Best Small Grow Tent 2X2 or 3X3 Setup (Fan, Filter & Light) to Maximize Yield & Save Costs

Back when I lived in a small apartment, it was apparent I had to use a small grow tent to support my indoor gardening hobby.

I searched the market for a small grow tent that is cheap yet strong enough to last for years.

I’ve dreaded the idea of killing my plants due to factors I can’t control such as rain and the cold temperature outside. I definitely hated the possibility of insects pestering my growing plants.

I knew I had to buy a small grow tent to prevent such problems.

When I found the right 2×2 or 3×3 mini grow tent for me, I was able to sustain a growing area in my small space.

So to help you get started on your journey to indoor gardening, I will share the small grow tent that worked for me and other options I was able to explore.

I’ve tried a couple of small grow tents and found that the best one should have reflective material inside, thick fabric, durable zippers and vents, and a sturdy frame.

In addition, you can enhance the quality of a mini grow tent using perfect grow room accessories light, filter, and fan to maximize yield, which I will also reveal in this article.

As promised, here are our picks for the best 2×2 or 3×3 grow tents for 2023:

Best Small Grow Tent – Reviews & Buying guide for 2023

• VIVOSUN Mylar 3×3 Hydroponic Grow Tent
• CoolGrows 2×2 Small Indoor Grow Tent Room
• MELONFARM Mylar Waterproof Hydroponic Grow Tent 36″ x 20″ x 63″
• Gorilla Grow Tent GGTLL22 LTGGT22 2′ X 2.5′ X 5’7″

How Small Is A Small Grow Tent? 

Size varies because it could depend on how many plants you need to grow.

Commonly, small grow tents are 2×2, 2×4, 3×3, and 4×4 grow tent sizes.

Sometimes the space of your growing area is also a factor.

For example, it is ideal to grow a plant per square foot.

Usually, indoor gardeners put at least 2 inches between pots or containers to prevent the plants from suffocating.

Remember, the size of your grow tent should be small to fit anywhere in your grow space without cluttering your room too much.

You must also keep in mind that nutrients needed for growth, as well as sufficient light, water, and air, will be shared by the plants inside.

It also drives high germination rates because of its ability to control growing conditions. 

In this way, you can even put 2 to 3 propagators inside.​ Imagine a greenhouse, but relatively smaller and cheaper.

Number of Plants	Grow Tent Size
1 plant	1.3 x 1.3 grow tent
2 plants	2×2 grow tent
4 to 6 plants	2×4 or 3×3 grow tents
6 to 10 plants	3×4 grow tent
10 to 15 plants	4×4 grow ten
16 to 20 plants	5×5, 5×9, 8×8, or 10×10 grow tents

On the other hand, the Screen of Green Low-Stress Training method involves putting a screen that has multiple openings between the light source and the plant.

As a result, you are providing a horizontal space for your indoor plants to grow.

Usually, it takes about 0.25 plants per square foot.

Here’s A Practical Guideline For ScrOG LST

• 1 plant: 2×2 grow tent
• 2 plants: 2×4 grow tent
• 4 to 6 plants: 4×4 or 5×5 grow tents
• 7 to 10 plants: 4×8 or 5×9 grow tents
• 10 to 15 plants: 5×9 or 8×8 grow tents
• 16 to 20 plants: 8×8 or 10×10 grow tents

Would The Types And Size Of Containers Impact The Effectiveness Of My Small Grow Tent?

Certainly. We all know that the size of pots or grow bags will impact how big plants will grow.

Most small grow tents can support 19 to 39 pounds.

Consequently, the maximum number of plants that you can keep in a small grow tent is determined by how many containers you can physically fit in the growing space.

Expert gardeners traditionally use this cheat sheet:

• 12″: 2 to 3-gallon container
• 24″: 3 to 5-gallon container
• 36″: 5 to 7-gallon container
• 48″: 6 to 10-gallon container
• 60″: 8 to 10-gallon container

What Is The Purpose Of A Small Grow Tent?

Basically, a small grow tent is an enclosed self-surviving structure that allows gardeners to grow plants indoors.

A micro grow tent enables an indoor gardener to have total control over environmental factors such as light, humidity, and temperature, which are all essential to a plant’s development and yields.

Overall, a grow tent should be reflective, waterproof, light-proof, sturdy, and non-toxic. Also, it must be built with observation windows and multiple vents.

Seedling – A small grow tent is the perfect size to separate seedlings from mature plants.

2×2 grow tent

Cloning – It is easier to clone a mother plant than germinating seeds. In fact, it is the easiest way of propagating plants. 

However, this method still requires a 2×2 or 2×4 grow tent.

Vegging – A 3×3 grow tent with a 400-watt grow light can support 1-4 vegging plants.

Flowering – A 3×3 or 4×4 grow tent enables gardeners to adjust the lighting to initiate flowering.

You can even fit 4-6 full-sized plants as long as you have 400-watt to 600-watt grow lights.

How Many Plants Can You Keep In A Small Grow Tent?

Indoor growers can keep a lot of different plants in a small grow tent.

Likewise, any plant that can fit inside a mini grow tent and requires less space to develop can be grown inside.

It’s actually finding the right plant density that your mini grow tent can shelter. 

For example, one grow light can serve 1 to 8 growing plants.

Hence, too few or too many plants can possibly take longer than needed until you get your desired yields.

Five flowering plants can sometimes cram a 2×2 grow tent.

Depending on the size of your plants, a 2×2 grow tent can offer enough space for 4 vegging plants and a 300W LED full-spectrum light.

(Note: I’ll share the best LED full spectrum light I’ve discovered later in this post.) 

With the ample space of a 2×2 grow tent, you should be able to easily fit 4 in 2-gallon grow bags.

If you have a small square-based grow tent, 2 full-sized plants should be able to fully thrive whereas 3 mature plants can be kept in a small rectangular base.

For example, your 2×4 or 3×3 grow tent could have 1-4 plants but would require at least 250-watt to 400-watt grow lights.

On the other hand, a 4×4 tent can house up to four mature plants or 15 small-sized plants.

If you are using the Sea of Green Low-Stress Training system, you must provide sufficient light energy on the top layer of your indoor plants. 

Thus, it is advisable to follow a density of 1 plant per square foot. 

To guarantee your small-sized plants get the necessary nutrients, air, water, and light, you can follow this practical guideline for SOG LST method:

The Kinds Of Grow Lights You Should Use In A Small Grow Tent (2×2 Or 3×3)

When using a small grow tent, heat and UV rays needed for plant growth become scarce.

Thus, plant development becomes slower and often results in low yields.

A word of caution: your small grow tent will need more cooling if you are using a larger lamp.

For a small grow tent, it is recommendable to use a single lamp.

Moreover, there are 3 main kinds of indoor grow lights:

Fluorescents – Fluorescent grow lights produce a good light spectrum, can be used in a standard lighting socket, don’t use a lot of electricity, are inexpensive, and work well for well-trained plants. Unfortunately, they have a smaller yield per watt compared to LED and HID.

High-Intensity Discharge – HID grow lights are large and are normally used in conjunction with a reflector hood to direct light downward towards the plants. It can get very hot, which will make you use exhaust fans more often.

LED Grow Lights – LEDs produce less heat but are more energy efficient. Since your small grow tent has reflective material, the light and heat will be optimized. LED lights also have longer lifespans than HID and fluorescents.

As a solution, gardeners must use ​full spectrum LED  grow lights that can imitate the sun’s natural UV rays.

Despite using a small grow tent, you can get light and heat at any time of the day.

Likewise, you must know that the different colors found in LED full spectrum lights are beneficial to every growth stage.

• Blue lights = vegetative growth
• Red lights = budding and flowering
• Orange to white lights = fruiting 

Preferably, your grow lights must emit at least 50-75 watts per square foot. In my case, I tend to use 2 sets of grow lights. It’s also advisable not to grow more than 8 plants under a single full spectrum grow light.

To help you visualize what you truly need, the light footprint should be:

• 150 watts: 2 x 2 inch grow tent
• 250 watts: 2 x 2 inch grow tent up to 2.5 x 2.5 inch grow tent
• 400 watts: 3 x 3 inch grow tent up to 3.5 x 3.5 inch grow tent
• 600 watts: 3.5 x 3.5 inch grow tent up to 4 x 4 inch grow tent
• 1000 watts: 4 x 4 inch grow tent up to 5 x 5 inch grow tent

Best LED Grow Light For 2×2 Or 3×3 Grow Tent

I strongly recommend using VIPARSPECTRA grow light. For example, the UL Certified Reflector-Series 600W LED Grow Light Full Spectrum.

It was designed to create excellent heat dissipation, which is suitable for vegetative and bloom growth cycles inside a small grow tent.

Its optimal full spectrum provides plants with everything they desire in the natural sunlight, which is more important.

This model is 70% cooler than HID lights. It even has a daisy chain feature that allows me to hook together multiple grow lights in a small grow tent.

Furthermore, the VIPARSPECTRA V600 LED Grow Light has a vegetative coverage of 3×3 growing space and a flowering coverage of 2.5 x 2.5 grow tent.

It has a rated power of 600 watts using just 120 pieces of LED bulbs.

It can be operated for up to 100,000 hours, and even comes with a 3-year warranty.

The Right Carbon Filter I Can Use For My Small Grow Tent

Carbon filters work very well for air movement and keeping foul odor at bay.

In fact, a carbon filter is specifically designed to remove harmful gases and strong odors in a small grow tent.

Basically, carbon filters become more effective in filtering the air inside a small grow tent if they use more carbon.

The high-quality activated charcoal in a carbon filter removes the lousy odor from the air itself.

The outbound air from your small grow tent passes through a thick pad filled with activated charcoal or carbon.

This allows the carbon filter to use chemical absorption to remove the strong smell in the grow tent from the ventilated air.

The molecules carrying the odor are trapped inside the pores of the carbon molecules.

Carbon filters manufactured by Phresh Filters, IPower, and VIVOSUN have worked best for most small grow tents.

I also buy carbon filters that can cover 20% more than the CFM (cubic feet per minute) I actually need.

Your carbon filter should be able to cover the whole area of your small grow tent.

If you buy an expensive and high-quality carbon filter, it can normally run for up to two years.

To give you an idea, you must calculate the volume of your grow area first. You can get this by multiplying the length, width, and height.

Afterward, divide the volume by three. The result should then be the minimum advisable CFM for your space.

For example, a 4 x 4 x 6.5 grow tent = 104 cubic feet. It should have 104 CFM and a 4-inch carbon filter that is enough to clean odor in a small grow tent.

However, the carbon filter could reduce your fan’s ability to move the air by as much as 30%.

Hence, you must get a bigger fan in the small grow tent.

What Inline Extraction Fan Size Should I Put In My Grow Tent? 

Ventilation is crucial in a small grow tent, especially since it is an enclosed area.

Therefore, your small grow tent must have a system that can regulate the temperature and growing environment.

I use an oscillating fan in my small grow tent to blow air around the plants while an air excavator helps in blowing old air out of the grow tent.

Remember not to point the fan directly toward your plants because this can cause windburns.

Moreover, it’s best to use one fan for intake and another for exhaust.

In this way, you will be able to run a vent that can bring in fresher air instead of stale air.

Notice that there is a CFM rating when you buy a fan. It determines how much air it can move in a minute.

So, for you to identify the tent volume, multiply the 3 numbers of your small grow tent’s size.

Here’s a sample calculation:

2 x 2 x 4 = 16 cubic feet.Therefore, your 2 x 2 x 4 inch grow tent must have a fan of at least 16 FCM.​

Furthermore, There Are Three Types Of Fans

Centrifugal – The fans indoor growers should definitely use.

Centrifugal fans are designed for high pressure, like running through filters and ducting.

They can be quite expensive but will last longer than other types.​

Axial – Only meant for blowing air. Axial fans usually perform poorly and will eventually burn out. Based on experience, they aren’t meant for applications where there may be some resistance, such as the use of filters or ducting.

Mixflow – A combination of centrifugal and axial.Cheaper than a centrifugal fan so it could be an alternative.

Remember, you must get an inline fan if you are using a filter in a small grow tent.

Going back to our example, 16 cubic feet grow tent that has a carbon filter should now have a fan of at least 32 CFM.

In this manner, your grow tent should still get more than half of the CFM that your fan can produce.

Nonetheless, you must remain careful. There has to be fresh air coming in at the same rate that your fan is able to extract air at its rated CFM.

The actual CFM will be lower in a room with no matching fan to replenish the air. Similarly, the CFM will be determined by how fast the inlets let air in.

Some indoor growers do not like noisy fans. There are high CFM fans that come with a speed controller for a grow room, which quietens the fan.

Lastly, fans aren’t always necessary if your small grow tent has an active exhaust and passive intake.

This set-up will decrease the working efficiency of your fan, but it will still be able to constantly suck air in through the intake.

On the bright side, it will create a negative pressure environment, ensuring no smell comes out.

Are Small Grow Tents Smell Proof?

Since a grow tent is an enclosed space, it has the capacity to keep the smell inside too.

For instance, marijuana plants tend to emit a strong odor, but a grow tent will keep the aroma of the cannabis plant inside.

Odor-neutralizers, air purifiers, and gels can mask the bad smell, but quality carbon filters and the correct size fan can usually handle the smell even better.

How About Ducting In My Small Grow Tent? 

​Ducting is another vital component in terms of the air ventilation system in your small grow room.

Your ducting can serve as an intake and exhaust pipe while spreading heat in a steady state.

Hence, your small grow tent maintains the temperature while preventing fluctuations.

It should be made from high-quality aluminum to be able to resist corrosion, fire, and high temperature.

The ducting should cover the span of your required temperature.

The length and hose diameter span should depend on your requirements.

The Best Humidifier And Dehumidifier For My Small Grow Tent

As mentioned earlier, one of the advantages of using a small grow tent is being able to control temperature and humidity.

For indoor gardening, relative humidity is the key to ensuring your plants thrive well. Too high or too low humidity can harm your plants inside a small grow tent.

Let me remind you that different levels of humidity are needed in various stages of a plant’s life.

Generally, your plants must have 65% to 70% humidity to sustain growth.

Nevertheless, you must learn how to use a humidifier (or possibly a dehumidifier) to have better control of your plant’s environmental factors.

For instance, a humidifier increases moisture levels, thus creating clean air in a small grow tent.​

It can also prompt faster root development, and therefore increase plant yields.

Lastly, a humidifier minimizes the concentration of dust, bacteria, and other irritants.

On the other hand, a dehumidifier can overpower high levels of humidity that can cause mold, mildew, fungal growth, bud rot, and slow growth.

I strongly suggest buying a humidifier that has a one-gallon water tank capacity. As for the size, here are some basic calculations you can refer to:

• Small humidifier = 300 square feet
• Medium humidifier = 350-500 square feet
• Large humidifier = 550-1000 square feet

2 x 2 grow tent = five ounces of moisture per day

4 x 4 grow tent = 40% relative humidity

Meanwhile, a dehumidifier will make sure your small grow tent will not have too much moisture that can produce moisture-related problems.

As for the size, here are some basic calculations you can refer to:

• 2 x 2 grow tent = remove at least 4-6 ounces of humidity per day
• 4 x 4 grow tent = remove at least 250mL of moisture per day

Should I Use A Heater In My Small Grow Tent?

Case to case basis. A heater essentially heats up your grow tent when the temperature fluctuates too much.

If you have no vents, a heater is perfect for maintaining an optimal temperature of about 70-80 degrees Fahrenheit.​

Note that the temperature in a small grow tent should still depend on the growth stage of your plants.

• Vegetative – 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Flowering – 65 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Clones – 70 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit.

Typically, your small grow tent must have an average of 10 degrees of difference between daytime and nighttime growing temperature.

Unfortunately, it can possibly remove all humidity.

If possible, buy a heater that has an automatic shut-off feature for safety. Reminder, the heater shouldn’t be put inside your small grow tent.

For example, I use a small 1500-watt heater to cover 100 square feet of my growing area. Then I use a fan to circulate the air for more heat.

The Importance Of A Temperature Gauge, Indoor Thermometer, And Hygrometer For My Small Grow Tent

Using a small grow tent involves monitoring a lot of things, especially the temperature and humidity inside.

You must be able to set the temperature and humidity depending on the needs of your indoor plants.

Monitoring systems such as a hygrometer, thermometer, and temperature gauge can assist you.

Ideally, you must place your temperature gauge on the level of your plants inside the small grow tent.

The temperature at the leaf surface is more crucial than the air temperature.

You must not put the gauge directly under bright light. A grow tent can accumulate hot spots that are near fans and air vents.

But to make things less perplexing, you can position thermometers and hygrometers at high specific intervals in your small grow tent.

As a result, you get temperature and humidity readings at the canopy, base, and roots.

If you’re lucky, you can even score a hygro-thermometer.​

Conclusion

When buying a small grow tent, you must consider the different growth factors we’ve tackled above.

If you’re after a small grow tent that is cheap, waterproof, light-proof, durable, and easy to assemble, you absolutely must get the VIVOSUN 30 x 18 x 36 inches Mylar Hydroponic Grow Tent with Observation Window and Floor Tray for Indoor Plant Growing.

If you want the best 2×2 grow tent, look no further because CoolGrows 2x2x4 Feet Small Indoor Mylar Hydroponics Grow Tent is your best bet!

If you want a guaranteed 100% reflective material small grow tent, MELONFARM 36 “X20” X63” Mylar Waterproof Hydroponic Grow Tent with Removable Floor Tray for Indoor Seedling Plant Growing can be your best buddy.

If you want a reputable and trusted brand for small grow tents that even offer adjustable extension poles, you can never go wrong with the Gorilla Grow Tent GGTLL22 LTGGT22 Tent.

I had to do some trial and error to be able to share this detailed post with you.

So, do not be afraid to try. Remember my tips and the products I’ve discussed to help you decide and improve your indoor gardening productivity.​

Lastly, an efficient small grow tent setup doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to purchase expensive equipment.

All it takes is determining how well your chosen small grow tent matches your growth factors and the plants you are growing.