Fermentation

Marijuana Horticulture

by Jorge Cervantes

Small scale growers use fermentation to produce CO2. Combine water, sugar, and yeast to produce CO2. The yeast eats the sugar and releases Co2 and alcohol as by-products. Growers who brew beer at home can use a small scale system to increase the Co2 levels in a room. Non-brewers can mix one cup of sugar, a packet of brewer’s yeast, and three quarts of warm water in a gallon jug to make Co2.

You will have to experiment a little with the water temperature to get it right. Yeast dies in hot water and does not activate in cold water. Once the yeast is activated, CO2 is released into the air in bursts. Punch a small hole in the cap f the jug, and place it in a warm spot in your grow room. Many gardeners buy a fermentation lock. Such locks prevent contaminants from entering the jug, and they bubble CO2 through water so the rate of production can be observed.

The hitch is that you must change the concoction up to three times a day. Pour out half the solution, and add 1.5 quarts of water and another cup (24cl) of sugar. As long as the yeast continues to grow and bubble, the mixture can last indefinitely. When the yeast starts t die, add another packet. This basic formula can be adapted to make smaller or larger scale fermenters. Several jugs scattered around the garden room have a significant impact on CO2 levels.

Fermentation is an inexpensive alternative to produce CO2. It releases no heat, toxic gases, or water and uses no electricity. But because it stinks, it is unlikely that a gardener cud tolerate a large scale fermentation process. In addition, it is difficult to measure CO2 production from this system, making it difficult to maintain uniform levels throughout the day.