Every recipe has a secret ingredient that is essential to the outcome of a dish. The same can be said for that of indoor hydroponic growing. If you already have an indoor grow room you know how important it is to have every aspect of the grow in proper balance. In the latest edition of Maximum Yield, it discussed how carbon dioxide (CO2) is that secret ingredient when growing hydroponically.
Without taking water into consideration, plants are comprised of mostly carbon and oxygen, which comes, mainly, from the CO2 in the air. CO2 is an essential element of the photosynthesis process, without CO2 the plant would not be able to grow to its full potential. As the concentrations of CO2 increases in your grow room, the photosynthesis process is increased and therefore your plant will grow much bigger. However, there is a point of diminishing returns.
A plant ideally requires a CO2 level of 700 parts per million (ppm) and 1000ppm during the light period and around 400 ppm in the dark period. You want more CO2 in the air during the light period because that is when the photosynthesis process occurs. CO2 isn’t the only factor in your grow that is important to the end results. It is important to master the basic needs of your plants and then start enriching your indoor grow environment with CO2. CO2 alone will not have a significant impact on yields and flower quality if all the other factors are properly maintained.
