How many plants can I grow in a 4×4 grow tent?
Unfortunately, the answer to this question is not as straightforward as we might hope. Before starting a new growing space, we need to prepare not only all the equipment but also what we expect out of our work, a bit of mental preparation along with the set-up. For example, consider these questions: what kind of harvest do I expect to have from this grow, how much product would I like to produce, and what are the best ways to achieve my goals? How many plants can my 4×4 grow tent yield sustainably beneath an LED grow light? How can I determine how many plants I can put in a 4×4 space?
Before you begin setting up your 4×4 grow tent, you need to have reasonable expectations. We’ll use the 4×4 size as an example here because this is a common size a lot of customers have questions about, and we can expand calculations based on tent size there.
How do we find the right number of plants for our 4×4 tent?
The first way is to determine the number of plants we can fit by the size of the tent and the amount of space our specific plant will require.
In theory, a plant needs at least one square foot of space, so does that mean a 4×4 tent can hold 16 plants? Definitely not.
When deciding how many plants to plant in a 4×4 tent, we should consider the following factors:
local law
This is the most important consideration because it cannot be changed. At present, most states still have strict control over planting. For example, in California, if you are an individual grower without a medical license, you can grow up to 6 cannabis plants (and of course you must be at least 21 years old).
For growers who are medically licensed, the rules are more complicated. But in any case, compliance with local laws is the number one factor when we grow. Please look up your local regulations according to your situation to find the legal number of plants you can grow at any one time.
The planting method you choose – how many plants can you fit in a 4×4 grow tent?
Sea of Green (SOG) method
This is a great way to grow massive yields and make the most use of limited space. This technique is when you tightly pack your plants together, you speed up growth through the vegetative stage and move quickly into the flowering stage.
On average, most plants go through their vegetative stage in 2-3 weeks during the SOG method, meaning you’ll need to keep plant size uniformity during growth by trimming back plants as necessary, and then, after the plants have matured, switch to a red light to encourage flowering. As well, you’ll need to change the day cycle to 12 hours light, 12 hours dark, or 12/12.
By using the SOG method, each plant only needs about 0.5 square feet of space, meaning, in theory, you can grow 32 plants in a 4×4 grow tent. But be aware, when a plant goes into bloom, they usually grow 2-3 times the size of vegetation, so 16 plants will likely be a better target.
In total, this method can yield about 1-1.5 lbs of product.
Screen of Green (SCROG) method
Compared to SOG, SCROG requires much more space. Your goal here is to stretch your plants between evenly spaced netting so that light easily penetrates through the canopy into the lower regions of your plant, allowing your plant to grow more buds efficiently.
You’ll first have to create this flat grid near the base of your plants when they are young so you can train them to grow within these restrained compartments. When the plant matures, you’ll have to move the netting toward the top of the canopy to stabilize the plant. While you are going to grow fewer plants with this method, you’ll end up with some excellent yields.
Growing with this method requires that you allocate about 4-6 square inches per plant. A 4×4 grow tent yield is about 1.5-2lbs by growing about three plants.
Low-Stress Training (LST)
When you prune your plants, no matter which method you use, you put a lot of stress on your plants, which will take its toll on your plant’s growth. The LST method is simple and refers to slowly removing the top portions of the canopy so that the lower sections of the plant have access to the light, allowing your plant to grow greater quantities of bud.
For this method, you’ll need a few tools such as twine to train your plant. It might be handy to know that you can also train your plant to grow in different forms that will also expose the lower portions of the plants to light, too, so you may be able to avoid trimming the plant as often. This also helps the plant bloom quicker.
For this method, you will need 2 square feet of space to grow one plant. In a 4×4 grow tent you could hold around 4-6 plants.
Topping
Topping is an easy and efficient way to increase yield. If you let your plants grow steadily, you will find they can grow bigger than you expect but yield does not increase. So, you’ll need to clip the top to allow the plant to get more light to the lower portions of the plant. The key to doing this is pruning the plant at the right time during the growth cycle.
So, when do you start topping cannabis plants? Start when your plant has its fifth node, but preferably no more than seven. Too early and the plant will not be able to withstand the stress; too late and it will be detrimental to growth after topping. Your plants will require enough space between them to do this—about 2-4 square feet apart. You can grow 4-8 plants in a 4×4 tent with this method.
So in summary, you can grow between 1-16 plants in a 4×4 tent, depending on your planting methods and strains. how many LED watts you are using in your 4×4 grow tent will also affect your plant count; if you do not have sufficient light, we don’t recommend that you grow too many plants. Most growers will choose to grow 8-12 plants in a 4×4 tent. Of course, you should adjust your growing targets according to your actual situation. Whether you are new to growing or an old hand, we know you’ll have a great time!
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us!
And be sure to check out our other blog posts for useful tips on becoming a great grower!
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