prolonging time inbetween outdoor watering trips

[jomchimpo]

hey all, i was wondering if some of you experienced growers had any tips on this. I was thinking of maybe getting one or two 5 gallon buckets, putting a small hole in the bottom of them, filling them with water, and placing them close to the main stem of each plant(in ground). in theory this would give the plants steady watering for a longer period of time, and when i make a trip i can just fill the buckets up. what would be the pros/cons of this? thanks everybody

 

[DLtoker]

MJ roots need time to air out.... Hence the problem with over watering. Why don't you do a google search for water polymers as they can help immensely.

 

[jomchimpo]

so you think that the constant water supply would oversaturate the plant?

 

[marcnh]

Hey Jom. I will tell what I did, then make you own opinion.
I dug holes two feet wide by two feet deep, filled them with miracle grow moisture control (there are better soils out there), and mixed in about 3 tablespoons of polymer crystals like dltoker said. http://www.megagro.com/aquarocks.htm?source=Y-aquarocks
However, dont mix it with the top few inches of soil.
I didn't water for 3 weeks ok, it didnt rain at all, I came back 3 weeks later and my plants grew from nice little 1.5 foot bushes to 6 foot tall monsters. The most difficult aspects of growing outdoors is not watering your plants or using the right nutrients - it is finding the right spot where NOBODY will ever walk, and keeping the rabbits, groundhogs, deer ect from eating your plants. I had 30 plants growing at one time in different areas and ended up with 7 between them getting eaten or at harvest time it seemed that someone was watching the area, so I never harvested. I had 3 6 foot tall by 3 foot wide monsters with 2 inch stems that i couldn't harvest because basically I was in the wrong area. Just my two cents.

 

[jomchimpo]

that was extremely helpful marcnh, as it happens, i'm digging 2x2 holes as well and using the same potting soil, those prices arent bad, but do you know if any places like wal-mart or home depot sell those aqua rocks? I know what your sayin man, i actually found a more than ideal spot, just i'm gonna have to make night trips, no big deal though, and i'm making small fences for the deer, thanks a million man

 

[jomchimpo]

another quick question, i keep hearing about how miracle grow soil is bad, and i'm not sure why, but i think i have another option, i live near creek bed that is dry for most of the year except for summer floods, and on the steep banks of it it kind've has some sandy, loose, light colored something, i'm not sure if its dirt or silt or whatever, but i think if it is silt related then it'd be a great soil to grow in. what do you guys think about that, thanks

 

[marcnh]

I wouldnt grow in that soil you described near the creek. In addition to the moisture crystals, you should dress the top of the soil with sticks, grass, whatever to inhibit moisture loss from the sun hitting the soil while still allowing air to get to the roots. Gorge Cervantes recommends carrying a backpak full of grass to dress the topsoil every time you water - so that should tell you something. Also you should take out any surrounding plants as they will use up your water. Just don't overdue it with the crystals, read the directions.
Yes you can get the stuff at home depot. It's fun experimenting with it too, I took just a pinch between my fingers and it soaked up about 6 ounces of water turning the crystals from white to what looks like gel water, no way else to describe it.
Also I would like to mention plant placement for optimum light. Excuse me if you already know this, I don't want to insult your intelligence. Anyways, get a compass. Face north. You will notice the sun is in front of you at a 75 deg angle and your shadow is behind you. Now when you choose your grow spot put your plants on the south side of the clearing. They will get the most light this way. You will see what I mean when you get out there. DON'T GROW ANYWHERE YOU SEE SIGNS THAT HUMANS HAVE BEEN THERE. IT'S NOT FUN WALKING OUT OF YOUR GROW AREA AND SOMEONE ASKS YOU WHAT'S UP, WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE? (personal experience) Be careful and plan your trips well. Don't park your car near your grow area. I like riding my bike with a backpack - nothing wrong there, I'm just mountain biking. Good luck....

 

[marcnh]

Oh yeah, I found mine at home depot. Its like 9 bucks for enough to do over a hundred plants. I had many plants eaten until I started using "liquid fence" thats the name. Spray it every time you water BUT don't let the wind blow it onto you because you will reek. I spray that all around the plants, and the directions say spray it directly on your plants, didn't seem to hurt mine at all.

 

[snuggles]

MG soil is OK for plants that are already established, it's just that it has time release food and sometime it burns young plants, and sometimes people feel the need to use nutes, why feed something if it already has food...LOL. Mulch would work great as a top dressing, so does Coco, allows air in and holds water fairly well. But I would think those crystals and some top dressing like mulch should be fine. remeber weed grows outside naturally even if no one is there to tend to them...they did fine without man interefering for years. Good luck

 

[jomchimpo]

this thread is really helping me get all my details stamped out, thanks everybody. Hey Marcnh, funny story about that liquid fence stuff, one time my mom tried to keep the cat from eating the indoor plants and sprayed that stuff on the plants inside, and i could hardly take a breath in the house for a few weeks, that stuff is RANK, i'm pretty sure its actually coyote urine. Do you think that spraying such a strong smell on the plants themselves might effect the smell/taste of the end product? i'd be kind've afraid of that. Btw i didnt know about that north/south thing, thanks for the advice.

Also you said that i should kill any nearby plants, does this include the high grass? i mean obviously i will kill it where i dig the hole, but should i rake it up a few feet around it as well? Thanks again for all your help everybody

 

[marcnh]

Gorge Cervantes says to dig the tall grass up and turn it over. I sprayed it on the plants and it will not affect the taste. I think there is a greater danger of deer eating your plants early in the season, but as summer goes on they have more food around. Also I don't remember where I read this, but if you spray the stuff every time you water, the deer will get trained to just stay away from that area.
So the basic idea is to not let too much water evaporate, and try to have only your mj soaking up the water.

 

[jomchimpo]

around here deer even eat cactus, so i'll be sure to use every line of defense i can against them. thanks again

 

[Kupunakane]

Yo Ho jomchimpo,
Yeppers Mj does real well with a southern exposure. Line up north and the darker, or glowing line on the compass on the N and then turn your back towards north, you will be facing South then, and you will see this on the compass as well. That is the direction that plants do well with if they can get that light. Lots of good posts in here about outdoor stealth. Here is a thought for you. That stupid MG soil we are talking about should work fine for you outdoors, as there are critters that will feed in the gnats, eggs, and larvae that are often found in the MG soil. So I wouldn't worry about using it. BUT like snuggles said, little sprouts might get burnt from it. Mine didn't, but I can't answer for yours.
Are there trees real close, I saw a setup where the 5 gal bucket was expertly camoflaged behind a bush, and up in a tree, about 1 foot up, and the dude had it set up with a drip tube.
good luck, take your time, and remember stealth. Be dumb as a fox. Take a small pair of binoculars and a small bird or butterfly book with you, and lie like the devil if you got to save your butt.http://www.marijuanapassion.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=46508&stc=1&d=1202002369
compass.jpg
smoke in peace
KingKahuuna

 

[jomchimpo]

hey marcnh i passed on some of your knowledge about those aquarocks in nikidels post on preparing site soil, big grand round of applause for you all, thanks alot

 

[longtimegrower]

I have a bunch of those plastic water bottles like you buy bottled water in. What would happen if you burry one with just the top sticking out above ground and you cut a hole in it for the roots to work into and you filled it every time you went to water would it help or hurt you plants.

 

[Ekoostik_Hookah]

Plant near big thorn bushes....i believe deer wolnt go out of there way to get stabbed 100000 times to eat a mj plant....
Just plant it so you can wiggle your way back there without getting stabbed.

 

[jomchimpo]

I don't really get what your saying ltg, do you mean cut the bottom of the bottles off in the ground? or just poke a hole in em? i might consider that cus i couldnt find those aquarocks at home depot, ill go look at some nurseries though.

 

[TheStickyIcky]

Plant near big thorn bushes....i believe deer wolnt go out of there way to get stabbed 100000 times to eat a mj plant....
Just plant it so you can wiggle your way back there without getting stabbed.

Deer eat briars.....

 

[Puffin Afatty]

I heard of soil amendments you can add to hold moisture, like clay

 

[jomchimpo]

Could i ask another quick question? once i germinate them inside in small pots, how long should i wait/how big to they need to be, to hold their own outside. I don't have any big lights, just some good windows