i live in the desert where in july its over 108 regularly for like the entire month. my idea is to build a small hoop house and cover it in burlap for shade to keep it a little cooler and run fans inside. i was also considering burying my pots to keep the roots cooler and on extremely hot days hosing down the burlap to cool through evaporation. what do you guys think? is it too hot, or could i pull it off. the "test plant" of the strain i plan on running just survived 4 straight days of 110+ weather without looking stressed but my other "test plants" in smaller pots have looked bad from as soon as i put them outside, i just buried half to see if that theory works at all.
shade house for growing in extreme desert?
- Thread starter LeeHarvOz
- Start date
if the sides are goign to be burlap, maybe you could also keep them wet and get a type of swamp cooler effect too through evaporation
duhh, jsut reread your post
you are way ahead of me brother!
interested in your results either way
duhh, jsut reread your post
you are way ahead of me brother!
interested in your results either way
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Burying the pots will work but you'll be limiting root space.
Ime, not many roots make it out of the container holes during the flower period & are very limited during veg. Root exposure to the natural soil is ideal. Place a 6 inch (or more) layer of straw on the floor of your structure to save on water evap from the ground as well.
Look at some Aussie OD grows for some excellent ideas for your hot space.
Ime, not many roots make it out of the container holes during the flower period & are very limited during veg. Root exposure to the natural soil is ideal. Place a 6 inch (or more) layer of straw on the floor of your structure to save on water evap from the ground as well.
Look at some Aussie OD grows for some excellent ideas for your hot space.
HarvestMoon303
Active member
I would try to find a way to attach one of those evaporative mist systems, and have it going for most of the daylight hours. The kind that they have at nice outdoor patios or outdoor shopping in phoenix. They are basically a swamp (evaporative) cooler, but it will keep the RH higher, drop the temp by about 15-20 degrees, and help keep the burlap a little moist. When I lived in Arizona, I had a cheap misting system that hooked up to the hose. They are $20-50 or so, depending on size, etc.
I have taken plants to 110+, and most lived, but the yield and appeal were really poor. Even fixing the problem for the last 6 weeks of flower did not help. They were damaged, and I'm talking B- grade-looking stuff. Still got the job done (I was stuck with it, of course), but I learned my lesson. More lights is not always better. I could have run a single light, and gotten more, and better than what I pulled from 3 heat stressed lights, which was a pathetic 10 oz of fried buds.
I have taken plants to 110+, and most lived, but the yield and appeal were really poor. Even fixing the problem for the last 6 weeks of flower did not help. They were damaged, and I'm talking B- grade-looking stuff. Still got the job done (I was stuck with it, of course), but I learned my lesson. More lights is not always better. I could have run a single light, and gotten more, and better than what I pulled from 3 heat stressed lights, which was a pathetic 10 oz of fried buds.
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They sell shade cloth of various shading %. I would use that before burlap.
This following link may help you with some ideas.
Shade Cloths
This would be perfect.
This following link may help you with some ideas.
Shade Cloths
This would be perfect.
that hoop house with shade cloth looks awsome!
being close to the house i would rather look at that
plus it would probably last several seasons so easier to maintain in the long run
how long would you imagine burlap lasting in a desert enviroment?
being close to the house i would rather look at that
plus it would probably last several seasons so easier to maintain in the long run
how long would you imagine burlap lasting in a desert enviroment?
i was considering the shade cloth but was worrying that it might block out a little too much light. if the burlap doesn't lower the temp enough ill probably switch to that (plus i already have all the burlap and half of it up already). that hoop house does look really pro tho.
harvest moon. do you have any idea how much water those things use? did it effect your bill that much. i know in my county they have tiers and the more water you use the higher tier your put in and the higher the tier the higher your rate is. same with electric and you know I'm already in the highest tier on that one, my bill is outrageous with 2 1000's running plus my central air which runs all the time.
harvest moon. do you have any idea how much water those things use? did it effect your bill that much. i know in my county they have tiers and the more water you use the higher tier your put in and the higher the tier the higher your rate is. same with electric and you know I'm already in the highest tier on that one, my bill is outrageous with 2 1000's running plus my central air which runs all the time.
If your central air is running all the time it begs the question, "What does your insulation in your walls and attic look like?" I would start there and make sure you have adequate insulation and add more if necessary. This will help your comfort level, take a large load off of your AC system which extends its life span and also significantly lowers your utilities. You might also entertain looking into a swamp cooler.
Regarding shade cloth they make different kinds and pretty much rate it on the % of sun blocked - so 30% 50% shade, etc. While the burplap is a cool idea I think a shadecloth is a better idea as it will last way longer and not also fray apart shedding those fibers all up in your buds as they grow and develop. Those fibers would be absolutely everywhere in the buds when they finish.
damn I'm thinking this might be perfect.
http://www.bigfogg.com/product411.html
would Powder Mildew or bud rot be a problem at these temperatures or is it too hot for that? does anyone know off hand the temp range they thrive in. know PM usually needs colder temps but I'm not sure about bud rot or other molds or fungi. that would be the only thing id be worried about cooling with that method,
http://www.bigfogg.com/product411.html
would Powder Mildew or bud rot be a problem at these temperatures or is it too hot for that? does anyone know off hand the temp range they thrive in. know PM usually needs colder temps but I'm not sure about bud rot or other molds or fungi. that would be the only thing id be worried about cooling with that method,
They sell all kinds of shade cloth some as low as 30% shade.
So just pick one that suit you.
Here's another place that sells all kinds.
Shade Cloth
So just pick one that suit you.
Here's another place that sells all kinds.
Shade Cloth
im not sure what the insulation in the attic is like. i rent its not my house and i've never really had a reason to go up there. i'd have to convince my landlord to buy insulation if i wanted more in the attic and same with a swamp cooler. i was trying to grow in the garage and was considering a swamp cool for that room but its not well enough insulated to hold the temp. its also over 100 every single day (3days of 0ver 110) so it makes sense that it its always running.
cool thanks. a lot of people there reccommend mulching as well to keep root temps down. do you guys think i could use hydroton as mulch in replace of traditional cedar or whatever wood they use (i have a lot of hydration going unused right now)
That might work if you already have it laying around. I would imagine though that it might work like ball bearings or marbles and keep footing unsure and have stuff sliding around. On second thought though it would be fine if you are placing directly on that sand.
balsamfirgreen
Member
Aluminet, in my experience, is superior to black shade cloth, it lets more light through (because it is metallic in color and bounces the light around instead of absorbing it). also helps reflect heat instead of absorb it, as with black HDPE woven shade cloth. added benefit of fending off the cold temps of the night in the desert.
http://www.theshadeclothplace.com/aluminetshadecloth.html
http://www.theshadeclothplace.com/aluminetshadecloth.html
