Ideal Temperature for Indoor Gardening

Having a garden flourish indoors is a remarkably gratifying experience.  It is rewarding not only because of the outcome but because of the endeavor involved to actually have your garden happen as expected.  Hobbyists and professional gardeners alike will tell you that when poignant a garden indoors, the temperature is the hardest factor to take control of.  When restricted to a small space ballasts and lights can push temperatures sky-high in no time flat.  This is especially true during hot summer months when outside temperature reaches its peak.  Night time (lights out period) temperature can be just as difficult to regulate during cold winter month.

Most hydroponics gardeners are conscious that temperature in the grow room plays a major role and can greatly impinge on the growth of plants and the quality of the completed crop. It is important for gardeners to know that domineering the temperature of their garden in very precise ways can lead to a better-quality crop.  Drift too far from these ideal temperatures and watch your plants and crop endure.

Before getting started it is highly suggested that every indoor garden has a max/min thermometer.  This product allows the gardener to see exactly the fluctuations in temperature within their garden.  Instead of this useful tool there is no other truthful way to eloquent the different temperatures between daytime (lights on) and night time (lights off).  The difference between the two temperatures is very important to plant growth.

These temperature ranges will also vary depending on variety and species of plant.  For instance, some orchids require more than a 10F-15F difference between daytime and night-time temperatures in order to flower.

Ideal temperature also varies depending on whether or not CO2 is being introduced to the environment.  A more suitable daytime temperature when the air is being enriched with CO2 is 80F-85F.  This temperature range promotes the exchange of gases between the plants and the environment.  Also, it can speed up the process of photosynthesis. A plant in an environment at 86F can perform carbon extraction from CO2 twice as fast as at 68F.  It is still recommended that the night time temperature drop no more than 15F from that of the daytime temperature.  There is another relationship between temperature and the absorpsion of gases by plants that many hobbyist growers are aware of.  That is the relationship between the temperature of the water in your reservoir and the amount of oxygen the water can hold.  The best range that your reservoir can be between is 60F-75F.  Ideally the reservoir temperature should be at 65F because this level contains the most oxygen.  Also this temperature will help control transpiration (the act of drawing up nutrients by evaporating water throughout the leaves), and humidity levels.  Buying a simple floating thermometer will allow you to know where you fit in this range.

Another great reason for regulating the temperature in your grow room is that biological processes can be speed up exponentially by every degree.  This is true for your plants as well as the potential pests that may invade your grow room.  Pests such as spider mites can reproduce up to 10 times faster with every degree the temperature rises.  These pests can destroy a garden in no time flat, you really do not want to make it any easier for them.  With a daytime temperature at a steady 72F and night time temperature of 65F it is much easier to control and destroy spider mite, thrip, and many other pest populations.

Temperature is also very important when it comes to starting seeds and getting cuttings to root.  Placing seedling trays on a heating mat will reduce germination time dramatically.  Speeding up germination time usually leads to stronger and healthier plants.  Also, less time spent between crop cycles makes a garden efficient.  More harvests provided in less time can equal big bucks in the pockets of professional growers.