Hasbro's Desert/Outdoor/Mandala/ Fox Farm/Organic/ Grow Thread

KillYourEgo: The shade cloth, when used for shading plants, does not have to be all or nothing. You can move it on and off. I use it for: the hottest part of the day, trying to reduce transplant shock, younger plants. Maybe you can take less than a 15% hit that way.

Thought I'd bring this up from yesterday as someone may have missed it:



Day 84, 6/27

102 and muggy still. 10 gallons x2. 52-53". Will have to up quantity soon due to upcoming heat increase, lower humidity.

Could the early flowering Rishis contnue flowering through the summer and go full flower in the fall? I have no prior knowledge regarding this situation and can see nowhere that human error is involved, just a heat or strain response? General structure and appearance and color are excellant. Anything I'm missing?




Day 87, 6/30

About 102-104 last three days, still more humid, about 20-30%, I think, not sure, will pay a little more attention.

Watered only once yesterday, about 10 gallons. 10 or 12 this morning, 6 tonight in a couple of dry spots.

Four plants are 53-55". Little K. is about 8 or 10" shorter. Still the prettiest, although the biggest Rishi is pretty impressive with the flowering all over it and there are about 15 leading branches within inches of the top. Another 10 branches a few inches below that. Yeah, a pic would help, I'll get on it. Keep getting home too late and the phone camera whites out in the sun. I'm also a little nervous about having the computer lady downloading my camera when she fixes it since it is filled with grow pics.

Ten gallon potted Rishi is about 47" and way less vegetation. Some lightening of leaves down below in the shadier areas but will probably not fert for a while. Why? Curious to see how it responds with less than, not more, ferting.

Day 88, 7/1

11:00 and 100, 105 later. Ten gallons at 11:00.

Day 88, 7/1, (cont.)


103. Fourteen gallons tonight. Humidity today 15-35%.

From an unpruned 5 central leaders there are now about 50 equal height branches that are 48-55". Will be fun to watch them develop. The little Krystallica has as few as five and the large flowering Rishi has eighteen. So, five plants, five slightly different structures. Should be fun to observe cola differences.

Oh, the three flowering plants; the Krystallica in the center never really went into flower and is just vegging. One Rishi also didn't kick off but still has some flowering but may be abating? Big Krystallica is still flowering. She was the most pruned, biggest, in the hottest corner, and dried out the most back a bit when I was playing with watering needs. Very minor wilting at the time but combining all of these factors may have triggered flowering? Oh, and the perlite wasn't on iirc, so higher soil surface temps. That's all I can think of with this situation. Maybe a toad likes to pee under it.

Day 89, 7/2

102, 17-55% humidity. Unusual that it is warmer than the forecast(100). It didn't cloud up as anticipated. Seasonal monsoons are trying to develop, which is great if it keeps temps down. Fingers crossed. 12 gallons at 11:00.

The two flowering Rishis are a slightly lighter green I noticed today. I gave the big Rishi and the potted Rishi a handful of organic 5-3-3 fert mixed in one gallon of water and then added four gallons of water with a tablespoon of Maxsea acid fert. I did not fert the other Rishi Kush for comparison.

I guess I'll go back to making tea again but will have to make in my bathroom as the garage is too hot. I like the smell but it should make an interesting aroma coupled with the cat litter. Eu de Ew.

57-54"



Time to alter!



One of two Cats of Death. Fifteen year old brothers. Ten gallon Rishi is somewhat visible. Pot tray in front helps shade plant and is also great for a four egg quail's nest. In spite of the two Cats of Death. Sometimes they're Cats of Huh?.



The two fertilized plants are more turgid right now when, at dusk, they should be wilting a little. Food for thought. Most likely the extra water they recieved, still trying to transpire due to too much moisture? Dunno. I should overwater a different plant to observe.

Didn't water tonight. Much cooler now.

note: haven't been reading much other weed oriented literature for a while. Just want to learn the grow on my own so I can try to figure out things as they develop. It's more challenging and fun to me. Now, if they get bugs I'll get on the lit really fast!

To Do:
-refurbish potted Rishi
-green shade cloth, tan top
-spread branches with twine and rocks
-teas,
-ferts, decide for rest of veg

Day 90, 7/3

Three months. Feels longer. Half way there.

High of 90, woohoo! 35% humidity. Ten gallons at 1:00.

Draped the new green shade cloth over the two visible sides, left tan on there to make a more discrete view. Looks pretty cool. Well, to me. I thought all of my tree houses looked cool, too. They really did!

I've resorted to shoving plastic coated landscape wire through the cloth and wrapping it around the t bars. Quick and simple and flexible. I'll wire two corners of the tan roof cloth to the outer property wall where it has iron bars, that will take tensile stress off of the four corner t bars and allow for an easier removal on cooler days.

No water tonight. Shade roof will really cut down on water usage.

11:00pm; a very light rain, first time they have experienced it.

Day 91, 7/4

85, going to 90, 50% humidity, some clouds. Ten gallons at 11:00. A little Maxsea foliar on the front flowering Rishi.

Put a third layer of shade cloth on the two sides for more stealth.

3:00; RAIN!!!



Center and left shade cloth sides have three layers. The tan is much more reflective so it works out well having the green on the outside. 56-60".



Just tried some new growth near the top of the little "Indica" Krystallica. Wiped the rain off of it and stuck in the bowl, lol. Definately different. Stronger body, very nice and calm. Stronger, and creeps! Would love to know what chemicals are actually being taken in. Hah, hah, yeah, don't smoke fresh. Think I'll go make sure with another test...

^ Added some pics.

Day 92, 7/5



High of 93, currently 40% humidity. 20-50% for next 24 hours (high). Watered with eight gallons this morning. Could have used less after rain but wanted to get any dryer spots covered. This is where the moisture meter really helps as there tends to be dry spots in varying areas. The rain only surface wet the garden, about 1/2" deep.

There are quail eggs everywhere and the parents really raise a fuss when I come out. They truly feed the desert. There are 12 eggs sitting unattended in one spot - Mom and Dad must have become lunch. The good thing about my back yard is the bigger animals stay out so the quail have a safe haven. Fairly safe, the hawks, roadrunners, gila monsters, etc. get in but rarely see bobcats and haven't seen coyotes in the back, although they are very good jumpers. My next door neighbor has seen them jump his six foot wall in a single bound with ease. At least the javelinas stay out. Wabbits, although they could walk in do not as the entry is too intimidating for them. I'm thankful for that! The wabbits and javelinas would destroy the back yard. Wascals.

Deep mulching will help combat heat and cold stress. Perhaps a frame supporting some shade screen would help. I use shade cloth over cool weather crops that like to bolt to seed in the heat. Weed doesn't naturally grow in 100% unobstructed sun. Some shade wont hurt your girls. Water in the morning. Watering will cool the root zone through evaporation. Watering at night you might chill your ladies too much. Watering in the morning will help "air condition" your plants. A good thick application of mulch will help keep heat in at night and keep heat out during the day.... and conserve water.

Originally Posted by WyoGrow

Deep mulching will help combat heat and cold stress. Perhaps a frame supporting some shade screen would help. I use shade cloth over cool weather crops that like to bolt to seed in the heat. Weed doesn't naturally grow in 100% unobstructed sun. Some shade wont hurt your girls. Water in the morning. Watering will cool the root zone through evaporation. Watering at night you might chill your ladies too much. Watering in the morning will help "air condition" your plants. A good thick application of mulch will help keep heat in at night and keep heat out during the day.... and conserve water.

Thanks, I'm sure you mean well and are knowledgable but perhaps you missed parts of my scintillating stay up all night thread. I have two to four inches of perlite for an excellant mulch. The roots are actually on the soil surface under the perlite. Shade cloth on the sides and a removable top. Watering at night will not chill the plants in the desert summer. They also get surface watered every hot day and I use a laser thermometer on the soil.

Sounds like you have it all figured out then homie.......

Originally Posted by WyoGrow

Sounds like you have it all figured out then homie.......

Not even close!

WyoGrow, in homage to your birthday, this morning I fertilized a few plants (tomatoe,potted Rishi, and a penta) with 60 parts water/1 part urine, peepeems of 200. To do it again I would want to see an analysis. Plus I have a high peeH of about 7.0 due to my diet. Intentionally.

For those completeley befuddled: Are you flushing away one of the best fertilizers you'll ever use???? Yes, you are!!

Day 93, 7/6

Only 97 today, 25% humidity now. 12 gallons at noon. Better weather than the Midwest. This is the mildest summer since moving here seven years ago.... so far.

Tallest are around 65". I need to tie these girls down,enough to shorten them by 12-16". The logistical ergonomics will be seriously impaired. I have a foot to a foot and a half of a walking path on the ledge between planter and shade cloth walls. This is where all of the twine held down by rocks will also be. In the planter will also be rocks holding twine. Hmmm, Hasbro (that's me!) doesn't have any where to walk. I think wires would be just as awkward. If any of you folks have a suggestion please endow me with your insights. You will be blessed by the powers that be and I will also really appreciate it. At the very least several gnomes will smile in your direction.

Bored. Any suspension geeks out there may view this with some pleasure:




And for the aerodynamic performance buffs a little 1400 lb. project of mine:




Day 97, 7/7

Fourteen gallons at noon, 100 degrees so far, 10% humidity.

Brewing some tea finally, about 800 ppms, but will dilute to 160 (25 gallons). Will up the ppms for the two flowering Rishis if the response is poor. Will give each plant two gallons and will use the rest for other non weed plants. Will have to move perlite aside so as not to make them dark.

If anyone sees a problem with not pre watering 160ppm tea please let me know.

I sometimes forget to mention things but I'm assuming that the Rishis just developed an increased need for nutrients a few weeks ago in spite of the fresh mass of planter Happy Frog. In retrospect I would still use the HF, not a spicier soil, and just adjust ferts on a per plant application. Three of the five plants in the planter didn't show flowers but it's time for all to be fertilized to varying degrees although the three non flowering plants barely need it. Another reason to love teas!

Playing with my calculator. The harvest numbers were initially not a concern as I just wanted to complete a successful grow and take it from there. Playing with the calculator suggests that one fourth of the stated harvest potential on Mandala's site will yield about three pounds. I have been telling myself that 1 1/2 lbs. would be a satisfactory yield but, hey, I won't turn my back to a bigger result!

TEA

Decided to do the tea tonight instead of tomorrow morning because...

-planter was close to needing water anyway
-cooler at night
-ummm, that's it

16 gallons, diluted to 175 ppms but that's a heavy watering for a fairly moist already planter. Also decided to water each the same, even the little Krystallica. Foliar fed the two flowering Rishis. So, more fert than usual for me but it's been a while and will need it again soon. Don't know if I'll move the perlite to the side again, what a pain in the buttocks.

Will fert potted Rishi tomorrow as it's dark and I don't want to scare the quail sitting on her nest.

Day 98, 7/8

100, 23%, was partly cloudy this morning, sunnier now. No 105+ heat in the near future. This must have been what the weather was like one hundred years and more ago here when there was more water with Jaguars and mountain sheep. Watered ten gallon Rishi, and the rest of the garden and foliar. Will give planter water this evening.

Well, my favorite, the little Krystallica is a boy! Major bummage. About two days ago it just started and today the whole plant, poof, full of balls. Haven't cut down yet. Was hoping to use for cuttings but that's life. So, 5 of 8 are females. I must say the extra room will be welcome for tying down branches. Still, that leaves only one Krystallica. My bad, should have kept better watch as I haven't been looking closely for the past few weeks. Oh well, moving on.