sounds like your contraption worked great for your dry summer. lovely indeed
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Oregon Organic Guerrilla 2009, with your host BACKCOUNTRY
- Thread starter BACKCOUNTRY
- Start date
98* highs and 54* lows, that's crazy but it does sound like typical desert weather.
Earthhole test, Aug 18- Aug 25
Gallon jug-
Daily totals
Aug 18- High 103F, Low 58F, Avg humidity 37%
Aug 19- High 106F, Low 62F, Avg humidity 34%
Aug 20- High 102F, Low 61F, Avg humidity 32%
Aug 21- High 94F, Low 59F, Avg humidity 43%
Aug 22- High 91F, Low 55F, Avg humidity 43%
Aug 23- High 84F, Low 52F, Avg humidity 48%
Aug 24- High 91F, Low 53F, Avg humidity 41%
Aug 25- High 88F, Low 53F, Avg humidity 34%
Week totals
Average high 95F, Average low 57F, Average mean 76F
Average humidity 39%
Total Precipitation: 0.00 in
Water used in this period= 8 gallons in 8 days(would have been 7 gallons for a week
Thanks guys! I have to see the finished result to be sure, but this experiment seems to be a success. I'm finding myself already wanting to plan next years grows, but I need to see the yield from the current Earth hole to be sure how big I want to go.
Another thing I am learning is that topping is a great method, I've always resisted topping in the past because I didn't think my average plant was large enough to benefit, but it may become standard practice. This one was topped accidentally early this season.
My weather forecast has our high temps bouncing back and forth from the 70s to the low 90s, we even have a slight chance of rain Friday!
Chiefsmokingbud- My climate is only desert like during the summer, the winter, and the winter side of spring and fall can be quite wet, although not near as much so as Seattle or Portland.
This summer we have gotten lots of cool nights, some summers there are many nights that only drop into the 70s/upper 60s, no fun sweating in your bed.
C
coxswain
Hi BK!
Do you find yourself watering less with earthole? Is the difference only in the yield i.e. you're watering the same as withouth the earth hole but getting larger yield? Done any calculations?
She's a beauty!
I'm not watering less often this year, due to the fact my Earth holes reservoir is half the capacity I meant it to be. When the weather turned really hot, I actually started visiting twice a week to make sure she would never run out of water if her usage jumped.
Next year though, I'll make sure the reservoirs are large enough to space out watering trips to every 3-5 weeks if I choose.
This plant is drinking more water per week than any plant I have grown, but this is because I have a system that allows her to drink as much as she likes, I just try to make sure she doesn't run out.
But because of all the water, I have my largest Guerrilla grown plant ever, I have a feeling the quantity and quality of bud will pay back the "water bill".
The point of this system is to provide the following services:
1. Allow the plant to drink as much as she wants, when she wants, eliminating the chance of heat related stress, which can begin to stunt growth.
2. Provide a irrigation system that eliminates Timers, pumps, or any other mechanical device which could malfunction and kill your crop.
3. Provide a irrigation system that doesn't contain small tubes or orifices(like drippers), which can become clogged.
4. Enough water can be stored in the system to allow for breaks in visitations, for weeks if needed.
5. The entire system is buried, including the reservoir, reducing the chances of onsite equipment being spotted.
6. All exchange of water from the reservoir to the plant happens well underground, and isolated from any invading plants roots, allowing for minimal loss of water to the atmosphere or surrounding plants and soils.
All and all, I envision this being used by personal and small commercial growers, growing Guerrilla style in punishing dry climates. Growers on larger scales would probably do better with a drip system, since its more likely they will be through often. And growers in less extreme climates with summer rainfall may be better of growing in normal plots.
Part of the motivation is to eliminate so many long trips into the backcountry, in hot weather to water plants. It takes time, and effort, and being there so often just increases the chances of being seen.
The Earth holes will eventually allow me to space my visits as I feel comfortable, the realities of life need not cost me a grow simply because I couldn't visit every week at some point.
Next year though, I'll make sure the reservoirs are large enough to space out watering trips to every 3-5 weeks if I choose.
This plant is drinking more water per week than any plant I have grown, but this is because I have a system that allows her to drink as much as she likes, I just try to make sure she doesn't run out.
But because of all the water, I have my largest Guerrilla grown plant ever, I have a feeling the quantity and quality of bud will pay back the "water bill".
The point of this system is to provide the following services:
1. Allow the plant to drink as much as she wants, when she wants, eliminating the chance of heat related stress, which can begin to stunt growth.
2. Provide a irrigation system that eliminates Timers, pumps, or any other mechanical device which could malfunction and kill your crop.
3. Provide a irrigation system that doesn't contain small tubes or orifices(like drippers), which can become clogged.
4. Enough water can be stored in the system to allow for breaks in visitations, for weeks if needed.
5. The entire system is buried, including the reservoir, reducing the chances of onsite equipment being spotted.
6. All exchange of water from the reservoir to the plant happens well underground, and isolated from any invading plants roots, allowing for minimal loss of water to the atmosphere or surrounding plants and soils.
All and all, I envision this being used by personal and small commercial growers, growing Guerrilla style in punishing dry climates. Growers on larger scales would probably do better with a drip system, since its more likely they will be through often. And growers in less extreme climates with summer rainfall may be better of growing in normal plots.
Part of the motivation is to eliminate so many long trips into the backcountry, in hot weather to water plants. It takes time, and effort, and being there so often just increases the chances of being seen.
The Earth holes will eventually allow me to space my visits as I feel comfortable, the realities of life need not cost me a grow simply because I couldn't visit every week at some point.
C
coxswain
I'm no expert but from what my plants are telling me I believe any plant will take as much watter as she gets and adapt to it by growing more. I dug 4 different sized holes this year and even though I have different strains you can clearly see they all adapted to the hole size. Maybe the trick with earth holes is to give here so much water she can't keep up with spending it all. 
I might copy your setup next year just to experiment. This year I emulated Silverback's guerilla water collar with a 10l containers. Experiment didn't go very well. I punched to many holes to the bottom of container and water ran out in a couple of days. Also holes were to big. I didn't wan't to pull containers out to reseal the holes since I would disturb the root mass to much and stress the plant. Next year I'm doing prolly both experiments (collar and earth hole) using the same strain from clones. I found out I really don't need to use any of those since my climate isn't as dry as your Backountry but I'm pretty sure there will be a difference in the yield compartment. So far water cristalls are doing the job for me. I haven't checked my spots in couple of weeks and we had a very dry month so I might be wrong but I didn't need to water them yet this year.
I might copy your setup next year just to experiment. This year I emulated Silverback's guerilla water collar with a 10l containers. Experiment didn't go very well. I punched to many holes to the bottom of container and water ran out in a couple of days. Also holes were to big. I didn't wan't to pull containers out to reseal the holes since I would disturb the root mass to much and stress the plant. Next year I'm doing prolly both experiments (collar and earth hole) using the same strain from clones. I found out I really don't need to use any of those since my climate isn't as dry as your Backountry but I'm pretty sure there will be a difference in the yield compartment. So far water cristalls are doing the job for me. I haven't checked my spots in couple of weeks and we had a very dry month so I might be wrong but I didn't need to water them yet this year.
I guess I tried to answer this question right here:
In my experience, in my dry climate, where the plants totally depend on water brought by me July 1-September 10(sometimes the period is even longer on either end some years), I have found that the bud you get, roughly equals the water you put in, meaning you can get 1oz from a plant that got one gallon a week through the summer, or 6oz from a plant that got 6 gallons per week.BACKCOUNTRY said:
I am carrying more water per week to this plant, than any one plant I've grown in the past, as I mentioned earlier. But the flip side is that I believe I'll also get the biggest harvest. The final proof of just how efficient this system is(meaning how many Ounces I yield vs. how many gallons I hauled), will be figured when the harvest is dried, and trimmed.
well i did read that one but i was thinking along the lines of how much water you had to carry to the plant....not how much water the plant is actually using (since you can't accurately measure it in in-ground grows)
in the traditional system some of the water that goes in the soil is lost...so it would probably need more....and since the plant is getting bigger you would have to either come more often or just bring a lot of it every time you come...
but in the earthhole system moisture loss is not that severe. so you don't need to come that often. and because the reservoir will not get bigger, you just need to bring enough to fill it back up.
but there's a problem: in the earthhole the plant gets more water so it gets really big really fast (the growing rate must be a constant pleasant surprise for you). big plants need a lot of water...so the bigger it gets...the more water it needs and even though the reservoir is there to provide...there's always the danger of the plant getting big enough to use up all the water before your next visit...problem easily fixed with a big enough reservoir...
....can't remember why i was rambling...or what the point of it was...but i think that after writing all of that, i got my answer.
...i'll just post it all and make a fool of myself...
in the traditional system some of the water that goes in the soil is lost...so it would probably need more....and since the plant is getting bigger you would have to either come more often or just bring a lot of it every time you come...
but in the earthhole system moisture loss is not that severe. so you don't need to come that often. and because the reservoir will not get bigger, you just need to bring enough to fill it back up.
but there's a problem: in the earthhole the plant gets more water so it gets really big really fast (the growing rate must be a constant pleasant surprise for you). big plants need a lot of water...so the bigger it gets...the more water it needs and even though the reservoir is there to provide...there's always the danger of the plant getting big enough to use up all the water before your next visit...problem easily fixed with a big enough reservoir...
....can't remember why i was rambling...or what the point of it was...but i think that after writing all of that, i got my answer.
...i'll just post it all and make a fool of myself...
interesting... im looking forward to your results
Gantz- Yeah, basically I have a plant that for the first time in my all my Guerrilla seasons, always has all she wants, she is taking the water she wants, rather than the water she gets. The result is a plant that has exceeded any I have grown Guerrilla style.
The rez is too small, and the plant has grown to twice the size I intended/expected, which is fine with me. The downside is I'm bringing more water to this plant every week than I expected. But its OK, because I have a feeling she will give me a yield of bud in direct proportion to the water provided, lots.
After the crop is weighed, I'll add up all the water used for the season, and divide it by the yield in ounces. This will give me a little rough bench mark to work with next summer.
I don't really want to do much guessing, but I think this plant may yield 6oz of well trimmed bud. Including this week, this plant has used 54 gallons of water so far, depending on what September brings for weather, her total water bill should be around 75 gallons, so 12.5 gallons of water hauled for each Oz of bud(if she yielded 6oz).
Next year I'll either locate my Earth holes near a natural water source, or store the total water needed near by during the rainy season. Good preparation and planning will save me time and work next summer.
The rez is too small, and the plant has grown to twice the size I intended/expected, which is fine with me. The downside is I'm bringing more water to this plant every week than I expected. But its OK, because I have a feeling she will give me a yield of bud in direct proportion to the water provided, lots.
After the crop is weighed, I'll add up all the water used for the season, and divide it by the yield in ounces. This will give me a little rough bench mark to work with next summer.
I don't really want to do much guessing, but I think this plant may yield 6oz of well trimmed bud. Including this week, this plant has used 54 gallons of water so far, depending on what September brings for weather, her total water bill should be around 75 gallons, so 12.5 gallons of water hauled for each Oz of bud(if she yielded 6oz).
Next year I'll either locate my Earth holes near a natural water source, or store the total water needed near by during the rainy season. Good preparation and planning will save me time and work next summer.
G
grasspass
Sorry for a off topic question , but why don't you grow as a designated grower for a card holder? You could do it at home. The only reason I don't is because my house is always full of teenagers.[ I'm a Southern Oregon guy also]
All the local cardholders seem to have growers already, it would be cool. It could be possible in the future though. For now, my guerrilla grows fill my jars, and keep my hands from evil.
this is why i grow. i sell it to all my pothead friends. i don't really smoke much anymore but i love the plant itself. i love watching them grow and i get to help my friends as well. they can come visit me and they don't need to go see some sketchy dealer. i find it a very peaceful interesting hobby. some people like model trains. i like growing pot.
This is awesome! I love how well documented your experiments are. I bet I could do this and the reservoir would fill itself all summer/fall long... Thanks for another terrific thread.
SmokeyTheBear- Yeah, thats pretty much how I feel exactly.............
Well i can't argue with the math there... and you do have a system that gives you back what you put into it...much more effective than common inground grows.
i'm sorry for your back but i believe your lungs and brain won't mind it that much after the harvest...
a bigger reservoir would fix some of your problems...so would relocating to a water source...but are you going to use the same system or do you believe that you can come up with a bigger and better one?
I've been thinking that one can indeed make it bigger, no doubt about it. the digging would suck of course but it can be done. the problem is that lugging big containers to the middle of nowhere is a rather suspicious activity. so how could we make it foldable and portable? i could only come up with a plywood, silicone, polyethylene plastic combo...but i'm still trying to figgure out how to make the middle section that would hold the top part - the soil from getting into the water...we should brainstorm on this...
i'm sorry for your back but i believe your lungs and brain won't mind it that much after the harvest...
a bigger reservoir would fix some of your problems...so would relocating to a water source...but are you going to use the same system or do you believe that you can come up with a bigger and better one?
I've been thinking that one can indeed make it bigger, no doubt about it. the digging would suck of course but it can be done. the problem is that lugging big containers to the middle of nowhere is a rather suspicious activity. so how could we make it foldable and portable? i could only come up with a plywood, silicone, polyethylene plastic combo...but i'm still trying to figgure out how to make the middle section that would hold the top part - the soil from getting into the water...we should brainstorm on this...
A fold-able EH, or one that can be built from parts that fit in a pack was one of my original goals. I'm not sure that a EH the size I'd like to build would fit in a pack, even broken down, but it should be possible to design a smaller version that would be packable, maybe one with twice the capacity of the one I am using now.
T
theJointedOne
those blueprints are looking great, keep up the great work, and the great thread!
