Thinking about starting a grow room somewhere on your property? Well, you have come to the right place!
What is a grow room anyways? Why does everyone always jump to conclusions that we have a "420" room? Well, the honest truth is you can use it to start seedlings and store smaller plants with specific requirements as well. I personally use it for fruits, veggies, succulents, some coffee plants and overwintering plants that cannot handle a freeze.
So, what do you need to do this? A simple option would be having space for a grow 'tent" in our case we had a room in our basement already "walled in"
If you want to learn more about a grow tent, I would actually suggest this channel here: White Pepper Farms has a great video on the 5 best tents: https://youtu.be/UH9k4iom49M?si=gdYJZ4bfa6Qf5K46
Stick around and below will have all the components to consider in a homemade basement grow room. I also have an alternative if you want something small. I have another blog on a Gardyn hydroponic system that I review and give an idea of it's capabilities and flaws.
Indoor Grow Room Steps:
Step 1:
Find a spot to make your dream come true. Do you have a spot in an unfinished basement that you can enclose and give electrical? Your walls and ceiling don't have to be perfect, just perfect enough to hold a barrier and tack mylar to. Sketch out the space and calculate the square footage you need to cover. Make sure to account for the floor, walls and ceiling if you want to enclose fully with a moisture barrier. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Step 2:
The walls, barrier, and mylar.
The walls: We used old wood laying around and small panels we bought for cheap in a local deal.
The barrier: The barrier is needed between the concrete wall and your new wall. This is to keep all the moisture and temperature change within the room.
The mylar: Mylar? Think of thin reflective foil you would use in cooking.
Step 3:
The electrical, and outlets, air flow.
The electrical: You need someone with professional experience to install multiple outlets, and make sure they can handle water pumps, space heaters, power strips, multiple grow lights all on the same circuit. DO NOT FORGET GFCI protection outlets, there will be water around your outlets. Last, you may want to install a ceiling light as well, we have one but I do not use, yet? Maybe in the future. The grow lights keep it quite bright in there. Air flow, you need this, I would plan on a hole in your wall to fit a flap to put a box fan into later on.
What is a GFCI outlet? See here for more information: https://youtu.be/Uop79H_iqoQ?si=kCTLGSAdmJbOxrpM
Step 4:
Sourcing The components.
Here is your shopping list of everything else I used. Feel free to use alternatives to meet your design needs.
Plywood Panels
Check local prices
Check Facebook Marketplace
2"x4"
Check local prices
Check Facebook Marketplace
Plastic barrier
$70-$100
Filler for floor (for building up for being level)
Old bricks / stones
Remnants
Mylar Roll
$70-$200
Silver Tacks
I bought from SHEIN
Home Depot / Amazon
Wood Screws (based on your flooring choice)
Home Depot
Snap together flooring or linoleum
Note that you do not need anything special, check the clearance at local hardware stores. Find flooring that is waterproof if you can.
Metal Shelving - HDX (Home Depot Brand)
$99-$129
Check for sales - I bought their largest shelves which can fit 4 1020 seed trays per shelf (that is 4 72 plug flats for seeds.
I have 2 in my grow room, and one smaller one for storage of growing mediums, gloves and tools - it is in the diagram above with my plans.
$35
Free Table or cabinet I found for storage / storage for seeds out of the light.
Plastic Food Grade Water Tub (5/10/30) gallon
Check locally / Facebook Marketplace ($10)
Find one with a lid to be ready to make one
Box Fan
$15
Grow Lights
Choose lights that can fit the full length or half length of each shelf. I used wire chain dangling lights.
Example of what I used:
Mini USB Fans (that can clip on shelves)
SHEIN has cheap USB fans, or you can find bulk packs on amazon. Get the ones with the clips!
Submersible Water pump (one that can push water to the height of your shelving)
My pump can reach to the top of the shelves I bought from home depot.
Plastic Trays (1020 if you go with my shelving)
Irrigation lines - tubing/accessories kit (options - not required)
1/4" tubing with accessories (make sure your pump aligns with your tube size)
1/2" tubing with accessories (make sure your pump aligns with your tube size)
Temperature gage - bluetooth
Wall Timers - 3 prong (thank me later)
3-prong if you want to plug in a power strip (recommended)
Blink Camera (optional)
something to look into if you travel a lot
cheap / can find on Facebook marketplace used
Moisture Sensors (optional)
something to look into if you travel a lot
Tools/Equipment:
Floor puller - for snap together flooring
check in your local hardware store in flooring
Level - for flooring
Drill - for assembly of room
Power outlets (GFCI)
wiring (let the professional choose)
professional installation (ask around, you might know someone)
One Year in Review
Note #1: Dirt gets everywhere. Have a mat at your entry way to clean off shoes coming in, and also going out.
Put your used pots and other pre-used grow room essentials in bins. This keeps the dirt from spreading everywhere.
BUY PLANT SAUCERS AND TRAYS!!! YES even the single potted plants are going to spread dirt all over the place.
Note #2: Since this is practically a greenhouse, you have to spray for bugs - aphids, etc. Keep a close eye on mold build up as well.
Note #3: if you plan to mix a hydroponic system into the room like I did... keep in mind the dirt, and bugs will migrate to this. You need to keep them separated. The bamboo on my Gardyn 2.0 got a little damage due to this, the tank got a little more dirty than normal... the list goes on.
Note #4: plan to stabilize your floor very well for the addition of a irrigation system. A 30 gallon tank of water shouldn't put a hole in your floor or dent it in!
Note #5: Air flow is extremely important. Do NOT skip out on the fans / box fan above.
If you have any questions feel free to reach out! The grow room is an ever-growing task. I will update with progress!
-DIY With Chelsea
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