-1,000 µMol/m2/S, depending on the plant characteristics.
Naturally, an effective LED Grow light will provide full spectrum light as different plants require different types of light. When plants photosynthesize, photons of a specific spectrum trigger different growth characteristics. As a result, the spectrum of light can make significant changes in the way plants grow. For example, plant fruiting, flowering production, growth rate, fresh weight, color, flavor, root development and other plant changes can all be determined by different wavelengths in the spectrum. If you want to learn more about how the spectrum affects plants, check out our previous blog: How Does The Light Spectrum Affect Plant Growth?
Another aspect of an effective LED Grow Light is energy efficiency along with having a manageable heat output to protect your plants. If heat is not managed properly, it can lead to an overheated environment, which can damage your plants and lead to stunted growth or even death. The ideal temperature range for growing plants is around 20-27°C.

Grow Tents

Growing tents are also very important because they help control the environment in which the plants grow. Proper temperature and humidity are important factors for healthy plant growth, and grow tents can help you control them very well. Many tents use highly reflective mylar material that can reflect the light from the grow lights and let the plants get more light. Besides, you should choose a grow tent made of 1680D oxford canvas, which helps block the light. On one hand, it blocks the light during the day and keeps the plants in a resting state in the dark. On the other hand, when you use the plant light at night, the light will not run out to disturb your rest. This is especially helpful if you plan to wake up your plants at night.
Grow tents also help protect your plants from unwanted pests and insects, so it’s important to make sure you’re using a high-quality grow tent. The quality of the zippers is important as it will help prevent leaks and contamination, while using high quality stands to ensure your grow tent is stable and secure.

Inline Fan Combo

If you want to ventilate and deodorize your growing environment, then the inline fan combo is the best choice for you. It includes the inline fan and a carbon filter.
Inline fans are able to control temperature and humidity by regulating airflow through your grow tent, therefore helping to keep your plants healthy and prevent plant diseases. A quality inline fan will help control the environment and provide adequate CFM (cubic feet per minute air flow) without being too loud. It is worth noting that climate, lights, and length of ventilation ducts all affect the amount of airflow, and it is best to choose a fan size that is larger than the actual airflow needed.
Humid air may have some mold attached to it, and if they are not filtered out, it may affect the health of your plants. And some plants can give off a disgusting smell during the growing process. These problems can be solved by using a carbon filter. The activated carbon in a carbon filter purifies the air by binding to molecules in the air and adsorbing pollutants such as mold and mildew.

Automated Water And Irrigation Systems

An automated irrigation and watering system (Autopot) can help make taking care of your plants much easier, especially if you’re busy at work. Once the Autopot it is set up, it can automatically provide plants with the water they need.
An Autopot can be left unattended for weeks because there is no power, no timers and no connection to water mains required, just a simple water tank that utilizes gravity to provide for your plants. Utilizing an automated system such as an Autopot makes growing your plants a lot simpler and easier by automating tasks a grower would normally be required to do.

Great Strains for Beginner Growers

In addition to utilizing the correct equipment, deciding on an appropriate strain to grow is very important. Some strains are very unforgiving and are not suitable for beginners. Here is a list of 5 strains we believe are suitable for beginners and would work well for growers who are also working a full-time job.

Northern Lights: Northern Lights is one of the most popular strains of all time and it is a great choice for beginners. It grows to a mid-sized bush and can reach just over 1.2 meters in height while being grown indoors.

Blue Dream: Blue Dream is known to be a very hardy plant that allows for a large margin of error making it a great choice for beginners.

Gorilla Glue #4: Gorilla Glue #4 is another well-known strain that was so popular after development it won awards. Gorilla Glue #4 is notorious for being one of the stickiest strains available but despite it being very sticky it is considered one of the best hybrids to grow.

Blue Cheese: Blue Cheese is also a very popular strain as it is not only one of the easiest stains to grow but also one of the fastest.

Green Crack: Our final recommendation is Green Crack as it is generally simple, easy and therefore a great option for anyone learning to grow.

Conclusion

While it may seem daunting and unapproachable to some individuals wanting to start out on their growing journey, growing plants is not a difficult task. With the right equipment and a well thought out plan, indoor cultivation can be a simple and rewarding experience. Most things can be automated and there are easy and forgiving strains to start with making the process simple. In addition to this, there is a wealth of information and tips online. Check out www.spider-farmer.com for more!