Having your own grow tent at home can be fun and rewarding. You can have your own small greenhouse and grow your own herbs and vegetables, or you could choose to grow some more exotic plants that otherwise wouldn’t thrive in your region.
Whatever the case may be, to successfully grow any kind of plant in a grow tent, you need to have the right equipment, particularly when it comes to controlling humidity. If humidity levels are too high in a grow tent, it will spell disaster for any crop you have inside.
The easiest way to control humidity levels, and particularly to lower them, is by using a dehumidifier. Choosing the right one for your needs can be difficult, especially because there are so many options to choose from.
Today, we’re going to help you find the best dehumidifier for 4×4 grow tents by reviewing some of the top products available on the market today. But before we take a look at the best dehumidifiers for your grow tent, let’s first figure out why you need one to begin with.
Why Do You Need a Dehumidifier for a Grow Tent?
Generally speaking, no matter what crop you have inside, humidity levels in a grow tent should not rise above 70%. But what happens when humidity levels exceed that threshold?
As soon as humidity levels become too high, plants have trouble growing. Two of the biggest threats of excess humidity are bud rot and root rot. If your plants are too wet, especially the roots, they will begin to rot. Even the plant as a whole can start to rot due to excessive moisture and humidity.
At the very least, high humidity levels can cause the roots of your plants to become dormant. This will lead to your plant not being able to uptake nutrients properly, leading to slower and stunted growth and possibly death.
Very high humidity levels also make it easy for mold, fungus and mildew to grow in your tent. Pests of all sorts, as well as diseases, also tend to thrive in very humid conditions.
The issue with many grow tents is that they can get quite hot, and hot air can hold on to more moisture than cool air. If you have a specific type of plant that requires very warm temperatures, then you’ll constantly be dealing with high humidity levels, unless you have something like a good dehumidifier.
Now that you know why you need a dehumidifier for your grow tent, let’s take a look at some of the best options out there.
The Best Dehumidifiers for 4×4 Grow Tents
These are our picks for some of the very best small dehumidifiers for grow tents that come in at 4 by 4 feet.
Best Overall Dehumidifier for 4×4 Grow Tent
Vivosun Electric Mini Dehumidifier
The Vivosun Electric Mini Dehumidifier is an excellent choice to consider as it features a compact footprint and a sizable water tank. It doesn’t use much energy or create much noise and it’s quite efficient, as well. It even comes in at a very reasonable price.
Features & Benefits
Pros
Cons
Editorial Review
We think this Vivosun dehumidifier is one of the best options to consider at this time. Its size is ideal, as it features a water tank large enough that it doesn’t need to be constantly emptied yet not so large that it takes up too much space in your grow tent.
It features an efficient design that can remove a lot of water from the air every day and to help make life easier, it even comes with its own drainage hose.
You can easily keep track of the ambient humidity level and control the dehumidifier function using the included touch screen control. The unit stays whisper quiet the whole time. You can set the timer for up to 24 hours, and the unit will shut off when the water tank is full. For the low price, you really can’t ask for anything more.
Also worth considering is that there are larger and smaller versions available, which may be ideal for different sized grow tents. The larger option can hold up to 10 liters of water at once and even comes with a smart wi-fi application.
What Others Are Saying
Based on all of the positive reviews of this product, it seems most people think that this is a perfectly fine option to go with, considering the low price. Many people like that the Vivosun is efficient and quiet, yet also easy to control. Overall, it’s just a very user friendly, durable, and portable dehumidifier that works well for most spaces, whether small grow tents or otherwise.
On the down side, one of the issues that people seem to have with this particular dehumidifier is that it may not perform optimally when humidity levels are extremely high, particularly in very hot temperatures. However, if you don’t live in the rainforest or a jungle, it should work just fine.
Runner Up—Best Dehumidifier for 4×4 Grow Tent
DDVIVAL Mini Dehumidifier
If you are looking for a super small dehumidifier that will barely take up any space, then this is a fantastic option to consider. Due to its small size and efficient design, it’s perfect for a small grow tent, even one that is packed to maximum capacity.
Features & Benefits
Pros
Cons
Editorial Review
If you just need something very small, simple and affordable for a small grow tent, then this should do the job. Although this might not be the number one biggest or most efficient dehumidifier on the market, it’s so small that you should be able to fit it in a grow tent even if it is already full of plants.
Even though it is small, it’s still more than efficient enough considering its size. Being able to pull over 16 ounces of water out of the air per day is no small feat. The fact that you don’t have to empty it every day because of its 36 oz storage capacity is a big benefit as well.
We also think the DDVIVAL is very easy to use. You press one button to turn it on and the machine does the rest for you. The fact that it also doesn’t use much energy is pretty beneficial, especially considering that you probably already have grow lights and other electricity-consuming appliances running to keep your plants alive.
What Others Are Saying
Other people report that this product is small, convenient and portable. People like that they can just pick it up and move it from one space to another. Furthermore, people also seem to be pleased with the fact that it barely uses any energy and doesn’t make much noise either. Buyers say they find it super convenient and affordable.
Some of the negative things that people have to say about this unit is that it’s just not big enough to make a real difference in a large space. Keep in mind, however, that we are talking about a small 4×4 foot grow tent, so this drawback doesn’t really apply here. The only other negative remark is that it doesn’t have a display that shows you the current relative humidity level.
Best Small Dehumidifier for 4×4 Grow Tent
Kitette Small Dehumidifier
If your grow tent is packed to the brim and you barely have any space, then a super small and compact dehumidifier such as this one that will serve you best. In fact, this is one of the smaller units on the list today, as it comes in at 5.9 by 5.9 by 9.5 inches.
Features & Benefits
Pros
Cons
Editorial Review
The Kitette Small Dehumidifier is a fantastic option to go with if you need something small, efficient and quiet. Even if your grow tent has a lot of plants in it, this small unit should still fit perfectly fine. You can easily set it in a corner and let it do its job.
The fact that you just have to press a button to turn it on and then let it run for up to four or five days without having to empty the water tank is pretty neat, as well.
This product should also be fairly durable, and even if it breaks, the one year warranty will give you some coverage. Although not really a super useful feature per se, the fact that it has LED lights that can shine in seven different colors is pretty cool too. Also, it produces less than 30 decibels of sound, so it’s pretty quiet.
What Others Are Saying
In general, people like how easy to use this unit is. Reviewers enjoy just pressing the power button and letting it run, as well as not having to empty the unit for several days.
People also praise the Kitette’s appearance, particularly the fact that it has lights that illuminate a small space. They praise its efficiency, and rave that even though it’s very small, it can still pull a whole lot of moisture out of the air on a daily basis.
Any negative comments about this dehumidifier generally have to do with extreme humidity levels in larger spaces. We are talking about a small tent, however, so not being able to handle a huge space shouldn’t make much of a difference here.
Most Efficient Dehumidifier for a 4×4 Grow Tent
LAOVER Dehumidifier
If you are looking for a dehumidifier that is very efficient and can remove a lot of moisture from the air while still not taking up too much space or costing too much money, then this option from LAOVER might be right for you. It has a sleek and compact design, efficient functionality and some other great features too.
Features & Benefits
Pros
Cons
Editorial Review
We think this is one of the best dehumidifiers for a small 4×4 grow tent because it features exceptional efficiency considering its small size. Being able to remove nearly half a liter of water from the air every day is quite impressive, especially considering that it is so small.
We also like that it has a quiet mode, so you can still let it run during the night, even if it’s not nearly as efficient in this mode. The LAOVER is, however, quite convenient to use, as it just has a simple power button. It even has an indicator light that reminds you to empty the water tank.
Considering how small and portable it is, and therefore how convenient it is for a variety of small spaces, we think it’s a fine option to consider. Also keep in mind that at time of writing, it comes in at under $50.
What Others Are Saying
The most common thing that people have to say about this dehumidifier is that it works really well. People seem to like using it for all sorts of small spaces, not just grow tents. They also seem to enjoy that it is relatively quiet and very efficient. Its low price makes a big positive impact, too. Users also like that it does not require much maintenance.
One of the only drawbacks that people have noted about this dehumidifier is that it’s not the most durable. If you drop it, bump it or do not maintain it properly, it likely won’t last long.
Best Quiet Dehumidifier for 4×4 Grow Tent
SIMSEN Quiet Dehumidifier
If you need a quiet dehumidifier that won’t disturb anybody, yet can still pull a lot of moisture out of a sizable area, then this might be the right option for you to consider.
Features & Benefits
Pros
Cons
Editorial Review
The SIMSEN is ideal for grow tents that have very high humidity levels because it is very efficient—it can pull a liter of water out of the air every day.
We further appreciated that one of its working modes is extremely quiet. Thanks to the solid materials it is built out of, it also happens to be one of the more durable units on the list today. The only thing we don’t appreciate about it is the price.
What Others Are Saying
People really like how efficient this dehumidifier is and how much water it can pull out of the air on a daily basis. They also like how it is very easy to empty.
Another advantage that many reviewers note is the SIMSEN’s portability and compact nature. People found that it can easily fit into most spaces. Users also seem to be impressed with its overall durability, design and appearance.
Ironically, one of the only drawbacks that some people note is that after a while, it may begin to make a loud squeaking or squealing noise.
Buyer’s Guide to the Best Dehumidifier for 4×4 Grow Tents
Now that you have a sense of your choices, let’s look at the most important factors you need to pay attention to when purchasing a dehumidifier for a small grow tent. If you keep the factors listed below in mind, you should have no trouble choosing the best possible option for you.
Size and Portability
You always need to consider how large the unit in question is. For indoor growers who only have so much space to spare, having a unit that is compact is essential.
This is especially the case if we are talking about a 4×4 grow room, because beside your plants, you just won’t be able to fit very much, especially once they start their flowering stage.
Making the best use out of available space is very important for indoor growers, so you want to make sure that you get something that isn’t way too large.
Efficiency and Spatial Rating
Knowing the cubic feet rating of the dehumidifier in question is essential. You need to know how much space it is rated to be able to dehumidify, as well as the amount of moisture it can pull out of the air.
No matter the space you are looking to dehumidify, the unit needs to be able to pull enough excess moisture out of the air to reach the ideal level of humidity in your grow space.
For a small tent, a dehumidifier that can remove a couple pints of water from the air per day should be enough.
Water Tank Capacity
The best grow tent dehumidifiers will be ones that have a decent tank capacity. Ideally, you want the water tank to have enough capacity that it doesn’t need to be emptied for at least two or three days.
Remember, however, that larger water capacity also means a bigger dehumidifier, which could cause problems in terms of your spatial restrictions.
Fan Speed and Other Settings
You may also want to pay attention to the fan speed and other settings that the dehumidifier has. Some units will allow you to change the fan speed to accommodate varying humidity levels.
Ease of Use
Generally speaking, dehumidifiers are fairly easy to use. As you can see from the units reviewed above, most of them have a simple on and off or power button. This is really all you need. However, if you want something more comprehensive, going for something that has a display and intuitive controls might be ideal.
Filtration
If you have a grow tent that is producing a lot of odor, going for a unit that contains a carbon filter might be worth considering. Carbon filtration will reduce the odors coming from your grow tent.
Energy Usage
If you don’t want to run up your energy bill too much, we recommend going for a model that is Energy Star certified. This will help ensure that it does not use too much electricity.
Noise Level
One of the key features that we always look out for with any dehumidifier is the noise level. Dehumidifiers can get very noisy, so getting one that produces minimal sound can make running it more pleasant, especially if your grow tent is close to your living space. That said, these are machines that contain motors, so they will make some sound no matter what.
The Best 4×4 Grow Tent Dehumidifiers—Final Thoughts
Now that you’ve learned some of the most important things to look out for in a dehumidifier for a grow tent, as well as scoped out some of the best dehumidifiers on the market, you should be able to make a highly informed decision for yourself.
Remember, the health of your plants might just depend on getting a good dehumidifier, so don’t be afraid to take your time, do your research and ask around before making your choice.
Feature image: Kaboompics .com; Image 1: Gary Barnes; Image 2: Gary Barnes