Grow Room CO2 Enrichment 101

Serious growers are always looking for ways to improve their yields. Many have tested and experienced solid results with CO2 enrichment. CO2 is short for carbon dioxide, a chemical compound made of one carbon and two oxygen atoms and naturally occurring part of the air on Earth. All plants use CO2 gas during photosynthesis to produce energy. When adding grow room CO2, plants can grow faster, tolerate warmer temperatures and potentially produce bigger yields. Read below for information about how to manage a CO2 enrichment system for your crops, plus a link to one CO2 grow room calculator example. Already use CO2 and want to participate in a CO2 questionnaire? Follow the link!

What is CO2 Enrichment?

Having an enhanced CO2 grow room is a popular way to further plants’ potential. This endeavor requires serious focus, however, and must be constantly monitored. Casual cultivators, be warned. This is especially true for those growing in a living space, as high levels of CO2 can be deadly to humans and pets. Because of this, any CO2 grow room setup must include a danger alert system, which emits immediate notifications if levels exceed safety limits. This is an essential feature, as controlling CO2 levels can be difficult. It is also important to note CO2 enrichment is not necessarily practical or economical for small grow spaces. Medium and large grow rooms primarily benefit from this type of boost.

When is Grow Room CO2 Most Helpful?

A CO2 enrichment system is most effective during the vegetative and early flowering stages of growth. During this time, the plants are actively producing new branches and leaves, needing as much CO2 as possible for this process. Therefore, by increasing CO2 levels, greater production is possible. 

There is also research linking the increased yields of a CO2 grow room with LED lights. As plants go through their production cycle, increasing light intensity promotes higher rates of photosynthesis, which goes hand-in-hand with increased CO2 levels, cycling back to more enhanced photosynthesis. Temperature is also connected to this process, as stronger lights, such as those promoting good PPFD rating. High CO2 strength must be paired with higher temperatures to balance transpiration rates.

Creating Your CO2 Grow Room Setup

Using CO2 for growing is typically done by installing low-pressure bulk CO2 tanks inside or outside the building. These tanks range from 20- or 50-pound high pressure cylinders to 300-pound micro bulk tanks to 50-ton stand tanks. These are often plumbed directly into the grow rooms and circulated with fans. Regulation is essential and installation must be the same day as tank installation. Further, some areas legally require the use of CO2,or carbon dioxide, monitors. Check local regulations. Do not confuse this device with a CO, or carbon monoxide, monitor.

Share your Knowledge About Growing with a CO2 Enrichment System

For those who already use CO2 for controlled environment cannabis agriculture, Urban Ag News has a questionnaire for you. As elevated CO2 concentrations are proven to improve yields in (Controlled Environment Agriculture) CEA facilities, the challenge most facilities face is that the sources of CO2 are limited and potentially costly. Compressed and liquefied gases are vital to contemporary crop growing, including cannabis cultivation, a nearly $34bn industry in the US. Hort Americas is evaluating opportunities to develop renewable and competitive supplies of bulk CO2 for agriculture use by aiming to understand the current actual and potential demand for CO2 from commercial cannabis producers. Read more here.

Try this CO2 Grow Room Calculator

Looking for a helpful tool? The internet has many CO2 grow room calculators that can assist you in determining how to construct your CO2 grow room. Remember, however, that this information is not infallible, and an alarm system is the best way to ensure safety. 

When searching for calculators, the more input needed, the better. For example, this calculator asks for grow room dimensions, CO₂ level and tank info, while providing notes about optimal levels of grow room CO2. Best to try out at least three calculators before settling on an answer. Generally speaking, computing the amount of CO2 needed to raise levels to 1,000ppm is: width x length x height x desired CO2 level, in parts per million.

Learn More About CO2  Grow Room Enrichment at CannaCon! 

Not sure about how to approach an effective CO2 grow room setup? Want to get the best prices and information before committing? Attend CannaCon, the nation’s leading business-to-business cannabis conference. Their goal is to grow the cannabis industry by educating cannabis business owners on all things related to cannabis and CBD. Their trade shows feature a large exhibition hall with exhibitors from around the country as well as seminars delivered by industry experts. Chat with experts, vendors, and those experienced with CO2 to glean all the info you need! Add CannaCon to your 2025 calendar today!

This article was originally posted on August 16, 2018 and updated on December 20, 2024.