How and why to keep your grow room clean

Cleanliness is always important. But when it comes to growing weed, it's vital. Cleaning and maintaining your grow space should be an integral part of your process for growing cannabis.

In fact, a dirty, unorganized grow space can produce a wide range of problems, some of which can have a huge impact on the quality of your herb and health of your plants.

WHY IT’S IMPORTANT TO KEEP YOUR GROW SPACE CLEAN AND TIDY:

There are plenty of reasons why it’s important to maintain a clean grow space

First of all, growing plants in a dirty space puts them at a higher risk of developing diseases or pest infestations. An unclean environment usually attracts a variety of unwanted guests, including bugs, mites, spiders, and more, some of which may attack your plants.

Certain pests and fungi are very good at staying alive, especially between harvests. Then, when you bring in new plants for the next season, those pests and fungi can infest your new plants and affect their health as well as the size/quality of your harvest.

Secondly, cleanliness is really important for safety. Dust and dirt, for example, can build up on your equipment, especially on fans and ventilation systems. This can be a big problem, affecting the proper working order of your equipment or possibly even causing a fire.

Meanwhile, things like spills or electrical cables on the floor can create tripping hazards. A fall is a big issue, putting you at serious risk while also possibly resulting in damage to your plants and/or equipment.

So, it’s clear that you should always do the best to keep a clean and tidy grow room. Here are 11 simple tips to help you do that:

1. KEEP YOURSELF CLEAN!

The most important step to keeping a clean grow space is to make sure you’re clean. The best way to do this is to set aside a set of clothes that you only use inside the grow room as well as a simple cleanliness routine to follow before you get to work on your plants.

Start by changing into your clean clothes. Try to opt for a simple outfit that’s not too baggy and doesn’t feature any loose pieces of fabric.

Then make sure to wash your hands thoroughly and tie back or cover your hair. This will help you avoid introducing any harmful pathogens like bacteria, fungal spores, or spider-mite eggs into your grow space.

2. NEATLY ORDER AND STORE YOUR SUPPLIES

The way you store and order your equipment/supplies can have a huge impact on the cleanliness in your grow space. The best way to do this is to deck out your grow area with some basic shelving and taking the time to give everything its own little space.

For example, try to order all our supplies so your nutrients are in one particular area, separate from things like leftover grow medium, chemicals (like herbicides or pesticides), or basic equipment like pots, buckets, shears, etc. Treat your grow space like dads treat their garage/shed.

Next, also make sure you keep your floor clear and clean. Immediately wipe up any spills, and remember to keep any electrical wiring out of the way as well.

3. WALL MOUNT YOUR EQUIPMENT

To help declutter your grow space, it's a great idea to wall mount as much of your equipment as possible.

Fans and ventilation systems, for example, can easily be mounted on the walls or ceiling of your room, helping to free up floor space. In fact, both fans and vents work best when elevated.

Even basic tools like thermometers, hygrometers, and even shears/scissors can be wall mounted on a basic rack. The same goes for timers.

This will help declutter any shelves you’ve installed and will also make it easy to find the right equipment.

Electrical ballasts, on the other hand, should be wall-mounted outside the grow space if possible to maximize their working order and safety.

Finally, cables and cords should be fixed and run along the skirting boards or walls to their respective outlets. This will greatly reduce the risk of tripping on a loose lead.

4. NEATLY ARRANGE YOUR PLANTS

To help you maintain a tidy grow space, remember to keep your plants and pots in a nice order. Make sure to leave some space between your plants to allow for air circulation and avoid humidity build up.

Also be sure to space out your plants so they all get an even amount of light from your grow lamp. We understand that this may be more difficult in small spaces, but it can make a big difference.

Make sure your plants are easy to access and remember to place trays underneath your pots to catch any runoff or soil spills.

5. IMMEDIATELY CLEAN SPILLS

Just like spills can lead to disaster in an industrial kitchen, the same is true in your grow space. Whether it's water, nutrient solution, or even some soil, make sure to clean up any spills immediately to minimize the risk of falling or tripping.

6. PRUNE REGULARLY 

Another vital step to keeping a clean and orderly grow room is regular pruning.

Cannabis plants, given the right conditions, will grow extremely fast. And while vegetative growth is obviously important, letting it get out of hand can lead to big, bushy plants that unnecessarily crowd up your grow space.

Hence, remember to prune your plants regularly throughout their vegetative phases. Pay close attention to the foliage of each plant and be sure to remove any dead/dying leaves quickly.

This will help you reduce some of the bulk of your plants. Finally, if you notice your plants are becoming unmanageable, consider trying some training techniques to teach them to grow in a certain way that best suits your room.

7. REGULARLY DUST YOUR EQUIPMENT

Dust naturally builds up even in the cleanest rooms. Hence, remember to dust your grow space regularly to avoid it building up on your plants as well as your grow equipment.

Use a dry cloth to easily remove dust from the top of any equipment. Never use a wet cloth as this may interfere with any of your electrical equipment.

8. PROPERLY MAINTAIN YOUR EQUIPMENT

The equipment in your grow room gets a lot of use. Hence, it's important you regularly maintain at least the following equipment:

• Grow light: Grow lights are made to run anywhere up to 18 hours per day for weeks. Hence, it’s extremely important that you change your lamp regularly. We recommend changing your lamp once a year or after 6,500 hours of use. Also regularly remove dust from the lamp and hood.
• Carbon filter: The charcoal inside your filters becomes saturated over time and needs to be replaced roughly once per year. Pay close attention to your filters and be sure to replace them as soon as you realize they’re not working properly.
• Extractors: Regularly dust your extractors and fans, and clean them with a vacuum cleaner after harvest. Also, immediately replace extractors or fans that start to make strange noises.

9. KEEP YOUR WATER SUPPLY CLEAN

Water is a key nutrient for cannabis. Hence, you’ll want to make sure you're supplying your plants with the best quality water available.

Make it a habit to regularly check your pipes, pump and water tank, cleaning them out individually to avoid any bacterial build up which can lead to blockages.

10. CLEAN YOUR EQUIPMENT AFTER USE

A basic, yet really effective way to ensure cleanliness and order in your grow room is to clean your equipment right after use. Be it the buckets you use to apply nutrients or your pruning shears, remember to wash down your equipment after each use to leave it ready for next time.

11. “SPRING CLEAN” AFTER EVERY HARVEST

Last but not least, remember to do a thorough clean of your grow space after each harvest. It can be hard to thoroughly clean out your grow room during the season, and dust and dirt will usually build up in the hard-to-reach spaces of your room.

Make sure to sterilize all the equipment in your room, including fans, vents, filters, dehumidifiers, AC units, pots, trays, etc. Then, make sure that the entire room is swept and mopped with a mild bleach solution to kill of any potentially harmful pathogens.