Hands Free outdoor grows!

[badmf]

Hey, I thought some of you might benefit by me bumping this ol' thread one more 'gain! I switched to 32 gallon trash cans for containers; less plants but bigger ( with added polymer of course, lol) and no need to re-fill rezs as that was the real risk. Fill enough at the start of the season to maintain until harvest! Due diligence to camo and voila!! Happy Holidaze!!!

 

[Guest]

badmf!! there u are! we were worried about ya. so im interested in the harvest results

 

[oldsterone-OG]

I have read in these pages that smoking serenade is not good for you! I know nothing of it since I am organic an use aspirin water to prevent mold. This works big time by the way, and I grow where it is cold and often wet.

 

[Guyute54]

I have read in these pages that smoking serenade is not good for you! I know nothing of it since I am organic an use aspirin water to prevent mold. This works big time by the way, and I grow where it is cold and often wet.

Aspirin water? How's it made Water with a few crushed up aspirin?

Badmf what a great thread. If building a system like this how many times do you visit the plants a year? Once for planting and once for harvesting?

 

[pipeline]

Aspirin contains salasillic (sp) acid which is what many plants use to communicate to all the cells that there is a pathogen somewhere in/on the plant. It starts a response of disease preventing genes being expressed.

Where i grow, big containers would be a pain in the ass to get there. My hands free approcach has me digging big holes in the winter, ferting them with organics and something to loosen the soil a bit. Plant in the spring and don't come back but to top dress with some manure. Water holding polymers are great. Planting in the ground helps conserve moisture too, compared with a container.

 

[badmf]

Well large containers actually conserve more than open soil. They "contain" all moisture that enters and no competing plants or continual gravity lessens levels.
I go in as needed, usually every 5-6 weeks, to adjust the timers to increase flow for larger plants and warmer temps. Milk in water and lemon juice both do inhibit mold growth too, but never has anyone had problems with Serenade. Just follow the directions and don't overuse it. Oh, what number post is this? Hmmm? LOL PS: You only need to carry them in "once" after that its gravy. I read in CC some Aussie bloke carried tons of equipment in, fridge included so a few cans no sweat. My spots aren't easy to get too but its a labor of love. Remember camo well and visit with varied paths!

 

[pipeline]

Congrats on your 420th post!!!!

http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=36788

no continual gravity lessens water levels?

As far as I know, the ground will retain moisture longer than a pot sitting on top of it will, depending on the soil's texture. Yes some moisture may be used in the root zone by other plants' roots but there is so much moisture moving freely undergound that it will be replaced quickly unless there is a drought.

A container, which has nowhere to draw moisture from, will drain well because of its lightweight soil, and will retain some moisture but not as much as a clay soil could. The column of soil compared to an "ocean" of soil will dry out faster unless it is really sandy soil you are making the comparison to.

 

[BACKCOUNTRY]

Cool thread, I'm amazed I did not find this one along time ago!!
I'll read through it better tomarrow when I am awake(smoking lots of outdoor, woo-hoo!).

 

[Jalisco Kid]

One could use a 300-500 gal. bladder bag fill it it the winter.Once it is needed in july I just add h. peroxide,wait a day then I add sugar and aminos.Return in mid Aug to hit them with a 0-50-30 formula, then to cut them down. I use a solar timer. JK

 

[badmf]

Pipeline; keep in mind the use of polymers, which would benefit soil grows as well, allows all moisture added to be used as there is no escape to areas where the roots don'/can't go. I use much larger containers,( I can't call these pots anymore LOL), 38 gallon trash cans with camo to prevent discovery and to lessen evap rates.
The ground allows water to continually descend to unknown depths making plants reach for it, I simply concentrate it with control of depth(can dimensions 3w x 4.5 feet d). So instead of using energies for this its translates above ground. Most plants don't develope much more root systems than this if watered frequently enough.
I didn't bring this up to put down soil grows but simply to point out why this realy really works! If you opt for either set-up, add sufficient mulch, surround the area with camo'ed chicken wire( if critters are around!) and don't tell anyone! Good Luck! PS I can't wait for springtime!!! Unfortunately I must leave for 4+ months and have set-up a system indoors to maintain plants(hopefully) until I return! I'll keep you posted on the outcome, late!!

 

[Guest]

How much aspirin do you use per gallon? What size aspirin do you use?

 

[acidfire]

*bump*

Excellent thread.
Im going to rig something like that up for this season.

 

[simple]

great info in this thread please keep it flowing! where is a cheap place to get polymer crystals the only time ive seen them is for christmas trees?

 

[acidfire]

badmf

Could you tell me what your feed rates are at the beginning of the season.
When do you increase them? How much do you increase them by?

Thanks

 

[Fast Pine]

great info in this thread please keep it flowing! where is a cheap place to get polymer crystals the only time ive seen them is for christmas trees?

Go to the local gardencenter..They can order ya a 50lb bag..

 

[badmf]

Acid, I use larger plants to start (12-24") as I use less plants. I shade them for a couple days to adjust to the Sun, I want trees growing sideways, for ease of trim and great to camo too! I feed once a week for 3 minutes depending on weather conditions, if its cooler and damp I'd adjust down, hotter adjust up. In the earlier days adjustment isn't is as critical as late season. Take some binoculars and "see" them from a distance and if alls well you can "skip" a visit. This assumes you have a hill or tree to view from, ha ha. Keep in mind you will have a stronger flow as pressures higher with a full can, so have a measure cup nearby to control flow as it decreases and keep a record to adjust for the next season, Good Growin'!!!

 

[acidfire]

Thanks for all the tips.

I will hopefully be trying this with 2 plots, with each system supporting 2 trees each.
Going to put them outside late march.

 

[BACKCOUNTRY]

badmf! Great thread! You've been working on this far longer than me.

I have a few questions:
#1-Where are you? At least maybe a region?

#2-Do you have any more pictures of your plants growing, especially harvest pics?

#3-What is your average harvest per plant like with this system?

#4-How high above the plants are your resivours?

#5-Could you show a close-up shot of how you conect the hoses to the resivours?

#6-You wouldn't happen to be "the clone stranger" from OG would you?

 

[badmf]

Howdy BC, 1.CaliMntns. 2. I destroyed pix after a close-call, new ones this year though.
3. Average yeilds of course are strain dependent but water and container size matter too. 4-6#'s but some Sats much much less.
4.They are on a pretty steep hill and sit 20 feet away, at least a cans height up, 28".
5. The connects are common to hydro stores mainly used for indoor rezs. They have a ring to seal the hole and interconnects to 1/2" line but I use radiator clamps now more secure than plastics.
6. Nope, always been a Badmf, LOL
Oh don't overlook the binocular idea, it helps keep you away from makin' trails and you can check if waters enough most times. You can also set-up a similar rez at home with tomatoes or such in similar Sun conditions to get a "barometer" of your grow. Peace! PS. I like Tom Hill's backyard grows, shows close to what I get but I go more lateral and with camo. The cans pictured are plant containers now, and you can't see em, period!

 

[King Amdo]

You can avoid all this work quite easily if you mulch the plants!>>>

You can avoid all this work quite easily if you mulch the plants!>>>

permaculture>>>>mulching

It really will maintain a damp soil and give other benefits such as weed suppression.

Well its the Holidaze again and in the sprit, I thought about giving some info on basically hands free outdoor techniques. Assuming you have a secure location, you won't want to compromise it by making multiple trails over and over. But outdoors you need to water as the summer Sun is seriously hot!
1. Use a container large enough! The general rule is one gallon of container for each foot of growth. I like 10-20 gallon trash bags, as they are easy to carry, cheap, and conform to any ground surface easily. Poke some holes for drainage and they're set to go.
2. Soil mixes vary widely and I won't add them in here for brevity. But do include a water polymer to conserve usage and watering frequency. I like a ratio of 1/4-1/3rd polymer to the mix.
3.Nelson Easy Set timers will save your azz on hot days as they will water any cycle you set; days from 1,2,3,4,7 or daily, the length or duration of each, from 1, 3, 5, 10, 15, 30, 45, 1hr,1.5, 2, 2.5, or 3 and at the time of day to boot!
3 Reservoirs; these can be anything that will hold a substantial enough water to lessen the trips and re-fills necessry during the season. I have found that a 32 gallon trash will supply a dozen medium sized plants for 10-14 days depending on temperature. I will use 10-32 gallon cans per site to lessen trips and re-filling freq. this is for 20 plants from May til Oct with two re-fills.
4. Check your waters ph/ppm as the season progresses as the levels change in it you will need to adjust accordingly.
5. You have a choice of going with organic or chems as nutes go. If you use organics remember to change the veg to bloom at the right time as they need time to break down, chems will need a flush to clear veg out too.
6. If you don't have a water source nearby you may wish to reconsider the site or plan ahead and put tarps out to channel water into your rez. Water weighs in at aprox. 9.5 lbs per gallonI use a Honda WX10 gas pump to go 120'uphillper loc. The pump is noisy so you must consider this in your situation. RV pumps are electric and are very quiet too. but won't pump as quickly.
7. This system uses 1/2 line for delivery and 1/8-1/4" spaghetti line two to each plant in case of a clogged one. There are flow controls from adjustable drippers to equal the line pressures. These come in handy as some strains will require more or less water.
8. Adding a ball joint in the start can be helpful if any cleaning or battery changes require it. The timers use two "c" battaries and last just about a full season but changing sooner is rec :friends: recommened! :friends:
You will need to have a control plant which can be a different one say a tomatoe plant to determine the flow adjustment times. As the plants grow and use more water you will need to add time to the duration and with heat the frequency too! Put this in the same Sun hours as your remote location so your "home " tester will aide in adjustments.
9. A good thing to remember is bring in some gloves and an apron to prevent odors from giving others clues to your real intentions! Plan for emergency exits and have a drying area or garage set up for the years end.
10. Critters will love your plants too, so buy Liquid Fence it will keep deer & rabbits at bay. I use fishing line strung to tin cans to scare em too. Human hair, urination, Irish Spring soap will work too but not as effectively.For pest control neem oil and other Safers products are adequite.
10 I can go for 5 weeks without a visit and then only to adjust the flow controls. If you need to "see" them sooner try finding an opposing hill and use binoculars instead of actually going in.
11. Camoflage is a required addition to prevent choppers and ground rippers from spotting them easily. Check the surrounding vegetation for purchasing simular berries to disguise your plants, also training them to grow vertically will help keep their profile down.I use hollowed out "holes " I cut into surounding vegetation and tie the branches to them.These berries can be had from craft stores and the like.
12. Try to plant different strains so harvesting isn't a bigger job, this way they all won't finish at the same time.
13. When the end of the season approaches you will be astonished at the size and potency of your minimal labor crop! Pounds not ounces!:jawdrop: so I'll be seeing ya for now! Happy New Year!!! Badmf!