Outdoor Hydroponics

[billbeau]

Has anyone ever heard of anyone grown hydro outdoors.
I live in SoCal so it is not completely out of the question.
And I have a great spot to do it. I wonder what size bucket
I would have to use? How big would it get? This could be
interesting. I would bury the resevoir bucket to keep the
solution cool and put the plant bucket right on top possibly
fitting just inside the lower bucket.
Anybody have any thoughts on this?

Billbeau

[rangerdanger]

I wondering why you want to do this?
To me, the main drawback would be supplying electricity to run the water and air pumps.

[geckopelli]

Watch your water levels and ppm closley.

The ppm drops as the plant uses nuits- but you'll also have an artificial ppm rise as water evaporates that will be more significant. Ppm is insturmental in detirmining Ph. Therein lies the danger.
Flucuating Ph can lead to nuit burn and/or lock-up.

So keep your water level constant by adding Distilled H2O as often as nessacary, and never take a ppm or Ph reading except when the water level is at capacity.

And if you can do anything to slow evaporation, then do so. A greenhouse would help tremendously, but in any case, cover the grow tank from the stem to the edges with white plastic as tightly as possible, and monitor the temp of your nuit solution.

Keep a watchfull eye- don't fuck-up at all- and you'll see amazing results.

[billbeau]

Now thats what I wanted to hear, some encouragement!
I originally considered doing it in a green house but then wasn't sure if I
was going to have enough room in the yard after reconstruct. I can custom
one to my hill. Then I wondered if it would evaporate the solution too
quickly with all the humidity. Air vents. Don't see any reason not too.
Have to wait till after I get the backyard in first though. Almost there.
I'll let you know when I get it started. It sounds like you may have done this
before or had the same idea atleast. Your insight will be welcome.
Peace~
Billbeau

[geckopelli]

There are very few ways, (or combination of ways), of growing weed that I have not had some experience with.

I'm not bragging...

But I ain't modest, ethier!

[rangerdanger]

Roots sitting in unaerated water or waterlogged soil will die.
If you're going to grow hydro, indoors or out, you'll need electricity and an air pump/stone.

[geckopelli]

Nonesense!

Why not a wick system? Completely passive.
Or a drip emitter? Requires only water pressure.

Maybe something as simple as a vermiculite/perlite/gravel mix for a grow medium.

[rangerdanger]

A drip emitter would mean that the soil is moist all the time.
Marijuana likes periods of dry soil betweem waterings, so you'd need a timer on the emitter.
Why are you so set on using hydro outside?

[geckopelli]

"A drip emitter would mean that the soil is moist all the time."

The proper soiless medium handles a constant drip quite well.

Consider how Maximum moisture retention is easily regualted in the previously mention medium:
The vermiculite moisture retention capacity represents ~90%-95% of that of the system. The peoper ratio of V/perlite-gravel prevents over watering.

"Marijuana likes periods of dry soil betweem waterings..."

Non-sequitor. We're discussing a HYDROPNICS System.

[rangerdanger]

Ok, instead of dry soil how about dry roots instead?
If you had the experience you claim, you would know that:
A. with ebb n flo hydro the pump floods the tray for approx. 30 minutes, then drains and the roots sit in the air for the nest 3 or 4 hours. It also requires an air pump/stone to aerate the water.
B. No matter what the medium is, pot does better when the roots dry out between waterings.
C. A drip emitter would have to be fine-tuned often to deal with ambient temp's fluctuations and the size/water requirements of the plant.

[billbeau]

I use an NFT system, (Nutrient Film Technique) My roots sit in
solution 24 hours a day. I do not use an aerator. I run pumps 24/7
that shoot a steady stream at the bottom of the stalk. The bucket
fills to the bottom of the net pot and then drains out the side through
a tube back down to the resivoir. I use 2 two gallon buckets, one for each plant.
It constsntly recirculates,up and down 24/7.
At 6 in tall these things are two feet wide. The very first set of leaves
just keep growing if you don't trim them. I had thought hydro grew normal
sized plants. Had I turned them to 12/12 at 34 or 35 days instead of 51
the buds would have probably would have filled out better. I try not to get into
the serious detail of it all so alot of what you guys talk about goes right over me.
Oh, as for why would I want to grow hydro outside, why not?
Do something different! See what happens! Experiment! You never know!

Billbeau

Beautify America, Grow Pot.

[geckopelli]

BB,
It's all been done.
No reason you can't do it to.

Like I said in the first place- watch the water level and the Ph closely.

Ranger,
What about areopnics systems? Dry roots!
Do you know the definition of "hydroponics"?

You read alot of books- and you mistake your one little system for the standard. It ain't.

Growing weed was an art when I started out. Now it's a science, "A+B= C".
That's why Maryjane lost here sparkle- and if you've been around as much as you claim, you know she isn't the same.
Duplicate techniques grow duplicate weed. The decimation of the wild gene pool is bad enough. When the elimination of enviromental differences is thrown in, marijuna becomes just another drug.

So understand- I'm a pragmatic grower.
Got seed- I can grow weed.

[billbeau]

Man, I posted last night and now it's not here. ?
Anyway, I use an NFT system so I have a pump running solution to the
base of the plant 24/7 from a seperate resevoir. The bucket fills just to the bottom
of the net pot then out a drain tube in the side of the bucket back to the resevoir. The roots sit completly emersed in soloution 24/7. although the liquid is constantly moving it is not being aerated. Works great except I had better hopes for hydro.
I was under the impression it grew normal sized plants quickly. I had a plan to grow a plant sideways across the top of my workbench in a cabnit. Had it all planed out too.
Have to use soil I guess.
Billbeau

[billbeau]

OOPS! Found it!
What an idiot. LOL!
Billbeau

[rangerdanger]

gecko, I was likely growing pot when you were still crapping in your pampers, so drop the holier than thou attitude.
Yes I know what aeroponics is, I ran a 84-plant areoponics grow back in '01.
The reason roots need to dry out in a system that uses soil or an inert medium is to supply the roots with O2. There is no O2 in muddy or standing water.
An aeroponics system supplies O2.
That requires electricity.
The "1 little system" you allege shows how you try to denigrate those with opposing views.
FYI, I have grown outside in soil since '67, indoors since circa '90 (not counting my '89 phototron grow, since I consider 'trons expensive toys). Indoors I have grown in soil, soiless mediums, DWC, aeroponics and various ebb n flo systems, always fine tuning, mastering one then moving on to the next, always searching, always expeimenting.

Bilbeau, if you want to expeiment, more power to you. I was just trying to point out the pitfalls of growing outside in a hydro-system.

[geckopelli]

Give it up, ranger.

How much could you know about hydro when you don't even know it means GROWING IN WATER?!?!?

You seem to be the only one who thinks hydro is growing in soggy soil!
--------
'fraid I out grew photontrons way back in the '70's.

I've done what BB proposes- and all your posing won't change that.

So go for it, BB.

[rangerdanger]

You ought to take your head out of your ***, nowhere did I say that hydroponics doesn't mean growing in water.
Nothing you will say will change plant biology. Marijuana roots need oxygen. This requires electricity (air pumps and/or running water). Root that sit in sitting unearated water don't supply oxyen to the plant. And running electricity outside can create problems.
You seem like a guy who got most of his hands-on knowledge re:marijuana cultivation for very few sources.
In fact, you remind me of myself, back in the early 90's (concerning indoor growing).
I saw one of your posts where you insist that pot doesn't grow faster under a 24/0 light cycle than it does under for example an 18/6 cycle.
You've been told that but have obviously never tried it. I have. I KNOW you're wrong there.
I've used various light cycle's, and I keep copious notes (that's what we English are good for, we keep notes--we're a race of accountants).

You're an intelligent grower and very passionate about what you believe and I'd love to sit down with you and burn a fat one.
But I'd suggest you keep an open mind and accept the fact that someone who has tried it (me) knows better than one who's been told about it (you).

[geckopelli]

Ranger,

you started off saying you'd never heard of such a thing as outdoor hydroponics- and then suddenly you're an expert. Give us a break!

Like I said- I'm experienced in the matter of outdoor and green house hydro, and I've proven my validity as a grower in this forum many, many times. Your ego won't change that.

So whine all you want.
You've already discredited yourself with your back pedaling in this and other threads, anyway.

Your not the first poser to come along in the 3 or so years I've been here. And you won't be the last.

[rangerdanger]

I refuse to get into a shit-slinging contest with you.
I will continue to refute your bad advice as I and others already have.

[rangerdanger]

Here's a shot of part of last year's garden.
Not bad for a poser, huh?

[geckopelli]

Whatever.
We've had more than one 15 year old "expert" with a book cut and paste a pic.

As I said, "you started off saying you'd never heard of such a thing as outdoor hydroponics- and then suddenly you're an expert. Give us a break!"

This thread was about outdoor hydroponics- not about you.
When you admitted the subject was new to you, you should have backed off. Your thoughts on the subject were welcomed- but not your pronouncements. You'd already professed ignorance on the subject.
Does it really hurt your ego so much to think someone else has experience in the matter? I can detail the problems I faced with outdoor hydro set-ups. Can you?
Oh yea- you've never done it!

In what other aspects of weed growing will you claim expertise based on ignorance to salve your ego?

You looked pretty foolish with your claim that roots must be allowed to dry out in a hydro system. So you tried to make it sound like I was claiming roots didn't need O2. But all you accomplished was to demonstrate ignorance on the properties of vermiculite and perlite.

All you've done is disrupt this thread in a wasted attempt to save face.

The subject is "outdoor hydroponics"-
What do you know about it?

[rangerdanger]

You must be a very lonely person.

[billbeau]

Ranger,
You said you take alot of notes, You "English" are known for that.
The English are also known for white pasty skin with NO tan!
If that is not a Mexican with that plant, I'm a monkeys Uncle!
Maybe you don'thave electricity in your village yet? Is that what you find so hard about outdoor Hydro? How to run the electricity? Easy! Here are the instructions.
Plug in an extension cord into the socket of your choice and run the fucker to where you want it, plug in your unit and PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE WATER LEVEL AND PH THROUGH OUT THE GROWING CYCLE! How hard can it be?
Billbeau

P.S. Your plants seem to have alot of really yellow leaves.
This can be caused by too much nitrogen in the soil.
You must be using chicken shit for fertilizer.

[rangerdanger]

I can assure you that the person in the pic is 100% Anglo.
I can also assure you that the garden in the pic is in The Emerald Triangle (N. Calif).

The plant in the back, the 12-footer, didn't finish until mid-Jan. We had our first hard freeze in early Nov.; the night before we had no other choice but to take it (and it's sisters) into the garage, bent over, and stick a couple of 1000-waters on the ceiling.
It was a very strange strain. I got the seeds from a person who travels the world looking for unusual strains. Finishing as late as it did (and it's height) I'd opine that the strain came from Africa.

Here is a pic of the plant after we took it outside to harvest it. Ralphie is propping up the top of that now bent-over plant with our Legal Medical Marijuana Garden sign.

P.S. Ralphie isn't as fat as the picture makes him appear. He had a bag of buds stuffed into his blue hoody.
P.P.S. Thanks to mellow dood for the photoshop.

[rangerdanger]

If anyone doubts what I say, come on over to The Emerald Triangle, near where Humboldt, Mendocino & Trinity Counties touch.
You can meet the person in the pic and view the orig. unretouched photo (on a digi-cam memory stick).
To make it interesting, let's make a small wager--say $500.00. If I can't produce the person in the pic, you win $500.00!
I'll take you on a rafting trip down the Trinity River and smoke a joint with you as big as a horse's leg, win or lose.
And then a fresh caught trout or salmon dinner at the palatial rangerdanger estate.
If you're an attractive young female with large breasts, I'll even pick you up at the Eureka Non-International Airport.
You'd take a plane to the airport in San Franciso then take a twin-engine prop-jet to Eureka.
Hell, make it a weekend trip and we'll smoke a fattie on the Skunk Train.

P.S. I tried to post some other pics but they are all too large. I'll have to wait til someone shows up that knows how to re-size pics (I have a hard time dealing with anything more complex than a toaster oven).

[rangerdanger]

A couple more quick notes:
-I made a joke about me being English.
I AM of English stock, but I've never even been to England, though my folks (R.I.P) were born there.

The plants were grown in a locally-produced soil called Flower power. Very few amendments were used. A little bit of high N bat shit during veg and some high P bat shit during flowering.
The yellowing leaves are likely due to the fact that the first pic was taken 11/11/04, after 3 consecutive nights of 32F degree nights. After the pic was taken they were moved inside the garage because that night it was forecast to drop down to the mid-20's.
As you can see, the buds were very small on this strain. That 12-footer only yielded 5 oz of buds.
We grew that strain as an experiment. We also had 7'-tall trainwrecks that yielded approx. 1.5 lbs. of bud, in the same garden.

With that small of a yield not to mention the cost of running 2k of lights (and a heater during lights out), we decieded NEVER to grow that strain again.

Back to outdoor hydro: yeah we have electricity in our village here in Mexico
but I don't see why someone would want to waste electricity to grow pot outside hydro when you could just as well grow in soil.
Plus:
-If you have no outside electrical outlets, you'd have to run the extension cord out a door or a window.
-Having an visible extension cord running to the pot garden is something some people might not want.
-You would have to build a dog-house type shelter next to your plants for whatever you've got plugged in to protect it from the rain.
Like I said before, if you want to experiment, more power to ya.

[geckopelli]

Man! That's some insecurity complex you're showing with those consecutive post, ranger dude!
Are you convincing yourself, at least?
'Cause it ain't working on the rest of us!

But I must ask- why does it hurt your ego so much to know that I've done something in the field that you haven't? What's the big deal?
If you knew how to grow weed and lived in the desert, you might of tried your hand at outdoor hydro, too.

And why are "masters" of lame grow sites that nobody visits always coming here trying to take over? Do you just assume that every site that isn't overgrow is as lame as yours?
You would've been wise to listen up and get tuned in to what's going on here, instead of pretending to be oh-so-superior without any knowledge of those you would lord over. You might have proven another welcomed perspective- but now, it's too late. You've already discredited yourself with your ego driven post.
Dry hydroponics indeed!
---------
Hey billbeau!

Keep us posted as you go.

Remember what I said about evaporation, Ph, and ppm's- other than that, just keep doing what you've been doing. And get ready for some HUGE fucking plants!

[rangerdanger]

Your posts--full of personal attacks (on someone you don't know) are so far over the edge they border on the hilarious.
But keep howling at the moon. In fact, I'm mooning you right now.

[billbeau]

Ranger, Dude, sit back and smoke one. Dig this. First if you could see my yard, you would see that I would have no problem what so ever plugging anything in. I have enough electrical outlets out there to light up the fucking sky. The reason I want to grow hydro outside is strictly for bigger plants. I don't have the room inside to have a really good set up. I have a small set up in a cabnit in my garage. I grow two plants at a time with two 125 watt Dual Saturn bulbs. I know more watts would mean bigger plants but these are very low heat lights. You can see them at ezhydrokit.com
I am a Legal Medicinal Marijuana Patient in California who can't afford to buy crappy pot let alone good pot. So I looked on the internet to find the set up that would fit best for the room I have. I just want them to get bigger. So I thought, what the hell, grow them out side. I am having a hard time growing enough to last me through my next grow. And I can't be without. Not possible. Or funny. I would like to ask if either of you (geco included) could tell me of some of the chemicals you have used that have proven to work well. I've looked all over the net and found 1000's of chems that all claim to grow the biggest and best buds. I can look at dirt and tell you weather
or not it's worth a shit, but I am not a chemist. I wouldn't know one grow chemical from another.
Anyway, if you two could do that I'd appreiciate it.
Peace~
Billbeau

[rangerdanger]

Thanks for a civil post.
I don't believe hydroponics will grow bigger plants outdoors than in soil, as evidenced by my pic of a 12' tall plant grown in dirt in a container.
Another problem with hydroponics can be support of a large plant, where the wind can be quite strong at times.
I believe plants in quality potting soil with quality nutrients will grow as big as a hydroponics grow with ideal conditions.
Plus, with plants grown in soil, you can go totally organic, tough to do with a hydro set-up.

Good chem. nutes for hydro: I like the General Hydroponics 3-part system: Grow Micro and Flower. They also make several another kind to maximize flowering (I think it's called Floralicious).
There are detailed instruction of the back of the containers that tell you exactly how much of each one to use in different stages of a plants' life.

And you can also use it in soil grows.