CO2 Tutorial - How to Add CO2 to a Grow Room | GroWell (2024)

Plants need CO2like we need oxygen. Fact.

CO2+ H2O + light = photosynthesis

Without carbon dioxide, plants can’t photosynthesise. In fact, if your CO2level drops too low, plants won’t grow at all.

But how much CO2is enough? When should you add CO2? How do you add CO2to a grow room?

Here’s what you need to know.

Yes.

CO2is needed for photosynthesis, which is how plants convert light into energy.

If CO2is restricted, so is photosynthesis (sugar production) and growth.

The thing is, there's only around 400 – 450ppm of CO2in nature. At most, it can be as high as 800ppm in your home, just from breathing. This falls way short of the optimum 1200ppm.

Unless you add more CO2, plants won’t perform at their peak! Even a small amount of added CO2can increase photosynthesis - and - your overall yield.

All the other effects CO2has on plants, along with the extra sugars makes a big difference!

You’ll notice plants are stronger with thicker stems and branches. They'll be better able to cope with environmental extremes and pest attacks. With a thicker structure, plants will also be able to support a heavier yield.

Adding CO2speeds up growth! It's great if you want to shorten your overall cycle, or just flip to flowering sooner.

When you add CO2,plants can photosynthesise more light. If you've invested in high end grow lights, adding CO2will help you get the best out of your investment!

Target PPM: 600 – 700ppm

All the extra photosynthesis speeds up growth! Plants become bigger, greener and stronger in less time. This also means you can start flowering sooner when you add CO2to your grow room.

Remember to flip to flowering when plants are just under half the size you want them to be at harvest.

Target PPM: 1000 – 1200ppm

During bloom, you’ll slash the time it takes to produce fruit and flowers.

It’s most important to add CO2in the first 2 – 3 weeks of bloom, when flower production starts.

During flowering, the extra CO2can help maximise high intensity lights. Remember – for photosynthesis plants need light + water + CO2. If they have the light and water and you give them the CO2, photosynthesis will occur at a higher rate.

Any more than 1200ppm is a waste of CO2if nothing else! You’d have to go very high, but too much CO2can also create a toxic environment.

For this reason, it’s key that you manage your CO2dosing properly. If using propane or bottled CO2, make sure you use a CO2controller. If you’re using CO2bags, just make sure you don’t hang too many of them.

Even a small increase in CO2can be beneficial.

There are three ways of doing it, depending on:

• how much CO2you want to add
• what your budget is
• how big your grow room is

This is by far the easiest and lowest cost method.

You simply hang slow-release CO2bags or bottles in your grow room. Carbon dioxide is slowly released over time.

The bags we sell are Exhale CO2 Bags & TNB The Enhancer Bottles, which are self-activated. This means they don't start releasing gas until they're in your grow room - there's no CO2waste!

• Up to3.65m x 3.65m (TNB The Enhancer)
• 1 bag per 4 - 6 plants (ExHale Bags)

• Slow-releaseCO2bagsorTNBbottles
• Rope Ratchets(for hanging)

• Smaller rooms where air is extracted.

• Hang bags just above your canopy so they don’t create a shadow.

This is where you produce CO2by burning liquid propane gas.

How does an LPG CO2Generator Work?

As liquid propane gas is burned, CO2is released. Someheat and moisture are also released as a by-product. In veg, the extra humidity is great. In flowering, you may need to remove it.

Generally, you get more CO2by burning propane than you get by using bottled CO2.

• Up to 30m2(4kW AutoPilot Generator)
• Up to 90m2 (4kW Pro-Leaf LPG Generator)
• Up to 60m2(8kW AutoPilot Generator)
• Up to 220m2(10kW Pro-Leaf LPG Generator)

• Propane cannister (red / orange)
• LPG Generator (e.g.Pro-LeaforAutoPilot)
• UK Propane Regulator (Low Pressure)
• CO2controller (with inbuilt sensor / analyser)
• Pipe cutters
• Leak detection fluid
• Hose clamp / gas hose clips

Note:If your controller doesn't have a sensor/analyser, you can buy both separately (e.g.Ecotechnics Evolution CO2Controller+Ecotechnics Evolution CO2 Analyser)

• Rooms with air-cooled lights or closed-loop rooms.