Does growing weed indoors smell? Yes, it does since flowering cannabis plants produce small outgrowths identified as trichomes which contain strong odors and flavors known as terpenes. As the buds increase in size, so do the trichomes and they release odors that can travel for up to a mile away. This guide provides tips for controlling odors in a marijuana grow room or tent.
How to Control the Smell of Growing Weed Indoors
Why Should Odors Be Controlled While Growing Weed Indoors?
The reason behind this is that a cultivator risks police arrest, hefty fines, or getting their license revoked if neighbors or nearby entities such as businesses or schools make formal complaints about the cannabis odors. It’s no secret that there’s a lingering stigma toward cannabis despite the massive legalization of recreational and medical consumption.
Apart from running into legal trouble, there’s also an unnecessary judgment that comes from conservative friends and relatives. Managing weed odors originating from your personal grow tent at home helps to keep off the attention of nosy people who can’t wait to tell everyone about your personal affairs.
Which Method of Controlling Weed Odor Is The Easiest & Most Affordable?
Below are three secrets you can implement effectively at home.
1. Maintain A Small Grow Op
A grower that has one to three plants shouldn’t worry about purchasing equipment or products to conceal smells emanating from the crops. The best strategy is keeping the room containing the grow tent shut and having inlet fans to maintain air circulation. Also, ensure that the grow tent is far from the windows to retain any plant odors inside the room.
2. Keep Your Grow Room Windows Shut
Grow rooms and tents rely on fans to provide air circulation around the clock. As the air current circulates from top to bottom, the cannabis odors become easier to detect especially when either the grow tent is open or when the indoor plants lack an enclosure. Such leaks are risky especially when the cultivator resides in an apartment block.
A cautious grower will keep their windows to the grow room shut until the harvest is dried and stored inside mason jars. This approach allows the cultivator to safely open the grow tent to regulate temperatures during hot summers.
3. Mask The Cannabis Odor With Aromatic Candles
This tactic works perfectly for small grow ops. Lighting one or two scented candles inside the space containing the plants or grow tent helps in concealing any odors that might have leaked into nearby rooms or outside. You can also light another candle in the living room when you’re planning to host a few guests.
5 Tips On How To Reduce Smell When Growing Weed Indoors
1. Soak Your Soil
Soil obtained outdoors can create distinct odors because it contains a variety of organisms and some amount of compost. Some cultivators are enthusiastic about organic manure despite the strong odors that come about when microbes break down the manure. These reasons make it necessary for the cultivator to treat the soil to avoid drawing unwanted attention.
Expert cultivators recommend soaking the potting soil or mix inside a bucket filled with water and perlite to absorb strong smells. Mixing activated charcoal that’s almost similar to the one inside carbon filters also does an excellent job of eliminating unwanted odors.
2. Proper Air Circulation
It’s crucial to have a reliable set of inlet and exhaust fans when growing cannabis inside an enclosure. The inlet fans circulate air current all over the plants while the exhaust system directs terpene odors through the carbon filter system. One set of fans cannot control odors without the other one in place.
Nowadays, most cannabis grow tent kits are amateur-friendly because they’re self-contained. It’s also necessary to inspect your fans monthly and address any repairs promptly to avoid odor leaks.
3. Monitor The Room Temperature
Odors, in general, get stronger in hot environments because the heat stimulates molecules to become highly mobile. The heated molecules travel long distances during hot weather and that’s why it’s possible to smell a grow op within the neighborhood.
Air conditioners come in handy since they cool down the heat and this limits the distance that odor molecules can travel. This strategy also helps in minimizing any manure odors emanating from the soil.
4. Pick The Right Strain for Growing Indoors
Seasoned cultivators consider two factors when choosing a cannabis strain to grow indoors. First, is the number of trichomes expected when the plant transitions to the flowering stage. A heavily frosted plant coated in shiny trichomes will produce volumes of terpenes. The ideal plant produces a moderate amount to avoid purchasing additional carbon filters.
Secondly, it’s advisable to grow cannabis that has a short flowering time. This lessens the burden of controlling weed indoor smells.
Devices and Products That Effectively Control The Smell of Growing Weed Indoors
1. Ozone Generators
An ozone generator works by drawing in oxygen and converting it into highly unstable and reactive molecules called Ozone (O₃). These airborne particles eliminate odors by attaching themselves to various gas molecules thereby causing rapid decay. It’s a highly effective method that’s ideal for indoor cultivators growing six or more plants.
Ozone generators require keen attention to avoid killing the plants. Excess ozone destroys chlorophyll and this causes yellowing on the leaves. This affects the crop’s ability to photosynthesize and affects yields terribly.
2. Carbon Filter
A carbon filter is a small cylindrical device that eliminates odors by filtering them through layers of activated charcoal. Activation is whereby the charcoal is either chemically treated or passed through steam to open up the pores found on the surface area. The carbon is charged with positive ions to enable it to attract odor molecules which consist of negative ions.
Carbon filters are suspended inside grow tents to draw in air saturated with terpenes and emit odorless air through the exhaust fans. Cultivators replace the activated charcoal granules inside the filter after three months.
3. Odor-Absorbing Gels
This option is suitable for a small grow op with up to three cannabis plants. Odor-absorbing gels perform two roles simultaneously. When the gel gets exposed to air, it releases airborne molecules that alter the cannabis smell at a molecular level. This decays unwanted odors while the fragrance from the gel becomes stronger with each minute.
Odor-absorbing gels are more affordable compared to ozone generators, however, they serve for a shorter period and this implies recurring costs to the grower.
4. Air and Surface Purifiers
An air & surface purifier discharges hydroxide molecules into the room that react and neutralize odor molecules. The concept is similar to ozone generation, however, the hydroxide molecule is scientifically proven as a safer alternative to both humans and plants. Cultivators growing more than three plants will require carbon filters since air purifiers are not a perfect substitute.
This device operates effectively outside of the grow tent by neutralizing leaking odors.
How To Mask The Smell Of Drying Cannabis Buds
Harvesting cannabis is an exciting and rewarding process. Cultivators are usually eager to consume the yields, however, this can only happen after the buds are properly dried and cured. The four tips discussed below are effective in masking odors for cannabis dry rooms.
1. Store The Trim Inside Airtight Containers
Hash enthusiasts usually store large quantities of trim to make dry sift or bubble concentrates. This material is rich in trichomes and emits strong terpene odors that easily spread into the house. That’s why seasoned cultivators avoid storing their trim inside plastic garbage disposal bags and use mason jars instead.
2. Avoid Exposing Your Drying Room To Direct Sunlight
Some growers prefer drying their cannabis in grow tents to provide a conducive environment for moisture loss and preserving terpenes. Seasoned cultivators during this period tend to block out sunlight by covering up the windows using black plastic sheets. This is necessary because direct sunlight increases room temperatures causing odor molecules to move rapidly.
3. Install A Carbon Filter Inside The Drying Room
Carbon filters perform an excellent job of masking the smell of growing cannabis plants and they’re also highly reliable during the drying stage. Owning a grow tent kit is an added advantage because you can still use the same carbon filter provided in the tent. It’s also quite affordable and easy to install an exhaust system inside the designated room containing drying racks.
Placing an air purifier as an extra safety measure is a wise idea because it will eliminate any leaking odors.
4. Avoid Congesting The Drying Room
A congested drying room puts a strain on resources and makes it difficult to control marijuana odors. If a grower, for instance, decides to dry more than two plants inside a 24 x 24 x48 inch grow tent, they will most likely detect marijuana odors upon stepping inside the room containing the tent. This is a result of the terpene odors overwhelming the carbon filter.
The recommended approach is either having a large designated room where you can place drying racks and space them out evenly to promote airflow. Alternatively, the cultivator can purchase an extra grow tent and then install fans and a carbon filter.
Final Thoughts
Masking weed indoor smells is crucial to avoid running into legal problems involving the police or pesky neighbors. It’s important for cultivators to properly install preventive measures such as carbon filters as well as the devices discussed previously.
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