1 swamp + 32gallon trashcan x 20 = ?

[still2big]

Damn brother, this is fucked.

From the beginging it was all an experiment. The highest cost of learning.

You have a great spot too... You just need to keep your roots out of the water. If you could build platforms next year perhaps.


Good luck with what is left.

Yeah man, ive been thinking platforms too. Some 2x4s and nails...not to hard. Anyway, its not that big of a deal. I figured id lose a couple here and there. That swamp will be dry by October and thats when the real grow is doing down!!! haha

NOMAAD.....I guess we will find out about the no run off. Im just glad they are out of the water and now i can put some ferts to em.

 

[r13f]

keep on going
best of luck

 

[masterKahn]

sorry your having some bad luck but go with what you have and save what you can, I have a feeling a bumper crop is still in your future

 

[jakeh]

STB,
I was wondering if that high water was going to cause some problems. One of mine in ground had the same issue and started to yellow but is making a come back. I do have some ideas I would like to bounce off of you and anyone else.
I've tried several things this year and each has its advantages and disadvantages. The main 4 are:
1. At 12 ft above sea level I've dug a hole in poor clay soil and filled each with 2-4 cubic ft of miracle grow moisture control. Let me back up. Prior to filling I took a post hole digger and went down 3 ft. I filled the post hole with perlite to wick the water that trickled to the bottom of the hole. If that did not work the plants roots should sail past the perlite if they need to look for water. This had worked well until I got infested with termites. Lost half.
2. A mound on top of the ground of the same soil. This worked well but needed frequent watering and again termites came. Lost half.
3. A pot dropped in a hole with same dirt. This worked well until a lot of rain hit. Little channels in the hole filled the hole with water and began drowning my roots. I had to pull a 20+ gallon water logged pot out of its hole. This is working well but needs more watering. The pot has turned out to be termite resistant. Lost none.
4. A plain and simple hempy bucket. 5 gallons perlite on bottom coir on top. Extremely simple, explosive growth and termite resistant. Only have 2 but wish I did all like this.
I can't help but wonder what one of your trashcans could do set up hempy style. The perlite at the bottom 5-6 inches would give you a few more days I would think before they drowned. I've been using head's formula and this one bucket that was started the latest is looking the best. I would recommend a couple of modifications.
1. Raise the holes to 3 inches from the bottom and have some way to plug them like the drain on an igloo cooler. Next time it floods the can will float and not drown it from the holes.
2. On your 32 gallon trash can the top looks something like this: n____n. Drill 2-4 holes at the top of the edge on the n. Take whatever guage conduit that will fit, paint them green, and drive them into the holes as well as the handles straight down into the ground. Leave enough of the conduit sticking up to keep them from floating away. Maybe 4-6 ft above the rim of the trashcan. As long as your hempy holes are plugged your cans will never fill with more water than you put in the top from feeding or however much it rains. If you have a dry year you can use them to stake the plants or even in a wet year you should be drying out in the july, aug and sept when you would need to stake them.
I don't know if I've been smoking to much of what I'm growing but I think it would be easier to go this route than build a platform. The work load would be less than this years set up minus the problems of drowned plants. I still can't believe I am one of the very few that has had the termite issues outdoors. The container cures that as well. 2 5kg coir bales at $13-15 a pop per can, a 4 cubic ft bag of coarse perlite ($25 at my ag coop) would fill many bottoms of your cans and some camo conduit and you would have an idiot proof passive hydro can(I know because I've done it on my first try) that rises and falls with the water. The growth on mine has been so explosive I think I would start them later in the year. Go get you a 5 gallon bucket and stick one of your cuttings in it and see for yourself. I think you will be pleasantly surprised.
good luck,
jake

 

[bongcritter]

Hi S2B...still looking good....Sorry to hear about your loss....But you still got HUGE potential to work with!!

One thing I've learned about outdoor growing is to EXPECT losses...it's just part of the game!

Also...NICE CUBES!!! I'm so jealous they actually grow where you are....I used to hunt them all the time when I lived down south and never had much luck, but those look beautiful!!!

Take it easy, K+!!

 

[growshower]

bongcritter said it, can't do outdoors without some expectancy of loss, but you did it big and now you learned, can't wait to see next years

 

[Spicoli]

Hey still2big, sux to hear bout the loss but hey shit happens...those others are fuckin monsters though...even if only one finishes I think youll have a shit load of nug....keep up the great work bro...Peace

 

[LiLWaynE]

Just a thought

Just a thought

I wonder if something like this would work for a future run to allow the buckets to rise with the water level and keep some of the bucket submerged instead of drowning the whole rootball... doesnt seem like it would be that hard to do... i drew this sketch up on PAINT.. i put the tie downs to the ground, but it might be better if you tied them to trees or what not in order to keep the can in place...

 

[bubblegumkings]

kick ass grow. n what are those things in the pic in the swamp. they look like sea otters. lol

 

[shroomyshroom]

bro we learn more in failure than we ever have with success... now next year make a few tweeks and your set

 

[jakezking]

S2B, I'm sorry to see you had a few losses; however, it sounds like it was just a few - at least I hope. I know you have a sweet indoor crop rolling, but I'm still rootin' for those outdoor ladies.

I'm lookin' forward to more pictures, especially of the ladies who are in good shape. And, maybe you could post up some pics of your indo ladies too?

Be good out there, and best of luck, my friend!

 

[FidelCashflow]

as always, a few pawns must be sacrificed to achieve a lasting victory, but that's life. good to see you've still got some big girls on the way, and now you're better equipped for next time

 

[BigCloset2]

Awesome outdoor setup, Floridian as well...been considering takin a walk in the swamp myself!

 

[BigTex]

Chin up S2B! You aren't doing to bad considering the conditions you are up against. I give you major props for all your dedication & hard work.

 

[apartmentblower]

chalk it up to "tuition fees" bro. you can grow year round, so its not a big loss. you are still going to have a good harvest.

 

[PazVerdeRadical]

darn... i almost cried when i saw that big girl all yellowed up...

but the price for learning how to grow in that swamp is well worth it... platforms would rock the house imo too...

one love still2big

 

[still2big]

yeah man it sucked but no worries. I got the cans all closed up and the roots are getting dry. Gonna wait a couple days, let em dry out well then hit them with a good dose of Floranova.....

Its looking up.....

 

[still2big]

Great news brother.

thanks man, those were some good shots of the gators bro...

 

[Wfw1]

Sorry to hear about the loss man, but hey as an old friend used to say, "Lessons = Buds"

 

[still2big]

thanks Wfw1- the others are still looking good...hoping those come out ok