Technology and Equipment, Page 7

“Mammoth” grow tents from a traditional manufacturer from the Netherlands have enjoyed long-term popularity among both advanced and beginner indoor growers. And because we are receiving a growing number of questions here about the advantages of high tents (HC) and the new versions of grow boxes marked with a plus sign, we are dedicating this article to them.

So first, let us introduce the new + range and the main advantages of the models marked in this way. All the original Mammoth ranges have received an upgrade, namely the cheapest Lite, the best-selling Classic, and above all the PRO – a refined range not only for professionals. The only exception is the Elite range, and the reason is very straightforward. It is difficult to find anything there that would need upgrading. Only the height, but we will come to that later.

This is what the absolute bestseller of the Mammoth brand looks like in a new guise. Its price will pleasantly surprise you!

The new + range, as we can illustrate for example on the best-selling Classic+ 60 shown in the picture, brings indoor growers several substantial improvements. And let us be honest, the best thing about it is that the difference in price is unbelievably minimal!

In terms of construction, the new grow tent model has been given, in addition to a new design, sturdy, 19 mm thick poles. In the case of the Lite+ range, their thickness is 16 mm, and in the Pro+ range it is 22 mm. Entry into the tent is easier than ever before. You can clean the outer shell just as easily from the outside as from the inside. 

At first glance, you will also notice a change in the reflective material on your plants. The same tents with a plus sign will also send your yields into the plus, because the grow boxes from the + range use more effective and 100% light-tight MYLAR material with high reflectivity. Specifically, the new Lite+ range has 170D MYLAR inner reflective material, while the Classic+ and Pro+ ranges are equipped with 600D MYLAR.

More demanding growers appreciate the number of extra hooks and other construction features, including pre-prepared openings for extraction, cabling or irrigation, which have been added to the new Mammoth Pro+ grow boxes.

HC as a lot of extra centimetres for the natural growth of your plants

The advantages of taller grow tents marked HC apply to the improved Pro range and the Elite range. The difference in height is not so great that you would have to worry about whether you have a sufficiently high ceiling at home, but the extra centimetres allow plants of all kinds a more natural development, and in the comfort of your home you can also grow taller species in the grow box. Specifically, the models from the Pro+ HC series have a height of 225 cm, and with the exception of the Elite Micro HC, all grow tents from the Elite HC series are 240 cm high!

With modular grow boxes, it does not matter how big your plans are. Grow indoors without limits!

These professional grow boxes, measuring 2.4 m in height, offer commercial growers unlimited possibilities in indoor cultivation, across cultivation methods. They are modular. What does that mean? By using special zips, you can create, for example, a growing labyrinth or a small town. No, seriously, this variability brings an undeniable advantage in large-scale cultivation through the use of individual areas for different applications.

Every Mammoth grow box has for many years been synonymous with long service life and high yields. But not only our experts agree unequivocally that the Dutch brand has decided to please growers and, without any obvious price increase, has brought them to perfection, whether we are talking about all the advantages of the + range or the 25 or 40 cm difference in the height of the structure.

We also want to please you, so the exceptional “Mammoth” tents are available exclusively at Higarden.cz at an exceptional price. We will be happy to advise you which piece will be just right for your plans. Call or write to the well-known address info@higarden.eu.

We recommend these products:

• Mammoth Classic+ 60 (2,299 Kč) - the “Mammoth” bestseller, offering the perfect balance of price and quality! 
• Basic 250W set with odour filter (6,790 Kč) - includes the grow box mentioned above grow box already with all accessories important for successful plant cultivation in the comfort of your home. All you need to do is start!
• Mammoth Pro+ HC 120 (5,990 Kč) - a large professional grow box that will last you for years!

What to read next?

• Long-awaited new products: LED ZEUS PRO 2.9 and LED ATS PRO
• Fertilisers A+B, or why is it not in one bottle?
• Reverse osmosis (RO)

If you do not underestimate the choice of a high-quality electronic ballast, the efficiency of your indoor growing activities will increase rapidly. Read why.

• First of all, you have the option of getting for your grow box such an indispensable partner for discharge lamps, which will work perfectly with both 240 V and 400 V lamps. 
• And it is precisely this digital ballast from the prestigious British brand Lumatek that has the key advantage of being able to detect the given lamp itself, after which it supplies it with electric current at the appropriate voltage.
• When it is supplied with current at a voltage of 400 V, the operating frequency of the lamp is 120 kHz. But if the voltage is only 240 V, the frequency drops to 90 kHz. These figures lead to one important conclusion, namely that discharge lamp achieves up to a quarter higher luminous intensity when supplied with a voltage of 400 V!

• Another reason to get the electronic ballast Lumatek Ultimate Pro 600 W is the unique CONTROL TECHNOLOGY, which gives growers the option to regulate the output of the light source easily.
• The feature in the form of the above-mentioned Control function also allows growers advanced functions, especially convenient lighting timing and simulation of sunrise or sunset (digital dimming 1%).
• Thanks to the fact that these ballasts excel at compensating for fluctuating voltage, they also contribute to a significant extension of the lifespan of every discharge lamp.
• Among the advantages of this device is, last but not least, reliability and long service life. Over time, there is no risk of overheating or gradual loss of performance. 
• It is no coincidence that the manufacturer provides a 5-year warranty on it! And in addition, as you are used to with us, you also have an above-standard 30-day money-back guarantee for a worry-free purchase. But we dare say that you will be so satisfied with this upgrade to your grow room that both guarantees will serve purely as a tool for stress-free purchasing.

Whether you were immediately interested in our tip for an electronic ballast with advanced functions, or you would like to compare it with other models, do not hesitate to ask us anything at the well-known e-mail address info@higarden.eu. We look forward to your questions!

We also recommend these products: 

• LUMii Black Digital Kit 600W KIT (2 990 Kč)
• PRIMA KLIMA fan 400 m3/h, 125 mm, with thermal regulation (3 299 Kč)
• Lumatek ZEUS 600 W PRO 2.9 (24 990 Kč)

What to read next? 

• Comparison of top LED lights from Lumatek: ZEUS PRO vs. ZEUS PRO 2.9
• Stylish HOMEbox Ambient grow tents combine the pleasant with the useful
• How powerful a discharge lamp should you choose?

The British brand Lumatek has long been one of the pioneers and leaders in the field of artificial lighting for indoor plant cultivation. And very soon we will expand our range with hot new products, following on from the success of the ATTIS and ZEUS product lines. That is why now is the right time to tell you more about them!

If you have decided to prefer full-spectrum LED lamps over classic discharge lamps, then you are on the best path to phenomenal results in your indoor gardening. After all, we recently wrote about the differences between HPS and LED lighting for plants in a separate article, which is just as relevant today. We also believe that today’s topic will be useful if you are planning to upgrade or expand your growing equipment. We are talking about LED technologies for the cultivation of all kinds of plants, which are clearly ahead on a global scale, and therefore represent an investment with a significant return for every passionate grower.

If you are among those who like to stay ahead, you can already pre-order the new products from Lumatek from us at an exclusive price. Let us introduce them now! 

ZEUS 2.9

The series of top-class LED fixtures with a higher specification, designated 2.9 in the sign of exceptional lighting efficiency, namely 2.9 µmol/J, has its flagship in the model you can see in the image above - Lumatek ZEUS 1000W EXTREME. As the name suggests, the most anticipated, most advanced, in short the best grow LED lamp we believe has ever been made breaks the current limits of what output this full-spectrum lighting can deliver, with a lifespan of more than 60,000 hours of lighting! The refined design also allows, among other things, efficient carbon dioxide supplementation for even higher yields. 

Another new product this year is the improved versions of the popular 465W Compact PRO and 600W PRO models in the form of these products: Lumatek ZEUS 600W PRO 2.9 and Lumatek ZEUS 465W PRO 2.9. The photograph below illustrates the higher version with a photon flux of PPF 1770 µmol/s and an efficiency of 2.9 µmol/J. An unrivalled offer, complemented by real results in growing rooms. 

So how can the new ZEUS range generally be defined? 

• Very high efficiency of 2.9 µmol/J and PPF output for intense radiation with an even more balanced spectrum 
• World-class Lumatek LED driver 
• New Clear Glue protective cover technology for LED bars 
• More efficient and more durable solution for the top bin of LEDs
• External control via Lumatek Control Panel 2.0
• Replaceable Pro 2.9 magnetic light bars with protection
• User-friendly control and easy Plug & Play installation
• Removable remote control
• 5-year warranty! 

These LED fixtures will be hard to compete with on the market, and if you have at least a medium-sized or even significantly larger grow box, you will certainly find their purchase worthwhile.  

ATTIS PRO

The proven ATTIS series LED fixtures, ideal as the main source of lighting for smaller growing boxes, once again offer a choice of two wattages in the brand-new PRO series: ATTIS 200W PRO and ATTIS 300W PRO. The higher version, with a photon flux of PPF 816 µmol/s and an efficiency of 2.7 µmol/J, is again illustrated by the photograph below. The new range is characterised especially by a higher specification of white, red and far-red LEDs.

In our opinion, full-spectrum LED plant lighting has been perfected in the PRO series. The light spectrum is even more balanced, the light spread even more uniform, and thanks to the timeless design, which is also exceptionally functional because it contains no moving parts or fan, both the 200W and 300W units are designed for reliable and quiet operation for many years.

Let us summarise their main features briefly: 

• Best price / µmol ratio on the market! 
• High real efficiency, no figures pulled out of thin air, as is common with copies from various brands, with honourable exceptions Lumen King
• Balanced full spectrum and fully dimmable LEDs 
• Improved light spread and uniformity 
• Compact design ideal for confined spaces
• Very high PPF output at high radiation intensity
• More efficient and more durable top-bin LEDs
• New Clear Glue protective cover technology on LED bars
• World-class Lumatek LED driver
• External control via Lumatek Control Panel Plus 2.0
• Easy Plug & Play installation
• IP65 protection 

We recommend these products: 

• Lumatek ZEUS 1000W EXTREME PPFD CO - LEDs for the most demanding users, you will not find better. And not at a better price either!  
• Lumatek ZEUS 600W PRO 2.9 - higher version for higher yields in medium or larger growing boxes. 
• Lumatek ATS300W PRO - the best LED fixture for smaller grow boxes, equipped with a higher specification of chips of the latest generation. 
• TLED VF - fluorescent tubes for supplementary lighting of plants in their immediate vicinity, suitable for example in the corners of a tent, where they illuminate places that the top light cannot reach. 
• LED Set 200W Attis MASTER - growing set suitable for anyone who wants an excellent harvest in the comfort of home, at a favourable price. The complete set already contains everything needed, just start! 

What to read next: 

• Growing under artificial lighting: HPS vs. LED 
• Grow box in a block of flats 
• Plant cultivation and carbon dioxide. How and why to use it? 

We cannot wait to add these LED growing gems to our range. We have no doubt they will fly off the shelves, and we believe the reasons are clear after reading this article. If you are choosing lighting for your grow box, we will be happy to provide you with even more information at the well-known address info@higarden.eu, or take a look directly at the details of the individual LED fixtures from Lumatek.

Are you choosing ventilation equipment for a grow tent and wondering how powerful a fan will be just right for you? Today’s article will help you resolve this dilemma!

You probably already know that the presence of fresh air in any grow tent or room plays a key role in indoor gardening. Without a sufficient supply of oxygen and carbon dioxide, plants cannot develop healthily.

While in one of our next articles we will take a closer look at individual types of fans, for now our main concern is how powerful ventilation is appropriate with regard to individual growing plans and needs. It should unquestionably be an investment that pays off in the near future. If we look at the required fan output in relation to the output of artificial lighting, you may be pleased to know that there is a simple and proven conversion:

• 1 W of light source output = 1 m3/h fan output (i.e. air flow capacity per hour).
• In the past, high-pressure discharge lamps were especially popular, but these are now increasingly being replaced by modern LED luminaires, which, among other advantages, also have much lower heat emission and therefore you do not need such powerful ventilation.
• In the case of discharge lamps, such a conversion looks as follows: 400W discharge lamp requires an extract fan with an air flow capacity of at least 400 m3/h. To prevent negative pressure in the growing space, the extract fan needs to be supplemented with an intake VKO fan and, if greater output is needed, a TT fan. (If you need truly exceptionally high output, do not hesitate to contact us so that we can help you choose a fan with sufficient air draw.)
• The calculation method above for the required output of your new ventilation also takes into account the efficiency of the carbon filter and the presence of ducting up to 5 metres long.

Our TIP: With LED technology in the Lumatek ZEUS 600W PRO 2.9 luminaire (pictured on the left), you have a guarantee of the best price-to-performance ratio on the market and, moreover, you do not need such a powerful fan as when growing under artificial light from a discharge lamp, because despite the high light intensity these modern luminaires emit much less heat.

As we have already indicated, discharge lamps are now making way in the market for significantly more advantageous sources of artificial lighting with LED technology. It is precisely when you use LED lighting as the source of artificial light in your grow box or indoor growing room, or alternatively CFL energy-saving lamps, that you will use a different way to identify the optimal fan strength. And this method is also useful if you use air-cooled reflectors in combination with discharge lamps.

• Add up the total air volume in the grow tent or growing room and multiply it by 40 for the extract fan. For an intake fan of the TT or VKO type, half the output is more than sufficient.
• Examples are useful, so if you have, for example, a grow box Mammoth Pro+ 120 with a volume of 2.88 m3, the minimum output for the extract fan will be calculated as 2.88 x 40.

Now you know that there is a fairly simple answer to the question “How do you calculate ventilation power?” But as they say, it is better to be safe than sorry, so you cannot go wrong by writing to us at the well-known e-mail address info@higarden.eu. We will be happy to advise you on everything related to ventilation equipment for indoor gardening. We look forward to your questions!

We also recommend these products: 

• Lumatek ATS 300W PRO 2.7 (ATTIS) 
• PRIMA KLIMA fan 400 m3/h, 125 mm, with thermal regulation 
• Garden Highpro VKO 100, axial fan

What to read next? 

• Long-awaited new arrivals: LED ZEUS PRO 2.9 and LED ATS PRO
• WHISPERBLOWER: professional fans with unrivalled efficiency
• SHOGUN: the best British fertilisers with an emphasis on research

It is no longer T-shirt weather outside, which is also reflected in the colder air inside the house. During the cold months, it is necessary to maintain the optimal air temperature inside the greenhouse or growbox, among other reasons, so that you can prevent the occurrence of mould or other plant diseases. We will also advise you on what to use to heat water or irrigation solution in the tank.

• The magic of indoor gardening lies, among other things, in the fact that as a grower you can enjoy just as abundant a harvest in the middle of winter as in the middle of summer, in spring or in autumn. You only need to effectively balance the temperature difference.
• Prepare for temperature drops and prevent extra low temperatures and frosts, which arrive with the night not only in winter but also in early spring or later in autumn.
• The various types of heating units we will now show you will allow you to maintain a stable growing environment for your plants.
• Another important aspect of using the right heating is the possibility to prevent mould growth, which often appears in the cold months as a result of humidity and water condensation when growing indoors.

LightHouse Heating

• Growing in a greenhouse? LightHouse ECOHEAT has long been our best-selling greenhouse heater. Growers and gardeners among our customers buy all the available variants, which differ mainly in wattage: 240W, 135W, 80W and 45W. In the description of the specific variant, you will find out how large an area the unit can realistically cover.
• This popular greenhouse version of tubular heating is characterised by very economical operation.
• In practice, you will also appreciate the installation flexibility of these heating units, as they are designed for easy mounting wherever it suits you best (wall, floor, etc.).
• The LightHouse brand will also please you if you need a powerful direct heater in a greenhouse or grow room.

• The robust heater marked Greenhouse 3kW has an integrated fan, which efficiently distributes the warm air generated by a pair of heating elements throughout the space. This modern heater is equipped with a thermostat and allows growers to set different power configurations. And once the hot summer arrives, you simply switch the heater off, instantly turning a powerful direct heater into a powerful circulation fan. Handy, isn’t it?
• If the Greenhouse direct heater has caught your interest, but you need a lower output, the very similar parameters, including the option of control via a wireless thermostat, are also offered by Greenhouse 2000W.
• LightHouse also manufactures oil radiators with an adjustable thermostat and overheating protection. Even better service is provided by oil-free radiators. Thanks to the practical thermostat, the temperature will never fall below the level that is critical for plants at a given stage of the growing cycle. The modern and discreet design also invites occasional use anywhere in the home.

Boyu Heating

If you are wondering what to use to heat water or nutrient solution in a tank, you no longer need to.

• The tank heater from the proven Boyu brand will serve you perfectly.
• In addition to a water tank or nutrient solution reservoir, it is also widely used as an aquarium heater.
• Choose the wattage based on the volume of the tank you use: 100W, 200W or 300W.
• You can safely submerge the Boyu tank heater completely in water and secure it thanks to the practical clips.
• With the built-in temperature controller, setting the required temperature is easy.
• The illuminated indicator light will then reassure you that everything is working as it should and that the water from the tank or the nutrient solution from the reservoir will please your plants without them suffering temperature shock.

If you have any questions about heating, please do not hesitate to send them to the well-known address info@higarden.eu. We will be happy to advise you!

We also recommend these products: 

• Hutermann HD-250 air dehumidifier (1,499 Kč)
• TF420 - infrared heater 1200W, IPX4 (1,390 Kč)
• Mobile air conditioner, heater - heat pump and dehumidifier AC9000H (12,990 Kč)

What to read next? 

• Dutch Mammoth in a new coat: taller and better!
• PRO-ECO VF carbon filters for reliable neutralisation of unwanted odours
• Stylish HOMEbox Ambient grow tents combine the pleasant with the useful

Systems. The magic word of modern and efficient gardening. Automatic growing systems take care of regular irrigation, and sophisticated control units ensure the optimal climate and lighting for plants in day or night mode. This applies even in your absence, so if indoor growing has caught your interest and will not let go, why not do it systematically like a true professional? You will enjoy higher yields, and you can use the time or energy saved as you wish!

It is tempting and easy to forget manual routines and hand watering! But when, a few years ago, you wanted to buy a system for indoor growing of vegetables, fruit or herbs, the only solution was to spend a lot of money. Today, the market offers a more or less advanced range of self-watering systems and control units, which is fortunately so broad that both enthusiastic beginners and commercial gardeners can choose without any problem, so literally anyone can grow like a professional. This, after all, explains the enormous popularity currently enjoyed by various hydroponic and aeroponic systems.

Automatic solar irrigation also allows you to make outdoor growing much easier, whether it is watering your garden, a field bed, young trees in an orchard, or even the English lawn in front of the house.

Efficiency is what it is all about...

Before you start automating your current growing activities at home and take them to a professional level, or if you want to simplify the beginning straight away with some basic self-watering system, it is a good idea to clarify a few basic parameters first, much like when choosing a grow box. The main one is the scale of the planned harvest, which is usually what determines the level of investment in new equipment for the home grow room. This, of course, is closely related to the size of the growing area you have available. After that, it mainly depends on your budget.

A great harvest as standard? Automation of the main and supporting growing processes allows you to optimise growing conditions perfectly. In addition, you save on water, energy and fertiliser consumption.

Thanks to a suitable investment in autonomous systems, you no longer need to worry unnecessarily about the correct timing and actual implementation of the following processes:

• Switching day / night mode based on the entered input parameters
• Automatic irrigation and monitoring the water level in the reservoir
• Humidity control
• Climate monitoring

Another difference lies in whether you want to have only selected functions, or all of them, within indoor growing processes without worries, because in such cases every grower will find a universal automatic control unit useful, such as the GSE Smart Grow Controller, which has a higher purchase price, but in return you get a fully fledged alternative to a large number of similarly expensive devices. The unit ensures everything from switching on lights, through regulating fans or humidifiers depending on the microclimate, to dosing carbon dioxide.

Less is sometimes more

If you were to take away just one piece of information from this text, keep in mind that plants of all kinds generally benefit from a lower dose and intensity of watering, but they welcome the highest possible watering frequency. That is precisely why automatic irrigation always brings a far better harvest than time-consuming and physically demanding hand watering! 

Now let us introduce the individual types and examples of automatic irrigation systems.

Hydroponic systems

A reliable passive type of irrigation that is easy to operate is represented by the growing systems AutoPot, which work well with all types of growing media.

Among growers of varying experience around the world, the hydroponic systems Atami Wilma are well known, and they are a convenient gateway to the world of the diverse possibilities that hydroponics brings to growers and will bring a joyful harvest even to complete beginners! Higher-end sets also cater to experienced or commercial growers. In the image you can see what one of the most sought-after models looks like – Atami WILMA Large.

In this type of drip irrigation, the nutrient solution travels through tubes to the top of the pots, where it is absorbed directly into the substrate and each plant then takes exactly as much as it needs. This applies to water with nutrients and oxygen. In addition, nothing goes to waste, because all the solution that is not absorbed is used later, which brings us back to one of the main reasons for buying an automatic system, namely efficiency. The timer accommodates the individual needs of each plant during feeding.

For the roots of large plants, or for cultivating a mother plant, the self-watering pots Flo Gro are ideal. Other types of hydroponic systems also include vertical NFT.

Aeroponic systems

We have saved the best for last! We mean automatic irrigation systems that do not need any substrate to function and will provide you with a truly dream harvest thanks to precise dosing of the solution with an ideal oxygen level. This assumption is based on the fact that the same technology is used, among others, by NASA in research into plant cultivation in space. A typical example is the Aeroflo 40 shown in the image.

We hope that this article has helped you form a clear idea of what automatic growing systems and control units can bring you. Do not forget proper care of hydroponic, or aeroponic, systems either, thanks to which they will function at 100% for a long time. Do not hesitate to ask us anything you are interested in on this topic. We will be happy to answer your questions at the well-known e-mail address info@higarden.eu.

- Hydroponic systems
- AutoPot
- Atami Wilma
- Self-watering pots Flo Gro
- Aeroponic systems

Autumn is already drawing irreversibly to a close, and the days will continue to get shorter. Help your plants survive this period without harm. We have tips for products that may come in handy at this time of year.

Supplementary heating
To ensure our plants do not suffer, it is a good idea to provide them with supplementary heating during the winter months; some would not even survive the winter without it. The tubular heating elements Urban Heater provide a stable environment during sudden fluctuations or low night-time temperatures. They are suitable, for example, for greenhouses, propagators or tents. They are perfectly resistant to splashes from sprayers or humidity.



LightHouse Greenhouse fan heater is an electric heater with a built-in fan, which is very easy to operate. The heater contains two heating elements and its own thermostat with three heating modes. It is an excellent helper in the winter months for efficiently increasing temperatures in larger spaces.



A thermostat is also an excellent helper for supplementary heating, as it prevents temperature fluctuations and thus damage to your flowers. Browse the thermostats in our range.

Supplementary lighting
Shorter and shorter days call for support for flowers; give your plants a longer day and more light, and they will reward you generously.

The first tip is TLED grow lightinggrowth TLED, which is designed for small growing spaces of around 0.8 m2. It can also be used as supplementary light where there is not enough from MH lamps. Thanks to its low heat output, it can be hung directly above plants without the risk of burning, and it is also energy efficient.

The practical LED 20 W lighting with a spectrum for growth and flowering consists of two separate LED strips with adjustable position, a timer and a switch between blue, red and combined spectrum. Its possible uses are truly wide. Thanks to the practical clip, it can be used above window boxes, in a propagator or directly above a standalone flowerpot.

The last selected light is GENT LED Photon 100W. This is very high-quality lighting with a spectrum for plants and vegetables. It offers excellent durability of up to 100,000 hours, which is up to 20 times more than HPS lamps. The light can also be controlled by a timer.

We will have these top-quality distribution boards and timers from Spain in stock very soon. Excellent quality and an unusually low rate of complaints – in short, direct competition for the popular GSE Timerboxes.  It is high time to introduce you to innovative products of Spanish origin, made with the precision of Swiss watches, so that you know what to look forward to!

The company Tempo Box, based in Murcia, Spain, has been active in the electronics market since 2009. Its pride and joy is a specialised department labelled R + D + I (research, development, innovation), which has been taking care of the continuous improvement of the entire range to the point of perfection since the company was founded.

• The exceptionally reliable Tempo Box products are designed directly for installations where time plays a crucial role. For success in indoor growing in a grow tent, these perfectly adjusted distribution boards with a timer, or timerboxes, are a huge benefit!
• Another factor that sets the sophisticated TEMPO BOX products apart from ordinary devices is the uncompromising quality department, which ensures that every product meets demanding tests for functionality, accuracy and quality before it leaves the factory hall.

These are the long-awaited Tempo Box products that will maximise the efficiency of your growing systems:

TBOX 1M

• The simplest device for easy control of growing accessories from Tempo Box.
• Reliable timers with a safe plug in Swiss standard quality allow automatic switching on and off of any electrical device at the required time.
• Programming them is literally intuitive.
• With these timers, you can control two lighting sources at once.

TBOX 4

• The high-quality distribution board is equipped with an analogue timer.
• This sophisticated device already allows growers to conveniently and with the precision of Swiss watches control even more extensive growing electronics, especially sources of artificial lighting, with the following output:
• 4 x 600 W or up to 4 x 630 W
• 6 x 400 W
• 8 x 315 W
• The reserve for timer operation in the event of a power cut is 48 hours.
• Installation of the Tempobox distribution board is quick and easy.

TBOX 4H and more

• This timerbox also has a black plug for auxiliary heating, located on the top of the device. The plug is activated as soon as the other plugs switch off, which allows the heater to continue maintaining the optimum room temperature.
• The H designation (from the English “heat”) defines, within the complete TEMPOBOX range, all timerboxes that have been improved in this way, including higher versions such as 6H, 8H or 12H.

It is clear that TBOX 6 and even higher versions differ mainly in how many and how powerful electronic devices they are able to control reliably. Below, we therefore provide a brief overview: 

• TBOX 6: 6 x 630 W, 6 x 600 W, 8 x 400 W or 12 x 315 W
• TBOX 8: 8 x 630 W, 8 x 600 W, 12 x 400 W or 16 x 315 W
• TBOX 12: 12 x 630 W, 12 x 600 W, 16 x 400 W or 20 x 315 W

Do not hesitate to ask us anything about the timerboxes of this brand. Just bear in mind that at the well-known e-mail address info@higarden.eu, in addition to further information, we will also pass on our enthusiasm, which is certainly in order in this case, because according to the first responses, TEMPOBOX makes the automation of growing processes and the control of grow lights noticeably more reliable and, as a result, more enjoyable!

We also recommend these products: 

• Lumatek ZEUS 600W PRO 2.9 (24,999 Kč)
• LUMii Black Digital Complete 600W KIT (2,990 Kč)
• LED Set 100W Viparspectra (7,990 Kč)

What to read next? 

• Comparison of the top LED lights from Lumatek: ZEUS PRO vs. ZEUS PRO 2.9
• Prima Klima CARBOCONE: innovative activated carbon filters
• Stylish HOMEbox Ambient grow tents combine the pleasant with the useful

That is the question we answer in this article! Optimising growing spaces and climate control using suitable devices is absolutely essential for plant health, as you may already know from growing practice or from our previous blog posts.

Proper humidity inside a growbox or growing room is especially crucial when cultivating indoor plants. It depends both on the type of plants being grown and on the current developmental stage they are in.

Our TIP: In addition to the progress of the growing cycle, growers also deal with humidity as part of proper harvest storage. In this case, alongside modern devices that maintain the required humidity in storage areas, it is also possible to use simple but perfectly functional Integra Boost sachets to maintain ideal humidity directly inside the storage container. (You can read about how to store the harvest properly in a separate article HERE.)

We will now look at the use of devices for easy and reliable climate control in any space, which we already mentioned in the heading.

Humidifiers

These devices require a power source and water to operate. Depending on how the water source is provided, we distinguish two types of humidifiers:

• Humidifiers with their own water source in the form of an integrated tank. An example is the best-selling ultrasonic humidifier HUMIPRO 4L. It is equipped with a clear LED panel and a double nozzle with 360° rotation. These humidifiers stand out for their simple operation and, last but not least, the option of output regulation, unlike the type of humidifiers mentioned below.
• Other humidifiers need water supplied externally, or rather a special head with a float must be immersed in it, which is either included in the package or can be purchased separately. A classic example is humidifiers that create the typical water mist, such as the Ultrasonic Mist Maker. These devices have a certain number of membranes, whose vibrations turn the water into mist. The output of these humidifiers depends precisely on the number of these membranes. For smaller growboxes and growing spaces, a humidifier with a single membrane will therefore be sufficient in practice, but there are also humidifiers with nine membranes for really large growing spaces.
• Unfortunately, there is no simple conversion from square metres of growing area to the number of membranes. There are other variables as well. It also depends on:
• The correct placement of the humidifier, meaning in the direction of airflow.
• The type and intensity of heating in the given room or grow box.
• The extract air, which also reduces humidity in the growing space.
• The placement of the grow box and the average ambient temperature.
• It should be added that occasional cleaning is sufficient; however, if you immerse Mistmakers in a sufficient amount of water, they allow almost continuous operation. That is a major advantage. The same applies to the blocking sensor for moments when the water in the tank runs out. The devices stop automatically and the membranes remain undamaged. The other side of the coin is the lack of output regulation, which means these devices always run at full power. 
• Cloning and cuttings: “Humidifiers” are widely used for successful rooting of young plants during the early developmental stages, when it is necessary to maintain a minimum humidity of 60% in the growing space.
• Houseplants: A classic example of when a quality humidifier is invaluable is also flats and apartments, which are often overheated by central heating, especially in the colder months.

Dehumidifiers

• You already know that in the case of young plants and clones, it is very important to maintain at least 60% humidity in the growing space. In later developmental stages, however, high humidity becomes harmful, and if plants are placed in a humid environment, for example in a later flowering stage, you risk the presence of mould. And fruit mould is the last thing you want to deal with in the late flowering stage.
• When it comes to the final quality of the harvest during drying, dehumidifiers again prove to be an irreplaceable helper, because you need to achieve the lowest possible humidity in the given room, and even increasing the fan speed to maximum is often not enough.
• An example of a practical dehumidifier that does not take up unnecessary space even in a grow box is the Hutermann HD-250 or its more powerful counterpart, the Hutermann HD-500.
• These devices stand out for their very economical operation, for which you no longer need any additional preparations.
• They work on the principle of drawing in moisture and then condensing it, with the water collecting in an integrated removable tank. Once the container is full, the device switches off automatically.

Our specialists will be happy to advise you on climate control, and especially on the long-term maintenance of optimal climate conditions not only in growing spaces. Please direct your questions to the well-known e-mail address info@higarden.eu. 

We also recommend these products: 

• Ultrasonic humidifier RAM 5L (1,299 Kč)
• Hutermann HD-500 air dehumidifier (1,999 Kč)
• Ultrasonic Mist Maker M12 humidifier (7,490 Kč)

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• Comparison of top LED lights from Lumatek: ZEUS PRO vs. ZEUS PRO 2.9

The leader in the development and manufacture of grow LED lights, the renowned British brand Lumatek, recently enriched the market with hot new products for 2021 in the form of full-spectrum luminaires. Today we will focus on the differences within the unrivalled ZEUS range. Many customers had already sworn by the original version.

With the arrival of the brand-new ZEUS 600W PRO 2.9, many growers are asking us how the new product differs from the previous version (2.7). So what is new, and what is the difference? Is it worth paying a little extra for the additional output, and does it pay to upgrade the original version?

• The design and main parameters remain the same as in the previous version. After all, they are already quite unique compared with competing products.
• If we had to describe the main difference between the above models in one word, it would be a four-letter word: BARS. The manufacturer devoted considerable effort to developing each LED bar so as to maximise its efficiency, which it achieved mainly thanks to the following two changes:
• The protective cover from the original model has been replaced by CLEAR GLUE protective technology. In the new product, the original cover is therefore replaced by a special protective silicone coating, ensuring safety when conducting electric current as well as a significantly more efficient way of transmitting light with lower thermal emissions.
• Lumatek increased the electrical efficiency of the PCB (printed circuit board, a basic component of electronics) by using higher-quality LED diodes, which are unmatched on the grow light market in this price category. The new diodes are characterised by overall higher efficiency and even better colour rendering, among other things thanks to a proportionally larger share of red light. Thanks to these red diodes, with higher electrical and photon flux efficiency than white diodes with “full spectrum” commonly achieve, the manufacturer was able to increase the overall efficiency to 2.9 μmol/s/J, while remaining within the appropriate wavelength range necessary to ensure effective photosynthesis and healthy growth.

• For experts, we have the so-called PAR maps (see below) directly from the manufacturer, providing a fairly accurate visual comparison of both versions of these exceptional LED lights. The maps for both lights are based on the same growing environment (1.2 m mylar reflective grow boxes at full power and suspended 18 inches from the black grid).

• In short, the difference in PPF (total light output) between the two models is around 10% in favour of the new 2.9 version. 
• It is also worth noting here that independent tests by growers from around the world confirm the values declared by the manufacturer. Lumatek is truly one of the honourable exceptions in this respect, and the values listed for its products do not resemble election promises by politicians, unlike those of some other manufacturers. For this honesty, combined with its technological lead, it is always our number one choice when it comes to selecting grow LED lights.

Is it worth paying extra for the additional output of an LED lamp?

• If you are looking for a large, ultra-efficient light (by which we mean a genuine 2.9 micromoles per joule) at a reasonable price, then you simply will not find a more advantageous device than the ZEUS 600W PRO 2.9.
• If you need to achieve this level of efficiency with a higher-power LED luminaire and equivalent total light output, it will also depend on the current ambient temperature, air exchange capacity, electricity costs per kWh and, last but not least, whether you view it from the perspective of the return on the entire investment.
• For owners of the 2.7, who were initially attracted by the high efficiency and feel that they are already maximising the use of these values, the extra photons will certainly come in handy.
• In terms of value for money, it is enough to look at the difference between the price and the PPF in these luminaires.
• There is no straightforward answer to whether it is worth upgrading from 2.7 to 2.9, but it can be easily determined. You only need to realise how much you are using the potential of one or more of your current 2.7 luminaires. For existing owners of the ZEUS 600W PRO 2.7, the extra yield, expressed as approximately a 10% increase in light from the improved luminaires, is only worthwhile if their current light is already maximised. That means you are already using the full potential of the 2.7, but you would still benefit from even greater output.

In any case, and per watt, the new LED lamp ZEUS 600W PRO 2.9 produces approximately 10% more light than the previous version, that is simply an undeniable fact. Now it only depends on how appealing this is to you personally, so that you can achieve higher yields and better harvest quality. The robust new product also has a clearly better construction, including a more efficient and more durable solution for the top LED array. The removable remote control is also a welcome feature. If you would like to ask us anything, we are here for you at the well-known address info@higarden.eu.

We also recommend these products: 

• BioNova Starter pack AutoFlower Supermix (1,990 CZK): a comprehensive and discounted nutrition set of basic fertilisers for cultivating autoflowering plant varieties (autoflower).
• LED lighting for grow boxes from Lumatek (from 6,990 CZK): the best investment in lighting for your new grow box.
• Prima Klima carbon filters (from 949 CZK): uncompromising quality and a great price.

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