My small spot

Weathers

Member
Hello RIU! (:
So I have been lurking here for a bit and thought I would post. I like the community you have going on here for the outdoor types. You all seem vary helpful and laid back with lots of beautiful and happy plants.

I haven't grown in years, and the only growing I have done has all been indoor hydro using the Lucas formula.
Now that I am living in Oregon and have some room, I thought I would try some organic outdoor growing.

Where I live there is a place that sells already made mixes. I picked up 2 yards of what they call Gaia's gift and added a few things. I tossed in some guano pellets (12-10-3), some kelp meal and some ground oyster shells. I was going to add some dol-lime, but thought I would see how they do with the well water first. I could always use RO if I had to.
The base mix is made up with (copy and past from their site)
Low Salt Coco Peat, Peat Moss, Pumice, Perlite, Premium Compost, Worm Castings, Seabird Guano, Kelp Meal, Fish Bone Meal, Feather Meal, Crab Meal, Rock Phosphate, K-Mag and Glacial Rock Dust.

I have to water about every 4 to 6 days depending on heat, and I am using a ACT at 1 or so cups of worm castings, 2 tbs molasses and 4 tbs kelp meal per 5 gal every other watering. I also sometimes add in fish emulsion and or the ground up guano pellets listed above. For flower I have guano that is high P and liquid bone meal at 0-10-0, but I will wait to add those based on if the plant looks like it needs it.

Since this is my first time outside and in soil I went with some clones I got locally. I will try seeds next year depending on how this year goes.

The first 2 are trainwreck.




The next 2 are lemon kusch .




My helper.



And my other helper :bigjoint:


The green light means go! hehe

The girls haven't been trimmed for about 2 weeks now. They were being trimmed to try and focus growth on the main branches, but I think I am going to let them go at this point, and next year I am not sure if I will do any trimming at all. Also, the coffee sacks were put on when they first got transplanted and it was really hot out. I put the bags on to help keep the pots cool since they are black and get pretty hot in the sun. I will remove those before the moist weather comes back.

If anyone has any input I would love to hear it.
 

Dabbinblunted

Well-Known Member
Hello RIU! (:
So I have been lurking here for a bit and thought I would post. I like the community you have going on here for the outdoor types. You all seem vary helpful and laid back with lots of beautiful and happy plants.

I haven't grown in years, and the only growing I have done has all been indoor hydro using the Lucas formula.
Now that I am living in Oregon and have some room, I thought I would try some organic outdoor growing.

Where I live there is a place that sells already made mixes. I picked up 2 yards of what they call Gaia's gift and added a few things. I tossed in some guano pellets (12-10-3), some kelp meal and some ground oyster shells. I was going to add some dol-lime, but thought I would see how they do with the well water first. I could always use RO if I had to.
The base mix is made up with (copy and past from their site)
Low Salt Coco Peat, Peat Moss, Pumice, Perlite, Premium Compost, Worm Castings, Seabird Guano, Kelp Meal, Fish Bone Meal, Feather Meal, Crab Meal, Rock Phosphate, K-Mag and Glacial Rock Dust.

I have to water about every 4 to 6 days depending on heat, and I am using a ACT at 1 or so cups of worm castings, 2 tbs molasses and 4 tbs kelp meal per 5 gal every other watering. I also sometimes add in fish emulsion and or the ground up guano pellets listed above. For flower I have guano that is high P and liquid bone meal at 0-10-0, but I will wait to add those based on if the plant looks like it needs it.

Since this is my first time outside and in soil I went with some clones I got locally. I will try seeds next year depending on how this year goes.

The first 2 are trainwreck.




The next 2 are lemon kusch .




My helper.



And my other helper :bigjoint:


The green light means go! hehe

The girls haven't been trimmed for about 2 weeks now. They were being trimmed to try and focus growth on the main branches, but I think I am going to let them go at this point, and next year I am not sure if I will do any trimming at all. Also, the coffee sacks were put on when they first got transplanted and it was really hot out. I put the bags on to help keep the pots cool since they are black and get pretty hot in the sun. I will remove those before the moist weather comes back.

If anyone has any input I would love to hear it.
Looking great man keep doing what your doing! What size pots are those?
 

Larry {the} Gardener

Well-Known Member
It looks like you found the sweet spot. Plants are looking good. All I would recommend is some straw on top of your soil for mulch. And next year maybe a little more topping, LST'ing and super cropping.
 

Weathers

Member
Looking great man keep doing what your doing! What size pots are those?
Thanks man. They are the 100 gallon ones. I think I will go 200 or 300 next time.

It looks like you found the sweet spot. Plants are looking good. All I would recommend is some straw on top of your soil for mulch. And next year maybe a little more topping, LST'ing and super cropping.
Hi Larry! I was thinking about the straw. I wasn't sure about adding it though before flowering in case I have to add a topdressing. I was also worried about over trimming and didn't want to short myself. I hope to have a better feel for it come next year.
 

Larry {the} Gardener

Well-Known Member
Hi Larry! I was thinking about the straw. I wasn't sure about adding it though before flowering in case I have to add a topdressing. I was also worried about over trimming and didn't want to short myself. I hope to have a better feel for it come next year.
You can always just rake it off to top dress, then put it back on.

And topping is personal thing. Many do not top at all and have huge yields. I top often. With my long summers, I can top 4 or 5 times. That is 16 or 32 main tops, not to mention all the side branches that can be topped.
 

Weathers

Member
I topped these a couple times. The last one was 6 or so inches below the netting. As they get longer I will spread them out more and add another net above them if needed. I like the cages I have seen here too. I might add that next year to the pot when transplanting.
 

jonnyquest

Well-Known Member
those are looking real nice, id love to try the trainwreck sometime does it ever come out in a dominant sativa pheno?
 

Larry {the} Gardener

Well-Known Member
I topped these a couple times. The last one was 6 or so inches below the netting. As they get longer I will spread them out more and add another net above them if needed. I like the cages I have seen here too. I might add that next year to the pot when transplanting.
I've never had to use cages. My plants didn't have enough weight to break many limbs. And a couple of the ones that did break was from tree limbs falling on them. But I did use a few tomato cages on the last round of transplants..
 

Mr.Marijuana420

Well-Known Member
Stop cutting back all that growth!! Its not necessary to do all that trimming. If later on, after stretch, the plants become so monstrous that the small stuff below is limiting airflow, doing more harm than good, cut some back on the bottom. Though I don't see that being an issue with the amount of trimming already done.
 

Indacouch

Well-Known Member
Very cool set up I like it ....but I must agree don't take anymore healthy stuff off of those girls ......looking good .....good luck
 

Weathers

Member
Thank you all for popping in. I love the advice.

those are looking real nice, id love to try the trainwreck sometime does it ever come out in a dominant sativa pheno?
Thanks Jonnyquest. I am not sure how these are actually. The guy I got the clones from has had it around for a while and grows it every year. I will let you know in a couple months for sure though. bongsmilie

I've never had to use cages. My plants didn't have enough weight to break many limbs. And a couple of the ones that did break was from tree limbs falling on them. But I did use a few tomato cages on the last round of transplants..
Yeah, both of these seem to have really thick stems. Even brand new they seem to be really stout. I have seen the garden these came from and last year the only support was from netting above. I was leaning towards the cage because where this spot is it gets really gusty. There is a tall hill to either side and the wind just rips through there. I will know better once they start putting weight on.

Stop cutting back all that growth!! Its not necessary to do all that trimming. If later on, after stretch, the plants become so monstrous that the small stuff below is limiting airflow, doing more harm than good, cut some back on the bottom. Though I don't see that being an issue with the amount of trimming already done.
I am done with the cutting for now for sure. When they were in 3 gallon pots they had the first 2 stems cut off and then they were burred up past that point when going into the 100 gallon pots. We do get a lot of early rain here so I see the hollowed out look a lot. Coming from a closet the trimming is kind of a hard habit to break, but I like how the untrimmed plants look and produce. I go through about 2 oz a month, so if these girls get me through till next harvest I will be happy. Next year I will let them go for it for sure.

I'm betting you could up the waterings. I've been having to give a good 5-10g every other day at least. and the 30's need it daily.
I check them sort of with a thin bamboo stick. I push it in to the bottom and then look to see how moist it looks. The mix seems to hold moisture really well, but with this heat we are having I am worried it isn't enough. I just don't want to flush anything good out. It is hard for me to judge with the hose how much they are getting... I need to set up a drip I think.

Is there a way to reliably check the moisture level in these pots? When I check them they always seem to be moist a cpl inches down, even after days of no water.

Nice lookin grow.

Some great growers with fantastic tips on here (some awesome debates to!)
Thanks Luke. I agree man, all the grows I have seen here look really good. I really like the vibe here too with everyone being so nice and helpful. I avoid drama as much as possible as it is such a buzz kill. :bigjoint:

Very cool set up I like it ....but I must agree don't take anymore healthy stuff off of those girls ......looking good .....good luck
Thanks man. yeah, I have put the clippers away now. Out of site and out of mind. hehe

Larrys right..i just use local sugar cane straw :)
Gd luck with the final product
Thanks Ruby. I am going to for sure. I already had plans on going and grabbing a bale of alfalfa today after his recommendation yesterday.

Thanks again to everyone for the great feedback and warm welcome.
 

Amshif87

Well-Known Member
Mulch with comfrey. That's probably a plan for next year unless you are already growing it, but it works great. If not I second alfalfa hay. It's easy to topdressing. Just move it to the side. If it's already decomposed top dress on top and add new mulch. Trying to get an Oregon BBQ together post harvest this year. This is a thread somewhere over here in outdoor. Things look awesome. How much did the gaias gift cost per yard by the way? Stay safe and happy farming.
 

Weathers

Member
A moisture probe would make it easier i bet. I have increased the watering now though.

The soil was 106 a yard picked up. I have no complaints with it and will deff get it again. Next year I think I will be going with 300 gallon pots.
A BBQ sounds really cool. It would give me an excuse to smoke a shoulder or a brisket. :joint:
 
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