Beginner Outdoor In Ground Grow

[Oldchucky]

I’ve felt the burn of that premature flowering woodstove! Twice! Homie, don’t touch that stove no mo!

 

[SouthTX420]

I think a farmers almanac would be very helpful to you for figuring out exactly when your part of the world will see its first 14 hour day this year

I bought me one months ago planning for this and it wasn’t as helpful as I thought it’d be. According to timeanddate.com my first true 14hr day would be June 9th and the last day would be June 30th. So only 21 days, I’ve read on multiple other threads and forums that
“Photoperiodically responsive plants can also detect civil twilight, thus meaning that you also have to take into account the short periods both before sunrise and after sunset.”
If I account for civil twilight I could put them out as soon as April 25th which I won’t.

 

[Oldchucky]

There were a couple of guys growing over in Thailand a year or two ago, and they had to string lightbulbs over their grow for pretty much the entirety of veg! I think their longest day of the year was 12 1/2 hours! I guess that’s what they get for not growing Thai weed! Equator growing is a different animal! And you’re a lot closer to the equator than I am!

 

[Oldchucky]

Yes, Civil Twilight didn’t help my ass! Lol they didn’t all flower but half of them did! And it wasn’t just pre-flower! A nice fat flower right in the middle of the females and and cute little nut clusters on the males! And they didn’t just grow out of it! I tried that!

 

[SouthTX420]

I think for most of us in continental u.s., sometime around the summer solstice is when we get 14 hours. I have always planted veggie seedlings around end of May. To op, have you considered how/where you're going to dry your harvest?

Yes, I have a spare house that we use for 1/2 storage and 1/2 kids play room. And the back room is my smoke area, that’s where I’m currently growing. Was thinking I’ll get some hanging drying racks like this.

Just not sure how I’m going to control the smell. maybe a box fan in the window or something.
At first I considered and old wood storage shed that was on our property but it’s not weathertight and I figured it’d get too humid and possible bugs.

 

[SouthTX420]

That’s a tough call because going by San Antonio your longest day of the year down there is 14 hours, I think between sun up and sundown! That’s an hour less than up here. So I don’t wanna give anybody bunk advice on when to put them out! Probably OK mid May. But not certain! I wait till June here! Maybe one guy has it figured out! I just don’t think you’ve gained that much at the end of the grow by trying to get them out a couple of weeks early! Since you have them under lights, I would be inclined to wait until the last week of May or 1 of June just to play it safe! I’ve been burned and I wasn’t putting them out that early. Probably May 1 or thereabouts!

That sounds good, I was just worried I’d run out of space or something but ya why not let them grow as much as they can in my somewhat more controlled environment (I don’t have dehumidifiers or exhausts) thinking I could also put them outside during nice days and pray that the cat or the kids don’t destroy them. Lol
I’m really gonna be freaking out if we ever take a vacation or have to be gone a few days for something. I really appreciate all y’all’s help. Much better response than Fb groups.

 

[Oldchucky]

That’s what I do! I use a decoy hauler to move 20 plants or so out to a table I have set up. Then move them back in around sundown and give them a couple more hours inside. Then outside full-time into their large final homes for the duration the first week of June. I can see where you might run out of room indoors that could force your hand. If push comes to shove and you have to put them out early then you could probably do what they do over in Thailand to get you by. Get a stringer with light fixtures and hang some bulbs over them until the coast is clear!

 

[Smokey_LaFleur]

You mentioned a tent. Might not be a bad idea if you can swing one. Exhaust fan with a carbon filter will cut down on the smell, if you're worried about that. IME, it doesn't entirely eliminate it, though. You'll want to get temp and rh as stable as possible during your dry. Many ways to dry. I prefer to cut the whole plant and hang it, the 60/60 method. Truth is I've never been able to get to 60°, mid 60s is best i can do. But 60% rh, or as close as possible to that, is probably more important.

 

[SouthTX420]

That’s what I do! I use a decoy hauler to move 20 plants or so out to a table I have set up. Then move them back in around sundown and give them a couple more hours inside. Then outside full-time into their large final homes for the duration the first week of June. I can see where you might run out of room indoors that could force your hand. If push comes to shove and you have to put them out early then you could probably do what they do over in Thailand to get you by. Get a stringer with light fixtures and hang some bulbs over them until the coast is clear!

Cool, I’ve read that even shining a spot light on them for 15 min around midnight is enough to keep them from going into flower. I’d prly keep with the 18/6 schedule though until I knew I was in the clear.

 

[Oldchucky]

Probably even OK with 15 or 16. I’ve heard it doesn’t take much light, but I don’t have any experience with it! But it’s an alternative. And it wouldn’t hurt to start getting your tent and indoor growing stuff together! In case you get your ass handed to you by mother nature! L O L!

 

[SouthTX420]

Happy Sunday!!
Little update, I was going to transplant from the solo cups to some 2 gallon fabric pots I got, but then people on a Fb group said that was too small, my AI assistant also agreed they would be too small to hold until transplant. Which would be either second week of May or last week of May to catch the waxing phase of the moon. So I got 5 gallon fabric pots that’ll be here Tuesday April 8.

Here’s how they are looking.

I also fed them for the second time last night. Here was what I fed them and in what order I mixed, then PH’d to 6.2.
Gave them 4oz each until I saw some run out. I mixed up my days I didn’t look at my grow journal where I document everything and ended up overwatering and all the leaves drooped. (I had watered them the morning before)
Set them on a wire rack and the fan ran all night as usual, humidity was around 50-55 so that helped dry them out. This morning they bounced right back.

(Got this screenshot from StrainShow’s YouTube channel, he has a great beginners guide and very informative videos in general)

Once I transplant to the 5 gallon pots I’ll set them on this table and hopefully they do ok there.

Got all my outdoor soil goodies ready to go once I dig the holes I’ll mix FFOF with 20% perlite, that’ll go in the bottom of the holes then top with FFHF with 25% perlite mixed 50/50 with native soil.

Happy growing, and as always any and all comments/suggestions are welcome.

 

[Oldchucky]

Happy Sunday!!
Little update, I was going to transplant from the solo cups to some 2 gallon fabric pots I got, but then people on a Fb group said that was too small, my AI assistant also agreed they would be too small to hold until transplant. Which would be either second week of May or last week of May to catch the waxing phase of the moon. So I got 5 gallon fabric pots that’ll be here Tuesday April 8.

Here’s how they are looking.
View attachment 2409457
View attachment 2409458

I also fed them for the second time last night. Here was what I fed them and in what order I mixed, then PH’d to 6.2.
Gave them 4oz each until I saw some run out. I mixed up my days I didn’t look at my grow journal where I document everything and ended up overwatering and all the leaves drooped. (I had watered them the morning before)
Set them on a wire rack and the fan ran all night as usual, humidity was around 50-55 so that helped dry them out. This morning they bounced right back.
View attachment 2409459
View attachment 2409460
(Got this screenshot from StrainShow’s YouTube channel, he has a great beginners guide and very informative videos in general)

Once I transplant to the 5 gallon pots I’ll set them on this table and hopefully they do ok there.
View attachment 2409461

Got all my outdoor soil goodies ready to go once I dig the holes I’ll mix FFOF with 20% perlite, that’ll go in the bottom of the holes then top with FFHF with 25% perlite mixed 50/50 with native soil.
View attachment 2409475

Happy growing, and as always any and all comments/suggestions are welcome.

Make sure you perk your holes, so you know what you’re dealing with as far as drainage! And if growing where the humidity is high constantly per light, is your friend!

 

[SouthTX420]

Make sure you perk your holes, so you know what you’re dealing with as far as drainage! And if growing where the humidity is high constantly per light, is your friend!

I had to Google “perk dirt hole” but yes I’ve heard of soil percolation tests for septic drain fields. I’ll look up how to do that.
Yes from about June to August we are about 90% and up with humidity.
Would you think add more perlite then what I had mentioned?

 

[Oldchucky]

I grow in the complete opposite of you! But I will speculate! Pot plants, hate wet feet! At 90° and 90% humidity you are going to get almost 0 evaporation! And not much more transpiration! You should be managing the route zone! If you keep the roots happy Then the plant might be happy! I wouldn’t even grow in the ground! I would stick with 30 gallon pots, fabric, light colored, so you can monitor the route zone! They aren’t much different than humans! 90% humidity and 90° are going to make you miserable! 110° and 15% humidity isn’t that bad! I know! wet and dry cycles in the root zone are very important! Per light can help you achieve those dry backs! You really have to monitor that zone! Then you might have some healthy plants for the insects down there to swarm and kick your ass with your tail between your legs indoors! and some tropical or semi tropical genetics might help a little! But it’s too late for that! Until you get your bearings, I don’t think it hurts to try one in the ground, one in a pot and so on and see what works! It took me three years to figure out my climate! I’ve crashed and burned more than once! Lol! You need to listen to mother nature! And read your plants! just two cents from someone who doesn’t grow in your climate! So take it all with a grain of salt!

 

[mancorn]

It’s not the length of day that’s important. It’s the length of uninterrupted dark. A short duration light strike at night will do the trick. If you have a security or porch light near by, install a high watt bulb. (Never used one but they have the corn bulbs which will give you a 360 cover if you hang a fixture.) Don’t need to be running your light all night, just a few minutes will do the trick.

Lots of info online:

How can I keep my cannabis plants from flowering? — Ed Rosenthal

“How can I keep my cannabis plants from flowering?” I am referring to young plants germinated from seeds or clones that are hearty enough to bring outdoors. Now I want them to grow larger, but if they go by the natural light cycle there are over 10 hours of darkness which will trigger flowering.

www.edrosenthal.com

 

[SouthTX420]

Well I guess I should change the name of this thread.
After many hours of agonizing I’ve decided to buy a 4x4 Gorilla Pro grow tent, I figured with the 1’ extension to make it 7’11” would let me veg the plants a little longer and hopefully get better yield. They were on sale so I got it shipped for $280, I’m already having buyers remorse wondering if I really need the extra height and if I shouldn’t have just went with the AC Infinity tent kit.
As far as lights go I was about to get a SpiderFarmer SE5000 but then I saw a few bad reviews but I also saw the same with ACI EVO6, ViparSpectra KS5000, just about every light I looked at had a few bad reviews, and I’ve been researching lights for like 5 hrs now, so now my brain is hurting and I don’t know what light would be good to get. The Migro Aray 4x4 looks pretty good though.
I plan to get the ACI 6” exhaust fan because I hear good things about their controller system.
I’ll sleep on it.
I’m bummed out that my outdoor grow wouldn’t work in my location due to the extreme humidity we get in the summer ~80%-90% and extreme heat ~100°f-105°f.
I’d really be upset if the plants went to shit outside so now I’m changing gears and going to try indoors tent.
A part of me just wants to say fuck it at this point. I could’ve done bought prly 4oz of bud with what I already got in it, and now I gotta buy everything for an indoor grow. The wife is gonna love this. Lol
I gotta stick with it though. I knew it wouldn’t be easy, just gotta roll with it.
Luckily I just busted ass doing a side job at work that’ll bring in some extra cash.

 

[Oldchucky]

Bummer! I was looking forward to watching you slug it out! I think eventually you will be thankful you got the extra height tent! Can’t you just put one out? Lol!

 

[Smokey_LaFleur]

Well, I personally think you made a good decision to move indoors. I have a friend who lives in Lampasas. 110 degrees plus for weeks at a time is tough on most living things! Weed is tough, but that's really pushing it, IMO. I use an evo 6 as well, it's a decent light but not enough red to me. I also use the hlg blackbird. Blackbird gets the nod from me, but costs a bit more. Can't speak to the others on your list.

 

[SouthTX420]

Well, I personally think you made a good decision to move indoors. I have a friend who lives in Lampasas. 110 degrees plus for weeks at a time is tough on most living things! Weed is tough, but that's really pushing it, IMO. I use an evo 6 as well, it's a decent light but not enough red to me. I also use the hlg blackbird. Blackbird gets the nod from me, but costs a bit more. Can't speak to the others on your list.

I was seriously looking at a refurbed Blackbird and it seems like its number’s dwindled at the edges of a 4x4. If you’ve had good results with it I may look into it again?
I do like that it’s American Made though.

My 3 picks are SE5000, Migro Aray 4x4, and I’d say refurbed Blackbird, I know the Migro can be controlled by AC Infinity controller not sure about the other 2. More research to be done.

 

[SouthTX420]

Bummer! I was looking forward to watching you slug it out! I think eventually you will be thankful you got the extra height tent! Can’t you just put one out? Lol!

lol I can’t tell if your serious about putting one out or not? I’d really be all over the place lugging around nutes and what not.
Also forgot to mention another big factor was we are looking into adding on to our house and I was worried about construction workers wandering around and stumbling upon my outdoor grow.
Def don’t need that. I’d still like to give it a try one day though.
In the meantime I’m returning my garden bug netting, outdoor tent poles, camo netting. Should give me about $100 back.