Grow Environment Advisor
Optimal environment targets based on your setup
Why Environment Matters
Your grow environment determines how well plants can photosynthesize and transpire. Temperature and humidity work together (VPD), light intensity affects growth rate, and nutrients must match the plant's stage. Getting these right is the difference between healthy plants and stressed ones.
Quick Reference: Targets by Stage
| Stage | Temp (LED) | Humidity | PPFD | EC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seedling | 23-26°C | 65-75% | 200-400 | 0.4-0.8 |
| Vegetative | 24-28°C | 55-70% | 400-600 | 1.0-1.6 |
| Flowering | 24-26°C | 45-55% | 600-900 | 1.2-2.0 |
Ranges vary by strain and specific setup. Use these as starting points.
How This Advisor Works
Select your setup — growth stage, light type, hours, and substrate. The advisor calculates optimal targets for temperature, humidity, light intensity (PPFD), and nutrients (EC/pH). Enter your current readings to see if you're in the optimal zone.
Key Concepts
- VPD (Vapor Pressure Deficit): The relationship between temperature and humidity that drives transpiration. The advisor calculates this for you and shows the target ranges.
- DLI (Daily Light Integral): Total light received per day. Depends on intensity (PPFD) and duration (hours). The advisor shows target PPFD for your light schedule.
- EC (Electrical Conductivity): Measures nutrient concentration. Different stages need different strengths. EC 1.0 is mild, EC 2.0 is strong.
Tips for Dialing In Your Environment
- LEDs run cooler than HPS — you may need higher humidity to hit the same VPD
- Measure temperature and humidity at canopy level, not at the sensor on the wall
- Lower humidity in late flower (below 50%) helps prevent bud rot
- Plants can handle higher PPFD with CO2 supplementation
Frequently Asked Questions
What is VPD and why does it matter?
VPD (Vapor Pressure Deficit) measures the drying power of the air. It determines how fast plants transpire. Too low and plants can't move water efficiently. Too high and they close stomata to conserve water. Optimal VPD ensures healthy transpiration and nutrient uptake.
Why do LED grows need different humidity than HPS?
LED lights produce less radiant heat, so leaf temperatures are cooler (often 1-2°C below air temp). HPS heats up leaves (2-3°C above air). To hit the same VPD, LED growers typically need higher humidity than HPS growers at the same temperature.
What PPFD do I need?
It depends on stage and light hours. Seedlings: 200-400 μmol/m²/s. Veg: 400-600. Flower: 600-900 (up to 1000+ with CO2). More hours of light means you can use lower intensity to hit the same DLI.
Should I adjust environment during lights-off?
Temperature naturally drops during lights-off, which is fine (aim for 5-10°C drop). Humidity may rise — ensure good airflow to prevent condensation on leaves.
Track Environment Across Your Grow
These targets change as plants move through stages. Plantegia tracks your plants' stages and helps you plan environment needs across multiple spaces.
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