I am new on here but was wondering if anyone was able to help me with a pressing odor issue.
For fun I decided to try growing a couple of plants. Autos. I didn’t think on it too much, just popped a couple of seeds in and stuck them in my conservatory (about 6m x 2m). Whilst small they have grown well and are coming up to harvest time I think.
In the last week or 2 the smell has gone from mild background to really strong, leaking in to the house and outside and I am now worried about neighbors/passers by.
I guess I was naive and should not have started without a tent or something but just wondering what I can do. It would be a shame to have to just get rid but I can’t continue with this level of smell.
I’ve read a lot on here re carbon filters but mainly re air in/out of a grow tent.
So my questions are -
If I got a filter and inline fan and just ran it in the conservatory close to the plants with a window cracked is this likely to reduce the odor significantly. Just don’t want to spend a chunk of cash on something if it isn’t gona work.
I understand after harvesting I need to dry. I wouldn’t be worried about perfect conditions for this, again the issue will be the smell. Could I maybe use a plastic box with the carbon filter pads from a cooker hood or something to reduce the smell? Or are there better methods?
Sorry for the long post, a slightly worried newbie hoping you can help. Thanks a lot for any help or advice👍
Installing a carbon filter with out a tent, will reduce odor, but not eliminate it.
Best suggestion is to build a box if you can, buy tent when you can.
Using a tent will eliminate most of the odor, as all of the air will be filtered through the carbon filter.
Is it in a designated room? Closing windows and doors will help, but not solve the issue.
Thanks for this. They’re in a conservatory with a load of tomato plants which disguise them visually but the smell is unmissable. When I open up windows and doors it stops a build up and (I think) less noticeable.
If you think a fan/filter will still knock back the smell a bit then I might take the hit and try it as it needs to be resolved.
I didn’t want to get all the gear to grow in a tent and thought doing it naturally in sunlight would be okay. As I said in my post it’s actually gone well grow wise, perhaps too well lol. Now I see the merit in a proper enclosed system.
Keep in mind when operating under high humidity conditions, this does shorten filter life.
If you have the ability to open a window, to operate as an intake, and run the carbon filtered exhaust out a different window, this would be kind like a giant grow tent. I’ll bet everything grows well in there.
I don’t know your set up, but offering the best advice I can. This may not even apply to you.
Cheers! It’s not much of a set up, like a lot of the seasoned growers here, just a lot of plants, including a couple of illicit ones in a big glass box. But despite the slap dash approach, everything seems to grow well.
There are 2 side windows and a large sliding door at the front. They’re all a little open atm and it’s 32 degrees and 30% humidity but that does increasewhen it’s less sunny/in the evenings/after watering.
The smell doesn’t seem too strong when it’s allowed to disapate but builds up quick. I dint think I could vent out the window as being all glass it would look quite conspicuous but there’s a small sofa in there next to the plants so I will get a fan and filter and stick it under the there and hope for the best.
If I do it again, I will look in to doing it properly in a sealed environment. Or move in to the country where there’s no one around
Also, looking in to drying - whilst sub optimal, it seems from things I’ve read for a small amount like this I could dry fairly quickly over just a few days then seal it up and just open up the container a few times a day to stop moisture building up as the drying finishes off. I guess it would increase the chance of mould but a risk worth taking as the only cool dark dry place I can think of is the kitchen cupboard close to the front door.
I appreciate to connoisseurs this will all seem car crash, but if I can get a little green without any bother I’ll be happy even if approach/quality could have been better
YouTube has a number of videos on how to build a carbon filter from a couple of plastic buckets and an exhaust fan. It’s cheaper than buying a dedicated carbon filter and fan from a hydroponic store.
You will need a carbon filter though otherwise everyone in the neighborhood will smell it and someone might report it.
Some plants like Frisian Duck have a much milder odor when flowering and you can usually get away without a carbon filter, but most plants stink once they are half way through flowering.
When you dry the plants they need good airflow around them and a low humidity (around 50%). You also need a low humidity (50%) during flowering. If they don’t have enough airflow or the humidity is too high, the flowers can go moldy and become poisonous if you smoke them.
To increase airflow just get a normal oscillating fan that you use in summer to blow air over you when the air-conditioner doesn’t work, and have it blowing air under the hanging plants. Try to hang the plants so there is a couple of feet of space under them and have the fan blowing into that open gap. Have it oscillating too (moving from left to right and back). Leave them hanging for at least 2 weeks and then cure them for a few weeks. I just leave them hanging for 4-6 weeks and increase humidity from 50% to 60% when they are dry.
Not sure if this is a possibility but if you have any exhaust pipes coming out of your house might get a 20inch box fan cut the box in half and place the fan half in the box and seal it with tape, cut a hole in the other side big enough for a dryer vent and connect to exhaust pipe. Not sure if this would be any help for you.
