| Carbon dioxide or CO2 is the essential gas for | | | | per hour. |
| supporting plant life. It is a colorless, odorless gas, | | | | How to Use CO2 Generators |
| found in small quantities in the air. | | | | Earlier CO2 generators were mainly used by large |
| In order to make the most of indoor gardening, it is | | | | commercial hydroponic growers only. However, |
| necessary to provide plants with all the constituents | | | | today, when these devices are available in many |
| of the above mentioned process: light, CO2, water | | | | different sizes, even hobby growers can use small |
| and nutrients. If plants receive enough water, but | | | | CO2 generators for their indoor gardens. CO2 |
| have weak supply of hydroponic nutrients or light, it | | | | generators work by burning natural gas or propane. |
| won’t work out. Injecting CO2can offer great | | | | They are usually equipped with a timer to ignite gas |
| benefits, when performed by a skilled and | | | | in the predefined time periods and thus deliver CO2 |
| experienced gardener. However, the beginner may | | | | on a regular timely manner. |
| easily kill his plants by injecting CO2 in inappropriate | | | | In comparison to bottled CO2 use of generators is a |
| manner. | | | | more money-saving option, since they can produce |
| Several important pre-conditions should be created | | | | about 26 cu. ft. of CO2 gas per one pound of burned |
| before using the increased CO2 levels. First of all, it is | | | | fuel. Besides, CO2 generators are easier to work |
| necessary to provide a very bright lighting for the | | | | with. However, along with producing CO2 they also |
| plants (more than 20 watts per square foot). | | | | generate a lot of heat. The latter may be treated |
| Otherwise, there will be little or no increase in plant | | | | either as a benefit, when you live in a colder region |
| growing. It is also necessary to increase temperature | | | | and additional heating of your indoor garden will be |
| slightly (about 3-5 degrees). Finally, do not forget to | | | | welcomed, or as a drawback, requiring additional |
| supply plants with adequate amounts of water and | | | | ventilation, cooling or air conditioning to prevent |
| nutrients, since increased photosynthesis will require | | | | overheating of growing plants. |
| more resources. | | | | While operating CO2 generators, it is also necessary |
| In the natural environment, plants usually use about | | | | to keep in mind that, when damaged, they can |
| 300-600 ppm (parts per million) of carbon dioxide, | | | | produce Carbon Monoxide (CO) instead of Carbon |
| which is available in the atmosphere. However, plants | | | | Dioxide (CO2). This substance is life-threatening and |
| can handle significantly larger amounts of CO2. With | | | | may cause death to humans even in small quantities |
| 1500 ppm of CO2 consumed, plants can grow twice | | | | (unlike CO2 which becomes deadly only in high |
| as fast as they grow under the normal conditions. | | | | concentrations). In order to check whether your CO2 |
| However, in most cases about 40% - 50% of | | | | generator works properly have a look at the flame, |
| growth increase is achieved. | | | | that should be blue under normal conditions. If the |
| Ideally, CO2 should be maintained at steady level | | | | flame is yellow or orange, it means that the |
| constantly. To reach this goal regular injections of | | | | generator does not burn fuel properly and dangerous |
| small amounts of gas are needed. However, it is not | | | | CO may be released into the environment. If you |
| always possible to perform such operations, since | | | | noticed yellow or orange flame, turn off your CO2 |
| there is a requirement to ventilate the growing site | | | | generator and have it examined and fixed by a |
| thoroughly right before the injection. | | | | qualified service person. Finally, it is needless to say |
| The biggest catch about carbon dioxide injection is | | | | that only quality CO2 generators as well as other |
| not to exceed limits. Most of the plants will be | | | | CO2 controldevices, designed specifically for |
| destroyed, when the CO2 levels reaches 2000 ppm. | | | | gardening applications, should be used indoor. |
| Besides, such elevated levels of CO2 are also toxic | | | | Are There Any Other Ways to Deliver CO2 |
| for humans. That is why it is recommended to vent | | | | If you are not ready yet for using bottled CO2 or |
| the room before injecting CO2 in order to remove | | | | CO2 generators, there are still several options to |
| excess CO2 and prevent its accumulation. | | | | deliver CO2into your growing environment. Mostly, |
| Usually, in order to increase CO2 levels special CO2 | | | | these are manual techniques, so it may be pretty |
| control devices (either bottled CO2 or CO2 | | | | challenging to define the actual CO2 concentration; on |
| generators) are used. Both of these methods provide | | | | the other hand, the chances that you will exceed |
| automated way of delivering CO2 into the growing | | | | CO2 limits, while using such methods, are also |
| environment. It is preferable to use CO2 monitors in | | | | miniscule. |
| order to keep tracking the exact CO2 levels in the | | | | One of the alternative methods to provide CO2 is |
| growing environment and automatically add gas, | | | | composting organic substances, such as leaves, |
| when it is necessary. However, such devices can be | | | | sawdust, manure, hay, etc. In the process of their |
| pretty expensive, so most people use more | | | | decomposition, certain amount of CO2 is generated. |
| cost-effective methods, for example, timers. | | | | This method is simple to operate and requires no or |
| How to Use Bottled CO2 | | | | very little costs. However, it is necessary to be |
| Among other CO2 control devices, bottled CO2is, | | | | aware of potential diseases or fungus, which may |
| perhaps, the most widely spread method to deliver | | | | develop in the decomposing materials. |
| gas into the growing environment. The system | | | | Some amount of CO2 can also be received during |
| usually consists of CO2-filled tank, a pressure gauge | | | | fermentation process. For example, mixing water, |
| to monitor the amount of gas in the tank, a flow | | | | sugar and yeast results in fermentation and |
| meter to control the amount of the released gas, a | | | | generation of CO2. |
| solenoid valve and a timer. Solenoid valve is used to | | | | Dry ice is another source of CO2for your indoor |
| turn on and off the flow of gas, when needed. | | | | grown plants. In fact, dry ice is nothing but |
| In order to make carbon dioxide delivering easier and | | | | compressed into a solid mass CO2 gas. By the way, |
| more precise, there are some handy tables below, | | | | CO2 can never be in liquid form: it is either solid or |
| developed by Green Air Products. The first table | | | | gas. So, if you put a block of dry ice in your garden, |
| shows how much time it is necessary to release CO2 | | | | it will slowly vaporize and release CO2 gas. The |
| from your bottled system in order to reach 1000 | | | | disadvantage of dry ice is that this is a pretty |
| ppm concentration, and the second table offers data | | | | expensive material. |
| timing for reaching 1500 ppm concentration. In order | | | | One more method to produce CO2 originates from |
| to use those tables, you have to know the volume | | | | kitchen: dripping a small amount of baking soda with |
| of your growing environment in cubic feet and the | | | | vinegar will result in active release of CO2. |
| flow velocity in your bottled CO2 systemin cubic feet | | | | |