Gardenfaerie Auto Fem - CFL to Greenhouse

Hi GF...beautiful FROSTY girls :) You been sprinkling sugar on them ? lol :) Great info on the rain water too. In certain parts OZ it's extremely common to see families survive off rain water....never mind plants :) Unfortunately, where I live we have a huge, I mean MASSIVE, chemical processing site close by. BASF, Phillips Petroleum, Kodac, I.C.I......all horrible, fume producing pollutants so rain water, although plentiful lol, is not desirable :(
 
Great auto/fem share botht! :thumb:
 
Thanks you everyone for the nice compliments. I agree that there is nothing like sunlight. Nothing. No amount of artificial light can mimic the sun the same way the sun actually works on photosynthesis. So, this said, I am totally looking forward to the next growing adventure, outdoors. We have a nice long, hot summer. All strains are good in my region. Fortunately, or actually UNfortunately none of my neighbors do any gardening at all. The bad part is their yards look bare, like big parks with trees and turf and nothing else. Monoculture. The good part of that is my yard is completely cultivated. I have hundreds of different native species which attract the local wildlife, including bees, ladybugs, green lacewings, seraphid flies, Paper wasps, and many tons of other beneficial biota. It is a great balance.

So, for my cannabis delights, my garden beds are going to be lovely. I'm going to build my scrogs. I think I'll have one for each plant instead of one large one for them all, which works well in a closet. The WW x BB and Money Maker both get gigantic buddage. I can keep them short, around 3 feet, but they do get very dense...ooooo I cannot wait!!!!
 
OZ BRIT said:
:) Flux them so come flower time all you'd see is a MASS of big, shimmering colas :) Mmmmmmmm NICE :)
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That's the idea, dahling! Did I tell you that one of my main Buddhist teachers is a nun and she is originally from Australia. There is a great documentary about her. Look around to download it if you can, or buy it. Worth the money if you have a few bucks. She's just great. Many people don't understand her, but I do because coming from New York originally, the tone and speed she speaks is in line with what I grew up with. She's from Melbourne, I believe. The documentary is called, "Chasing Buddha." Fantastic.
 
You, young lady, would LOVE OZ.....such a varied culture and way of life. Buddhists, Hari Krishna.....all sorts of beliefs and ways. AWESOME :) I spent a 2 week break on a commune in a place called Mullumbimbi on the NSW/Queensland border when I was 11. My mates parents (who he and I went with) were VERY alternative and, in a nutshell, my Dad didn't give a toss and was just glad of 2 weeks freedom (my Mum died when I was 4 and raised my single handed....long story/another time) Anyway......enlightenment!!!! Seeing 30 odd people working, living and GROWING (in every sense) together was a real eye opener for me. I had my first magic mushroom experience there lol :) AWESOME :)
 
gardenfaerie said:
Why thank you, OZ. I reeeeeeaaaaaaaaaalllllllllllllyyyyyyy wish my seeds would come! That, would make my day. Stay tuned.
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GF I'm right with you the daily 1 mile walk to the mailbox each day is getting old! I'm waiting too!
 
trichomes said:
Gf, you are a blessing to have here! I would like your thoughts on collecting rainwater runoff for feeding. :MoreNutes:

I have heard mixed opinions on whether rainwater (needs treatment before use) lacks important nutrients or

if it contains undesirable salts or organisms that are not plant safe?

I collected some that shows ppm at 150, ph 7.5 & alkalinity is good in middle at 100+.



:thankyou: for any clarification you can share!
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I am a big proponent of rainwater for both my pot and veg grows. I noticed a huge benefit in my years of growing produce commercially. I grow between 25-35 acres of produce each year. I literally lay miles of plastic and drip tape each year. I noticed a big difference in my plants growth after rainfalls even after daily irrigation. Part of it I assumed was caused by fertilizer going back into solution after rains. Fertilizer dries both on the leaves and plastic after our foliar feeds. But it seemed more explosive than just that. I decided to do some controlled experiments in my greenhouses by watering transplants that were waiting to go into the field with rain water vs. our spring water and even threw some irrigation pond water into the mix. The rain water far out grew the spring water ( comes up through limestone on our place and is about pH perfect) and was even a little better than pond water ( which I expected to do better simply because of the fish and plant residue) but the rainwater outgrew them all. No extra fertilization was used the samples were 2 flats of 72 cell units. All cucumbers because they grow quickly...it was spring...and i didn't have much time to mess with it. I think that it must have something to do with the dissolved minerals and nutirents and even maybe the availability of what is dissolved. I believe that I have also read somewhere about the ionization of rainwater especially from high altitude storm clouds but I don't have anything to back me up there. Since then I have done rainwater hydro grows in rockwool drip systems of Blueberry hybrids that yielded well over a half a ponud per plant. I collect from barn and building roofs into tubs and warm up if necessary in the rooms. I especially like to flush with rainwater
agian that might just be a personal preference thing but the flavor and color was top shelf!
 
Nitrogen

According to the University of Edinburgh's Institute of Cell and Molecular Biology, rainwater is a rich source of nitrogen that is soluble through the biological processes of plants and soil. During a thunderstorm, lightning interacts with moisture to fix atmospheric nitrogen into the water. Rainwater also collects nitrogen from particles in the air caused by industrial pollution. The North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services points out that nitrogen is the element plants have the highest need for. Nitrogen helps foliage grow lush and green because it is the basis of photosynthesis, and it is an essential component of each stage of plant growth and development.
 
Wow you 2, that's it! Let me get my rain buckets ready.
 
uptheholler said:
I am a big proponent of rainwater for both my pot and veg grows. I noticed a huge benefit in my years of growing produce commercially. I grow between 25-35 acres of produce each year. I literally lay miles of plastic and drip tape each year. I noticed a big difference in my plants growth after rainfalls even after daily irrigation. Part of it I assumed was caused by fertilizer going back into solution after rains. Fertilizer dries both on the leaves and plastic after our foliar feeds. But it seemed more explosive than just that. I decided to do some controlled experiments in my greenhouses by watering transplants that were waiting to go into the field with rain water vs. our spring water and even threw some irrigation pond water into the mix. The rain water far out grew the spring water ( comes up through limestone on our place and is about pH perfect) and was even a little better than pond water ( which I expected to do better simply because of the fish and plant residue) but the rainwater outgrew them all. No extra fertilization was used the samples were 2 flats of 72 cell units. All cucumbers because they grow quickly...it was spring...and i didn't have much time to mess with it. I think that it must have something to do with the dissolved minerals and nutirents and even maybe the availability of what is dissolved. I believe that I have also read somewhere about the ionization of rainwater especially from high altitude storm clouds but I don't have anything to back me up there. Since then I have done rainwater hydro grows in rockwool drip systems of Blueberry hybrids that yielded well over a half a ponud per plant. I collect from barn and building roofs into tubs and warm up if necessary in the rooms. I especially like to flush with rainwater
agian that might just be a personal preference thing but the flavor and color was top shelf!
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You lay the plastic down yourself? I've only seen one other farmer do that, and it was because she's stubborn / husband is disabled. Might skip the plastic this year. Rather run down the rows with my hoe. Last year it was a mess early on and my knucklehead partner didn't bother to pull it up before the disc. So been pulling out shredded plastic since! Think going with 21-7-14 this year. Growing cucumbers too :) Main crop is going to be something else. I don't want to get specific.

Someday I want my own almond fields. Big dreams and life is so short. But maybe someday :)
 
uptheholler said:
GF I'm right with you the daily 1 mile walk to the mailbox each day is getting old! I'm waiting too!
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My seed did come and I already planted them over 25 hours ago. Waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting....
 
gardenfaerie said:
Nitrogen

According to the University of Edinburgh's Institute of Cell and Molecular Biology, rainwater is a rich source of nitrogen that is soluble through the biological processes of plants and soil. During a thunderstorm, lightning interacts with moisture to fix atmospheric nitrogen into the water. Rainwater also collects nitrogen from particles in the air caused by industrial pollution. The North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services points out that nitrogen is the element plants have the highest need for. Nitrogen helps foliage grow lush and green because it is the basis of photosynthesis, and it is an essential component of each stage of plant growth and development.
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I figured that available nitrogen must have been a part of it. The difference in plant growth was more color and leaf size than a huge difference in height. But I think that it also has to do with those dissolved minerals. Admitedly my experiment wasn't exactly scientific. it was just 6 flats 144 plants each But, with a little over 1x1 inch rooting space it does leave only a limited amount of space for varieation.
I did have the plants separated in the greenhouse and there can be some varieables based upon the location of plants within greenhouses, GF you probably know as well as I do it's a challenge to keep a uniform environment constantly from one end of a greenhouse to the other! But I did see enough difference to decide when I can use rainwater on my plants I'm in! I love doing my little projects each year. I'm doing an expanded cloche grow this year since I was so excited by last years results. I can't wait!
 
uptheholler said:
I figured that available nitrogen must have been a part of it. The difference in plant growth was more color and leaf size than a huge difference in height. But I think that it also has to do with those dissolved minerals. Admitedly my experiment wasn't exactly scientific. it was just 6 flats 144 plants each But, with a little over 1x1 inch rooting space it does leave only a limited amount of space for varieation.
I did have the plants separated in the greenhouse and there can be some varieables based upon the location of plants within greenhouses, GF you probably know as well as I do it's a challenge to keep a uniform environment constantly from one end of a greenhouse to the other! But I did see enough difference to decide when I can use rainwater on my plants I'm in! I love doing my little projects each year. I'm doing an expanded cloche grow this year since I was so excited by last years results. I can't wait!
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Where I live, a cloche would boil my seedlings! Hahaha. Our sun is very strong, even in the winter. There is only a very small window between winter and summer and winter average temps are 65/40F. That said, indeed it is a challenge in a large commercial greenhouse to keep everything even, but the operation I worked for was very innovative in their methods. They had swing out tables on rails, huge tables 100 square feet which could be moved outside on warm days to get the full benefit of the sun and it was all automated! We had approximately a million sq ft under glass. HUGE. Another way we dealt with that was to plan crops out which were dependent on certain conditions and which maybe could do more with lower temps and less light. So it was a very strategic system.
 
gardenfaerie said:
Where I live, a cloche would boil my seedlings! Hahaha. Our sun is very strong, even in the winter. There is only a very small window between winter and summer and winter average temps are 65/40F. That said, indeed it is a challenge in a large commercial greenhouse to keep everything even, but the operation I worked for was very innovative in their methods. They had swing out tables on rails, huge tables 100 square feet which could be moved outside on warm days to get the full benefit of the sun and it was all automated! We had approximately a million sq ft under glass. HUGE. Another way we dealt with that was to plan crops out which were dependent on certain conditions and which maybe could do more with lower temps and less light. So it was a very strategic system.
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Sounds like colorspot......
 
mcloadie said:
Sounds like colorspot......
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No, not Colorspot. It was Ivy Acres Greenhouses in Calverton, NY. This was over 25 years ago. I started my career there and ended up a grower in a privately owned garden center where I grew most of their annuals, herbs and perennials from either seed or plugs. If I had a heat/light chamber, I would have started my own plug trays, but we were limited being so small. I really hated working at Ivy Acres. The Walmart of bedding plants. I have no idea what they're up to now, but they are still one of the largest providers of bedding plants to the entire northeast.
 
Hi GF :) Don't you just hate the impersonal approach of places like that? Stack em high....sell em cheap ! I'd rather pay little extra to someone who's genuinely interested both in me AND the plants :)
 
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