hardening off question

highwayman

Well-Known Member
hi i'll be starting my new outdoor the end of may.. i will be setting out clones in jello containers.. i can't harden off my plants by bringing them in and out of the house in order to let them get more exposure to the sun and get used to the outdoor conditions.. would it be alright if i found a well covered spot in the woods were i am planting to try and harden them off.. they won't have full sun exposure but they will have some exposure.. would that be the same thing? thanks;-)
 
That would be fine.

At first you don't want to put them in direct sun because chances are it will burn them. I will take my plants out for a couple hours a day in the shade to begin with, gradually exposing them to more time outside and eventually into direct sunlight.

Usually it takes about 2 weeks for the entire process and is kind of a bitch but good results :)
 
Well I'm in a warm part of the western US and I was able to acclimate my 3 week old seedlings to the outside quite easily. I'd say the first night I put them in a shed, but they love the outdoors. I hardly ever have to water. They are still in the 16 oz red cups and they are about 8" tall and a month old. Time to replant.
 
Im sorry I excluded that they are in about 6 hours of sun a day. has to be stealth. They did grow in 24 hr cycle for 3 weeks until I brought them outdoor.
 
well i have 6 cfl's over a small plant in a 3 gallon pot the lights are on 24hours.. i will clone and put into small jello pudding cups full of soil when rooted in a bubble cloner... then put under the cfl's for a day or 2 then transport to the grow location leave for a few days in the jello cups to harden off in the shade/weak sunlight and when they are root bound transplant them into the ground
 
Not sure why people acclimate their plants in the shade for so long... Stick 'em in full sunlight as soon as you can and yes even partial exposure is beneficial, this will also help them regulate themselves with the local weather, leaving them out at night from like 1:00/30 on is perfect, still in veg then they get used to to the local sunrise every morning while you're sleeping! "Hardening off" is called Acclimation and you should try to get direct sunlight even to 1 hour old seedlings, stick your weed in the shade, shit, that's two weeks of deprived sunlight as far as I'm concerned. You can harden them in 3/4 days time. Not even.
 
my brother has done this on several occasions. he makes the transition in 3 or 4 days. first day, all shade. even though they're in the shade, the sun's rays penetrate it. next day 50/50. day 3, plant.
 
awesome.. i won't get to visit this place every day tho.. i'll get there every week.. so whta i'll do is put them under a tree but take off a few of the bottom limbs around it so they won't be fully shaded.. then they can grow there for that week and then wen i go to the spot after a few days i'll just plant them into the conditoned soil..
 
Bro....put your plants into direct sunlight straight away theyll love you for it. I had my aurora inside under some lights, moved it outside and bamm she took off in a matter of hours no joke,
look at her now
 
Not sure why people acclimate their plants in the shade for so long... Stick 'em in full sunlight as soon as you can and yes even partial exposure is beneficial, this will also help them regulate themselves with the local weather, leaving them out at night from like 1:00/30 on is perfect, still in veg then they get used to to the local sunrise every morning while you're sleeping! "Hardening off" is called Acclimation and you should try to get direct sunlight even to 1 hour old seedlings, stick your weed in the shade, shit, that's two weeks of deprived sunlight as far as I'm concerned. You can harden them in 3/4 days time. Not even.
That's exactly the way I do it stoopy! no screwing around that way, and nothing ever looks out of sorts!
 
I personaly find the not sun to harm them, When its a good day ill move all my pots out side... its a huge different form the growth rate sun vs lights... sun owns lol.
 
the difference between direct sunlight, and florescent/hid lighting is huge. it's not always a problem, some strains are especially hearty outdoors. you might as well plant them where you want to finish them. no sense in putting yourself in harms way more than you have to, transporting them.
 
but i have to they are clones (which are all female). i don't want to risk a polination.. a have another crop far away from my main crop to get next years seed.. and the clones arn't massive plants .. i can fit 8 in one backpack.. and i'll have 2 backpacks =16. idon't expect all to live though.. some will get eaten and other things will happen.. i'm hoping to at least harvest 10-12 plants..
 
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