Self-watering grow room

[RickyVilla2]

Hi!

I am trying to set up a self watering system in a tent. I am away for work 3-5 weeks at a time, so i need to set up something that can stand untouched for that time....if possible.

I was thinking about the autopot 4pot system, and a huge reservoir. In a tent with led lighting.

How big a reservoir would i need for this? And what other problems will i have by leaving it untouched for weeks?


Another situation i might find my self in. Say i have harvested my bud, and i have to go away for 5 weeks... what do i do? Can i dry it slowly for up to 5 weeks?

I think there are others that work shifts that would find this topic interesting.

Any tips, advice, suggestions on how to make this possible will be much appreciated.

 

[RonSmooth]

Blumats have exceeded my expectations.

 

[SecondAttempt]

I'm a Blumat convert as well... Self watering without pump dependence, no run off to collect, awesome growth in coco.

 

[Peacefrog]

Another vote here for Blumats. For curing unattended check out the thread in the harvesting and processing forum about curing in a frost free freezer. You have to hang dry the buds for a few days first but then can leave them sitting in the freezer for several weeks as moisture is slowly removed.

 

[RickyVilla2]

That...is....AWESOME! 4 of those drippers and a huge reservor, and i should be good to go!

That curing advice sounds very interesting, and i will read up on it.

Great advice here on icmag, and i really appreciate it!

 

[Bad Habits]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but let's be realistic. You can't grow herb indoors with 3-5 week hiatuses thrown in there. That's just a recipe for dead plants: there's always something to go wrong. 3-5 days at a time, ya sure that wouldn't be too much of an issue. But 3-5 weeks? I don't think so.

 

[Marlo]

You can't grow herb indoors with 3-5 week hiatuses thrown in there.

 

[theJointedOne]

i think it is possible, not easy, but possible

 

[GoeRilla]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but let's be realistic. You can't grow herb indoors with 3-5 week hiatuses thrown in there. That's just a recipe for dead plants: there's always something to go wrong. 3-5 days at a time, ya sure that wouldn't be too much of an issue. But 3-5 weeks? I don't think so.

I do that in my greenhouse every year for 3-4 weeks, never had any problems.
I used to use dripwatering with automatic fertilicer mixer but now i use blumats fed from a 160 liter barrel which is fed with rainwater from a pump and a bigger tank.

Rilla.

 

[Marlo]

Is it possible?..... Yes. Is it smart?.... Absolutely not.
You're talking about leaving running water, electricity, and living plants in a tent for over a month unchecked. Way too much that can go wrong imo. You also have to take into account the house/apartment/garage/building or wherever this tent is going to be kept. No guarantees that everything will be perfect for 5 weeks. Power going out/surging, flooding, or even a problem with a neighbors place, police, fire dept, etc.

If you were running a flawless system for years, maybe. But your questions lead me to believe that isn't the case here. Very bad idea imo.

 

[theJointedOne]

True....

maybe the OP could do two things to cover his butt in case SHTF

1) set up a small affordable video monitoring sytem you could access with your computer/smartphone ect. I htink they even make apps for this, home automation style

2) find one single person you trust with your life that has a lot to lose and would never ever fuck you over. Better yet a fellow grower you look up to who has a nice garden. Ask them -'hey one day i may need you to pop in my spot in case shit is off, more than likely youll never have to but just in case" even offer compensation ect

then you may travel and grow a little easier, imho

 

[RonSmooth]

The blumats wouldn't worry me as long as I had them dialed in and had a big enough reservoir.

The above posts are right. I would be more worried about a malfunctioning timer or a fan responsible for cooling the lights failing.

Then theres mold, undergrowth, rising pH in res, lockout, bugs etc.

With a small setup like yours, you can afford to just do it and see what happens. If you lose 4 plants in the process then you learn from the experience and either adjust and try again or think of something else.

 

[stoned-trout]

keeping the light positioned at the right level above canopy could be an issue too...prob be ok if you learn the strain and its growth ...leaving the light at a certain level .inducing flowering and the stretch is something you should consider...

 

[the gnome]

Is it possible?..... Yes. Is it smart?.... Absolutely not.
You're talking about leaving running water, electricity, and living plants in a tent for over a month unchecked. Way too much that can go wrong imo. You also have to take into account the house/apartment/garage/building or wherever this tent is going to be kept. No guarantees that everything will be perfect for 5 weeks. Power going out/surging, flooding, or even a problem with a neighbors place, police, fire dept, etc.

If you were running a flawless system for years, maybe. But your questions lead me to believe that isn't the case here. Very bad idea imo.

waaay WAAAY too many things to go south in 3 wks much less 5 wks

 

[Vash]

Oh HELL to the NO.......too much shit can go wrong, not only in three weeks, but ONE. Scares the hell out of me just to leave it for a weekend, much less three weeks. Then you talking a tent? Maybe some height issues? Maybe I'm "old school", but that would worry the hell out of me. That would have to be SUPER dialed in. I'd have to stay there AT LEAST 6 months monitoring that puppy before I'd be "convinced" I could leave for an extended period of time.

 

[PinkFan]

Are The Blumats Good For Soil And How Many Are Needed For 11Ltr Pot

 

[RickyVilla2]

Its going to have to be dialed on properly, no doubt about that. I would put the pots in a empty reservoir, inside an oversized tent. LED lighting ofcourse.

Say i am away for 5 weeks. and home for 5 weeks. By the time i go away they are in flowering for a couple of weeks. How much higher would a indica dominant strain get?

Other possibility is to put it all in the bathroom where there is a drain in the floor.

I dont know,,,, im not to worried about the temperature or the mold. That can be controlled. The pH in the reservoir might become an issue.

Nutrients might be a problem also.

Hmmm.....

 

[GodsCronik]

Its going to have to be dialed on properly, no doubt about that. I would put the pots in a empty reservoir, inside an oversized tent. LED lighting ofcourse.

Say i am away for 5 weeks. and home for 5 weeks. By the time i go away they are in flowering for a couple of weeks. How much higher would a indica dominant strain get?

Other possibility is to put it all in the bathroom where there is a drain in the floor.

I dont know,,,, im not to worried about the temperature or the mold. That can be controlled. The pH in the reservoir might become an issue.
Hmmm.....

If you went with RO water and the lucas formula it should be ok. But youd need a huge rez. to maintain proper water levels.

 

[early_bird]

Maybe an organic grow with good soil mix and slow releasing fertilizers is a way to go. Just plain water then in the tank.
Put them in large pots before you leave, so they have some food for few weeks.
PH doesn´t matter so much in organic growing. If you use acid, it should not change so much.

But you have to now your strain, first grow i whould watch carefully stretch and nutrient needs and try to automate as much as possible. Second grow place you automatic system in action and monitor carefully how it works.
Watch for
- watering ok, are there enough drippers, tank big enough
- when does the plants stop stretching
- temperature and humidy
- fertilizing working, to much, not enough ?
- etc, etc.

Then you are are prepared to run the system. But this is nothing for unknown strains where stretch still present later in flower when you leave, or nutrient needs are unknown. And the time you are away have to be after the stretch is over when the lights are fixed in height.

If you make this effort i think this should work with great results.

But i don´t think it is a good idea and fully agree with posters above, lot of things can still go wrong !

 

[RickyVilla2]

I will read up on the RO water and the lucas formula.

@EarlyBird Yes, having nutrients in the soil should be the best option i think. Less chance of clogging the blumats aswell. Repotting them before i leave can also be an option.

I think this can be done. I know its not optional, but this is the only option i have. I cant quit my job now can i... I have to try this....

I have two huge square tubs that i can put the rez in one of them, and one inside the tent. That way i wont flood the entire room.

Im newly single, and i dont want anyone to know about this, so i wont let anyone overlook it while im gone, if possible...