All growers want a heftier yield from their crops at some point during their careers. That's a no-brainer. For sure you'll want to incorporate, or at least experiment with CO2 regulators and see for yourself the benefits or the disadvantages. Probably that's why you're reading this here article. First off, you should be aware that there's a lot of junk info out there on the web regarding plant CO2 growing. Luckily one of our staffers experimented a bit and is sharing with you his discoveries:

The Basics

Plants breathe differently than terrestrial animals. While animals breathe in O2 and breathe out CO2, plants do the reverse. This is one of the most important factors why plant life is an essential part of the Earth's ecosystem. Without greens, CO2 levels would reach suffocating levels in an extremely short while. CO2 is used by plants for growth, because it's essential for photosynthesis, alongside light and water. Even though the current CO2 levels in the atmosphere are about 350 PPM, it seems that plants have maintained their ability to consume up to 1 500 PPM of CO2, as they did eons ago. Knowing this is extremely important because the assertion that plant growth could be sped up by increasing the CO2 intake is true.

How CO2 Effects Growth

Keep in mind that a quantity below 250 PPM of CO2 will harm your plants. Let's say you have six plants growing in your dressing and there is no artificial or natural ventilation provided. In this case, your plants will use all available CO2 in a few hours. When the CO2 supply is exhausted, the plants will stop growing. This is one of the reasons why you must provide ventilation and fresh air for your plants constantly. To provide a supplement of CO2 to your indoor farm you can use a CO2 regulator attached to a can of CO2 or a CO2 generator. These growing options will help your plants grow optimally. Researchers proved that an increase in growth rates by up to 20% and an up to 30% increase in size can be achieved by increasing and maintaining CO2 levels to over 1 200 PPM. Remember that levels above 1 500 PPM are toxic and it tends to have a very stringy growth.

Understanding CO2 Growth Technology

CO2 generators are specialized burners (they can be propane or natural gas-based). The byproducts of this process are CO2 and water (humidity). So it's good to keep an eye out on the humidity levels in your growth op. These generators are usually optimized to produce as little heat as possible and at the same time to produce as much CO2 as possible. Their capacity is rated in cubic feet per hour (CFH). A standard 10-by-10-by-8-foot room with a normal 350 PPM of CO2 density takes around one CFH to have its level raised to 1,500 PPM. Don't worry, the level drops throughout the day as the plants steadily metabolize CO2. To keep the levels constant smaller, controlled burns are required. A CO2 PPM regulator is perfect for keeping constant levels of CO2 inside the greenhouse throughout the day. You can get canned CO2 at most hydroponic stores. A safer bet would be to find one at a welding store. If you opt for this, you'll need a CO2 regulator to create a constant flow of CO2 out of the tank. All you have to do is set the desired flow rate (measured in CFH) and set the timer to up the CO2 levels to your desired level. You'll have to do some math to set your CO2 levels just right, or you could opt for a CO2 PPM controller to maintain the wanted levels. Here are some that our store offers: The Gro1 CO2 Regulator at $99.95 EZ CO2 Homegrown CO2 at $32.95