A Beginner’s Guide to Controlling the Smell of Cannabis Plants

Posted on 01/02/2015.

When you grow more than a few plants indoors, you may notice that they give off distinctive aromas from the soil, nutrients, and the plants themselves. The scent may be distinct enough that you don't necessarily want a Gladys Kravitz-type turning up her nose at your personal interests.

This becomes particularly important now that growing cannabis is legal in an increasing number of locations. Even if the day comes that all states approve growing marijuana, some varieties release quite a bit of compounds called terpenes in the flowering stage, and it might just bug you.

Black Dog LED grow lights have been proven to increase the production of THC and CBD in both lab test and in practice when testing our lights against other lighting technologies both traditional plant lights such as HPS as well as other competing LED grow lights. Along with these other compounds, terpine / odor production may also increase under Black Dog LED lights.

If you'd rather keep your horticultural evidence below the radar, here are a few ideas for both casual and serious growers.

Basic household odor neutralizers aren't highly effective.

Sprays, plug-in air fresheners, and other household products can knock down the aroma of a plant or two, but they don't last long and aren’t that effective on stronger-smelling varieties. ONA Gel is a specially blended product that is popular with many growers because it's easy to use and lasts for 4-6 weeks. Don't use these products in the same room as your plants, though, because they can become absorbed by the plants which will change the taste of the harvest. Confine the use of ONA Gel to adjoining rooms only.

Home air purifiers like ionizers can handle mild household odors, but can't stand up to the fragrance of most aromatic plants.

Commercial Air Cleaners

Experienced growers use filtration units with activated carbon to scrub the air of unwanted odors. They're what you need if you want to really neutralize the scent and are the only choice for odor control in larger setups with grow tents or dedicated grow rooms.

Since these environments need temperature control and air circulation equipment anyway, adding a filtration system is a relatively simple proposition. Find the duct size and CFM rating of your ventilation system and choose a filter that will fit and work properly with your system's flow rate. Mount the unit where it's easy to access when it's time to change filters.

Choose a Plant Naturally Low in Odor

Different strains give off different smells, so give yourself a head start on odor control by picking a variety that's less fragrant but still flavorful and potent. Here are a few to consider:

• Blue Mystic— A hybrid strain created by crossing Northern Lights and Blueberry for exceptionally low odor.
• Durban Poison— The South African sativa is nearly odor-free yet has very high THC levels.
• Northern Lights— A low-aroma variety developed specifically for indoor growing, it's both flavorful and potent.
• Polar Express— An ideal indoor variety, Polar Express has been crossbred to be compact, flavorful, and extremely low-odor.
• Shark's Breath— Easy to grow and high yielding, this Indica-dominant variety is very low in aromatics when flowering.

What NOT to Do

Your plants need fresh, well-circulating air to thrive. Stagnant, poorly conditioned air is a sure recipe for disaster, so don't be tempted to seal off your growing area to contain odors without providing an adequate fresh air and ventilation system. If you're able to vent to the outside of your building, that's your best choice for odor control. Just be sure to locate your vents where they won't intrude on unwelcoming nostrils.