Hurricane Irene

[RudolfTheRed]

Anyone else in the path of the storm and what kind of precautions did you take to try and protect your plants?

If you are in the path stay safe and I hope it does not destroy all your hard work this year.

 

[Brother Bear]

Just drinking beers and hoping for the best, i got them staked a few weeks ago already.

 

[darkstar12]

Im two hours in from the coast. I think it was when Katrina hit that I pretty much lost everything I had outdoors, for that storm I staked each plant with one stake.

I did have everything staked in with 1-2 stakes each depending on the size of the plant. This morning I went out and dropped 60 bucks on those large flexible stakes and more wooden stakes, so right now each plant over six feet tall (Ive got some 8-9 foot tall monsters) is supported by at least 4 stakes, each plant under 5 feet tall is supported by 2 stakes.

Other than that not much to do but sit and wait to see what the aftermath is like. Even accounting for losses from animals and disease I was expecting to get 4-6 lbs of bud, but now Im really only counting on my smallest (3-5 footers) to survive. If they make it Im probably looking at a half pound, which basically means I break even this year.

Still though, there is hope. Latest forecasts for my area indicate we may see less than 5" of rain, but they are still calling for sustained winds (8-9 hours) of 30-40 mph.

I still got indoor though...as long as I don't lose power for 4 days like I did when Katrina hit..

 

[GrowBudsGrow]

I've never seen the media hype up a hurricane like this and i grew up in South Florida.....The eyewall has collapsed and we're at 950mb. It'd be lucky to maintain the 100mph winds before making landfall, but you'd still get the impression it's Katrina 2.0 New York if you turned on the TV.

 

[BigDawg]

exactly. these weather people and media just want more views. lot of hype in my opinion. Expect strong rain and high winds in certain areas...nothing too crazy though.

best of luck

 

[GrowBudsGrow]

exactly. these weather people and media just want more views. lot of hype in my opinion. Expect strong rain and high winds in certain areas...nothing too crazy though.

best of luck

Shit man it's a little more then that....NYC ordering a mandatory evac of 300k people, shutting down ALL public transport is pretty serious and imo will create more problems then it solves.

 

[IeatCubes]

No stakes here... just plastic trellis nets thrown over and wrapped.
I've had more plants destroyed when staked than those which had some give.
I'd use burlap to break the wind but I dunno' where to find bags big enough and I can't sew/stitch. Lol.

Good luck to all.

 

[ijim]

Ive sat through six direct hits in Florida 4 in one year. If they get broken they can be repaired to a point with splints and tape. I have used heavy straws slit down one side clamped over the break then taped. They will rock and roll in the wind but if they have a good root system then they will come back. With the rest of the weeds. Word of warning to all. When winds are really heavy don't open a door or window. The sudden change in pressure can blow out windows in the opposite side of the house or even your roof. If you have a garage or mud room open and close the house door before you open the outside door. Been there

 

[ijim]

Shit man it's a little more then that....NYC ordering a mandatory evac of 300k people, shutting down ALL public transport is pretty serious and imo will create more problems then it solves.

Governments have to play it safe. Plus the more they do the more they can claim from FEMA when it is all said and done.

 

[DiscoBiscuit]

Sorry for the late response...

I've been tying up tomatoes for decades. Long wooden tomato stakes usually snap. I'll use short stakes as anchors and poly twine to secure plants, sort of like a badminton net or camping tent. The cord stretches and relieves stress on the stakes. I drive the anchor stakes at an angle opposite the expected force. That's tough with a spinning storm. Just do it all around the plant, high and low. The more anchored tethers you apply the stronger it'll be. Good luck.

 

[RetroGrow]

Yup, the weather people love to take center stage and make as much noise as they can. This storm is weakening as it goes north, and will lose strength in the cooler waters.
Much ado about a tropical storm, and every year, the hype intensifies. Wouldn't want to see anyone's plants get hurt though.

 

[DiscoBiscuit]

I'd hate to be a first responder and have to rescue the folks that previously cussed me out for trying to get them to evacuate in the first place.

I know some tuff hodads and a few of em say they'll never again look death in the face. Nobody realizes one change can get them in over their heads, pun intended.

 

[BigDawg]

very unfortunate that they didn't 'play it safe' with katrina. What a travesty that was.

people who use silica in their grows will have stronger branches.

 

[self]

anyone harvesting early?
I have one plant that is a bit fragile, also prone to bud rot.

the strain is purple widow, from desjamaan, its been unique (weird is probably a better word) to grow all around, seems to be very sativa leaning, wouldn't grow indoors at all, slow growth, no leaves with more than three leaflets, anyway...
its been putting on bud slow and steady for at least 8 weeks, I know thats only two thirds there for most sativas, but I'm considering taking it now rather than deal with the hassle of trying to put it back together after the storm...
I live on a hill, on the coast, so winds will be for real...
good luck to everyone out there, hope it runs aground early and becomes no big deal.
~self

 

[DrPoison]

Best of luck everyone in the NE...going out now to start hauling all my girls into the old broken down greenhouse...as long as the trees don't come smashing down thru the top I think I'll be ok. Thank GOD I decided to use large pots this year and not straight into the ground...allows for evacuation in crazy times like these! Head for cover...it's about to get real UGLY out here!

 

[NickMode]

none of my plants are staked down. They are all pretty small. 4ft being the tallest. I am hoping for the best

 

[Weld420shurtin]

Heard that, heres to hopin everyone stays safe from this nasty bitch swinging up our coast line! May the crops stay steadfast and the mold bastard stays away! We're in for a serious blow here....

 

[RetroGrow]

Most of the blowin' is by newscasters and politicians. This is really just a mild tropical storm, however entirely possible that some people's plants will be blow over. However, I believe that after the storm, if your plants are knocked over, you can stake them up at that point and they will survive. Works on indoor plants that have fallen over, so why not outdoors?

 

[dirt farmer]

I would drive a metel rebard stake into the ground. Then tie or shrink wrape the plant up like an x-mass tree comes. Then tie the plant up to the stake very good with rope or shrink wrape. Pound the stake in a few feet. The shrink wrape would protect the plant well. Metel stake so it cannot break. You can shrink wrape a plant to a thin bean pole if done right. Just like x-mass trees comes.

If in pots I would move to best cover. Lay them down on the side. Trillis netting them to the gound.

Been thinking about this. And this is what I would do. Granted I never been in a storm like this. But I think this would be my plan.

 

[Space Toker]

As I stated in my thread on the subject, I wondered about what to do in a prolonged power outage, as generators would get very expensive to run (let alone buy) for that long. I got feedback about more efficient honda generators which was very helpful. I still have to get around to giving out some well-deserved rep. It looks like it is going to be just a tropical storm now up here in New England but I wish all those in NC well.
It is raining worse today than I think it is going to rain tomorrow during the actual storm, it is off and on pouring here already!

So check out my thread if you want, as it may help you some. peace