Now What? Working out of town

[doob-e-pufr]

Hey all,

My boss asked me to take over a job that is 3+ hrs. away from home. I've invested over $1000 bucks and seeds should be coming soon(ordered last week).Fortunately, I tried to purchase things that can be used for other than grow. For instance my water's crappy so I just bought a R.O. that will be used for house anyway. Instead of humidstats and controllers I bought a portable air cond./heater/dehumidifier/fan. Should I give it up, or will you kind people tell me best option now? Was going with soil/organic. Is it still possible if I set up watering more automated? My other choice was DWC. Once in middle of week, back on friday is best I could manage. IDEAS PLEASE!!!

 

[Guest]

Go with an ebb and flow type of system perhaps. Low maintenance and minimal involvement. Check with TexasKid about those systems. The job always goes before the party for me bro! My systems goes day without me having to do no more than water fill the rez tanks. Good Luck with the new job and new grow!

Avid

 

[sunnyside]

hey doob...good question. when you are working with soil 3-4 days away from your garden will be fine!! Even if you couldnt get back in the middle of the week, just make sure and feed/water thourouly before you leave

 

[sunnyside]

DWC or any other hydroponics system would be very difficult to maintain Avid...if your ph starts to rise on monday and you dont check till friday...it could be a mess.

 

[doob-e-pufr]

Thanks Avid. It's not really a new job, it' a old job I'm very fond of! Like you, work is always first. But Ive overcome bigger obstacles and dammit I must now regroup! If it don't pan out anyone want my seeds?LOL

 

[doob-e-pufr]

Thanks sunny,
But talk about takin the wind outta my sails! Man it would be nice to say "jeez, I like to but I can't leave my bogglegum, sorry!" I've even plotted on a covered trailer. That would be cool, I can see it now "doob-e's mobile grow room"LOL

 

[sunnyside]

lol...grow on wheels.

wind outta my sails!

nonsense...what about a soil grow...that'll work fine

 

[doob-e-pufr]

I am going soil, and will have my grow, but being a newb wanted a couple under my belt. I can handle it, I just picture that look on my boy's face every time I shell out $350 an O.

 

[sunnyside]

the hardest thing to do during a grow...is nothing. It is in our nature to tinker with things...and plants like to be left alone (for the most part). Good luck

 

[doob-e-pufr]

Thanks for support sunny,
I thought the same thing. I have a question about res.Do you add just base nutes to res and additives at application? Or mix all up at once? I will be using at least 2 400w hps in flower roughly 4' by 5' area.Will 25 gals. suffice? Any links to res maint. would be appreciated!

 

[sunnyside]

add all nutes and additives to res all at once.

What type of system are you going to use?? That will help determine rez size.

 

[doob-e-pufr]

My plan is to "hand water" from res. I have water line run to where my res will set. Small pump in res hooked to hose/wand. I'm am going to make floor of room like a catch basin. If growing in containers and done right overspill should be minimum enough to wet-vac up? I also tapped my sewer line and capped so if needed I can uncap and pump directly into it?

 

[sunnyside]

ok..your fine my friend 25 gallons is way more than you need!!
My gals are in 3 gallon pots, and they each get (at most) a gallon per week.

 

[doob-e-pufr]

You are a scholar and gentleperson sunny thanks. How many plants do you recommend in my setup? I will have seperate veg with 400w mh and I have plenty of flouros for back up.

 

[Bucket Boy]

Doob e puff

Doob e puff

I would look into Big Tokes Bio Buckets. Im building my system as we speak. I travel so much for work and even though it sucks being away it seems like you might be able to pull it off. Go read his thread on bio buckets in the hydro forum. It might interest you. Just start small and build your way up..
Hope all goes well.... If only my job was my hobby all day...
:friends:

 

[sunnyside]

gentleperson

yes you can never be too carefull around here...there are lady growers who can run circles around me!! lol

How many plants do you recommend in my setup?

It all depends on your growing style...using 800 watts you could go as high as a hundred plants in a SOG set-up..and in a scrog or bush style grow you could go as low as 1 or 2 plants.
My suggestion would be to grow some small to medium sized bushes and see how the plant grows So 9-12 plants under 800 watts.

 

[Sleepy]

pardon me for butting in, but could you use one of those "grobots"?

i remember seeing them on seedbay...

whichever way it works out, good luck to you. hold onto your seeds.

 

[doob-e-pufr]

sunny, I definitely want to keep it under ten because of my state's law's(god forbid).My ceiling height is a little low,7'4",so I thought medium ht. and training branches.

Hey Bucket Boy! thanks for reply! My original plan was bio-buckets.But as sunnyside stated I am a little uncomfortable leaving it unattended especially since this is my first grow.Plus then consensus seems to be that organic tastes better. But I do intend to try buckets some day.

Sleepy thanx for reply but I have'nt heard/seen of grobots. I will check it out!

 

[sunnyside]

I am with you on the plant count doob...better safe than sorry!!
indoors 7'4" is fine...
Light is bound to the "inverse square Rule", it diminishes to the square of the distance; in other words light fades ver, very fast!!
The light intensity falls off exponentially the further the plant is from the light source, as shown by the "Light and Distance Chart" (below). Light intensity is calculated using the formula l = L/D2 or "light intensity equals initial lumens divided by distance squared. If a plant is two feet away from a light source, 1/4 of the initial lumens are available. At three feet, 1/9 of the lumens are available. And at four feet, only 1/16 of the initial lumens are available.

400 watt
1 foot away 40,000 lumens
2 feet away 10,000 lumens
3 feet away 4,444 lumens
4 feet away 2,857 lumens

400-watt metal halide @ 2 feet = 10,000 lumens
2 x 2 = 4 square feet, 400 watts/4 = 100 watts per square foot!!!
OK..so we see that our 400 watter is going to be efficient up to 2' deep into our canopy..no sense in growing a plant taller than that!!

pot is 1 foot tall
plant is 2 feet tall
and light is 1 foot away from the top of the plant
so we are looking at 4 feet (approximately) with 3'4" to play with!!



for more info check this link out...
http://www.granitehydro.com/learnxx/light.html

 

[Guest]

doobiepfr...hey bro just seen your thread. I been on the road for the past 3yrs. I come home on weds night annd friday night for the weekend. I hand water, always have. just keep your plants in a bit larger pot, larger pots require less waterins I keep a mother/veg room and a flower room. currently addin another.

my spot only has a 4ft ceilin, and I have no problems with waterin or plants dryin out. best part about bein gone is when ya do get home, you can actually see progress in your plants


CBF