| HOW TO USE CO2 IN PLANT GROWTH | | | | In the natural environment, plants usually use about |
| Carbon dioxide or CO2 is the essential gas for | | | | 300-600 ppm (parts per million) of carbon dioxide, |
| supporting plant life. It is a colorless, odorless gas, | | | | which is available in the atmosphere. However, plants |
| found in small quantities in the air. | | | | can handle significantly larger amounts of CO2. With |
| In order to make the most of indoor gardening, it is | | | | 1500 ppm of CO2 consumed, plants can grow twice |
| necessary to provide plants with all the constituents | | | | as fast as they grow under the normal conditions. |
| of the above mentioned process: light, CO2, water | | | | However, in most cases about 40% - 50% of |
| and nutrients. If plants receive enough water, but | | | | growth increase is achieved. |
| have weak supply of nutrients or light, it won’t | | | | Ideally, CO2 should be maintained at steady level |
| work out. Injecting CO2 can offer great benefits, | | | | constantly. To reach this goal regular injections of |
| when performed by a skilled and experienced | | | | small amounts of gas are needed. However, it is not |
| gardener. However, the beginner may easily kill his | | | | always possible to perform such operations, since |
| plants by injecting CO2 in inappropriate manner. | | | | there is a requirement to ventilate the growing site |
| During the process of photosynthesis, plants absorb | | | | thoroughly right before the injection. |
| carbon dioxide from air and break it down into smaller | | | | The biggest catch about carbon dioxide injection is |
| compounds: oxygen and carbon. Some amount of | | | | not to exceed limits. Most of the plants will be |
| oxygen is used by a plant for its own needs, but the | | | | destroyed, when the CO2 levels reaches 2000 ppm. |
| major amount of it is sent back into the air. Carbon is | | | | Besides, such elevated levels of CO2 are also toxic |
| used by plants as the building material: first, under the | | | | for humans. That is why it is recommended to vent |
| influence of light, carbon mixes with water and forms | | | | the room before injecting CO2 in order to remove |
| a sugar molecule; then this sugar molecule is turned | | | | excess CO2 and prevent its accumulation. |
| into carbohydrates, which in combination with | | | | Usually, in order to increase CO2 levels special CO2 |
| nutrients are used to build new plant tissues. | | | | control devices (either bottled CO2 or CO2 |
| Several important pre-conditions should be created | | | | generators) are used in hydroponics systems. Both of |
| before using the increased CO2 levels. First of all, it is | | | | these methods provide automated way of delivering |
| necessary to provide a very bright grow lights for | | | | CO2 into the plant growing environment. It is |
| the plants (more than 20 watts per square foot). | | | | preferable to use CO2 monitors in order to keep |
| Otherwise, there will be little or no increase in plant | | | | tracking the exact CO2 levels in the growing |
| growing. It is also necessary to increase temperature | | | | environment and automatically add gas, when it is |
| slightly (about 3-5 degrees). Finally, do not forget to | | | | necessary. However, such devices can be pretty |
| supply plants with adequate amounts of water and | | | | expensive, so most people use more cost-effective |
| nutrients, since increased photosynthesis will require | | | | methods, for example, timers. |
| more resources. | | | | |