desert sun

[seagull]

is it best to keep plants in partial shade or full sun? the temps get to 115 outside

 

[leafminer]

Full sun. Sounds like you live near me! My summer temps are up to 46C and for the last three days it has been 40C. The five sat-dom seedlings are loving it.

 

[mojavemama]

Seagull, there are a lot of games we play in doing a desert grow, especially if the plants are in pots. With the intensity of the sun and the lack of humidity, it takes a lot of special care. I am doing an indoor-outdoor grow--in at night, out during the day. I put them in full sun up to 100 degrees, but don't leave them in that sun very long. I put them out early morning, let them get about 5 hours of natural light, then back in under the lights in the grow room.

Still, to keep them happy, I wrap the pots in layers and layers of wet newspapers, put them in a cart with river rocks in the bottom, leave an inch or so of water on the bottom of the cart, but not touching the plants. Then I put wadded up newspaper all around all the pots, and cover the soil with strips of wet newspaper, then cover that all with shadecloth. They do very well this way, and tolerate the 100% heat, and have continued growing beautifully. They are all in flower now, just first week, but still thriving and throwing gorgeous pistils.

Good luck and if you have a chance, check out my Mojave Desert grow.

 

[DirtySouth]

Oh my,close to home.As said above,many ways to play this game,lol
If your plants are in pots,mojavemama has the right idea.Keep your soil cool(under 80) if not your roots will roast.This is the real problem with desert growin.
The hotter it is the more water moister(water,not nutes)the roots consume.so be sure to check soil often(rockwool cubes,sponge pieces,polymer crystals are good additives to mix in with soil for increased moister).
@ around 90* cannabis has a tendacy to "retard"(slow,abnormal)in growth,with your 115*+ temp. you would either want to remove the plant mid afternoon,or place it so it would be shadded for the hottest 4 hours(shade cloth does wonders)of the day.
Watch for "nute-lock" as water consumption increases as the temp. rises.

 

[mojavemama]

Dirty South, great response--but I have a question. You write to "Watch out for nute lock as water consumption increases as the temperature rises."

So the heat itself can cause nute lock, not just a Ph imbalance? I had nute lock early on before I started using reverse osmosis water, but since flushing them with good water, no problem with keeping everything even and green.

I'm keeping my plants now outside for 5-7 hours each day, but not in the hottest part of the afternoon. The temps went down to the mid 90's this week, so we got a bit of a break. But by the time it's 110 here mid-morning, those sunning days outside will pretty much be history, I fear. Especially with the broader leafed Indicas I'm growing.

 

[DirtySouth]

Yo mojavemama,it did get a little cooler especialy last night.
Increasing watering and reduce nute dosage as weather warms up.Your plant will use more water and less nutes,especially HOT days,its easy to over nuke em.
Your in soil,correct(I'm a hydro guy,tryin soil).I believe you would check the ppm(ec,not commonly used in the states)of your wateropon watering.Then you go ahead and water,catching the run off.After you catch the run-off re-check.If the ppm(ec) is higher in your run off,you got it LOCK OUT.

 

[mojavemama]

Thanks, Dirty South! I think we're on the same wave length. I've been checking the ppm/PH with runoff, and it's stable. I haven't had any probs in 2 months. It was just early on in vegging when I had Ph problems and got nute lock. Hasn't happened since I adjusted the water, and use only bottled RO (reverse osmosis) water now.

And oh, you are SO right that they use tons of water now--I watered them all this morning before putting them out, about a gallon each, and they were ready for another gallon this afternoon, when I brought 'em in. And I'm also using less nutes. Gosh, I'm glad to know I'm doing it right!

Though he's not complaining, I'm sure my hubby iis getting weary of going out every evening and feeding quarters into the water machine and schlepping 10 gallons of water each day.

Got 12 more CFL's up today, and the grow area is so bright! I have lights in between the pots, under the canopy and on the walls, as well as overhead.

I can fit 14 plants in the grow area now nicely, but as they get wider, I know I'll have to toss a few more outside.

Thanks so much for taking the time to respond, Dirty South. Appreciate your interest and your help very, very much!

 

[DirtySouth]

No prob. glad 2 put in my 2 cents.Every time he(hubby) gives a sigh or even a groan,remind him of $120.00 an eigth.That should turn that frown up side down,I know it does me(even though going rate is from 1/3 -1/2 that,locally).

I use cfl's 4 veggin,just courious but how are your tricomes?I heard they really jump out at cha.