Throwing Shade

[Rooster]

Whats going on everyone? So as some of you know, I'm getting ready for my first outdoor grow come spring. I recently read on here that direct sunlight may be stressful for young plants and that I may need to keep the plants partially shaded. My primary grow spot wont have much access to shade, so should I be worried?

[St.buds]

If you can buy 2 150 watt cfls you can start your plants a month early inside and transplant them in spring to there final spot. Plants will be bigger and you want gave to worry about the sun frying them that being said a good friend of mine starts his outside in pots and I've never seen him shade them but thts in California

[Rooster]

I live in the south east around, and the sun seems to stay up forever during the spring and summer. I guess the better question to ask is how many hours of direct sunlight is needed during acclimation ?

[St.buds]

I couldn't actually give you an amount of hours I would just start with a lil sunlight and work my way up slowly

[St.buds]

Like maby in harsh sun for an hour or two then back under CFLs and just more and more exposure to tge sun tell it can handle it sry I can't help more but alot this growing stuff you just have to do and find what style works for you

[South Sierra Dude]

I started in my tent as suggested. I also built a sail to shade my root ball.

[Rooster]

Does it make a huge difference if I start them in a tent? Would a couple of small lamps positioned not too far from the solo cups work?

[South Sierra Dude]

I've started four plants outside. All died because of my inexperience. The fifth, started in the tent, lived. None of this is enough data to make a judgment. I'm probably going too take Doc G's advice and plant outside next time unless in pots.

[Jibblerjoe]

Unless they start in direct sunlight, they will need a few days to a week to acclimate to full direct sunlight.

[Jibblerjoe]

Yes that will be good. It won't take but a week. Some filtered sun, would do good. Through clear plastic like greenhouse. After 5 days they can take all say sun.

[Jibblerjoe]

When I start in spring I don't worry much bout sun hardening plants. If it's getting to summer sun , it's more intense so they must take a few days to acclimate to sun.

[Rooster]

Hey joe, If put my plants outside immediately after germinating, should I be good. It will be around the start of spring, so I wont have to worry about the sun being too harsh. I'm really trying to avoid acclimating my plants because I wont be available to move them around throughout the day.

[Green75]

Start them outside they will be fine...you growing in a pot or ground...if ground all good..if pot starting inside just put in light shade till you put in final spot...more light day by day for a week...all good

[Rooster]

I'm going to be using smart pots/fabric pots. So you suggest I start them inside?

[Rooster]

All of this info is great!!! Keep the posts coming.

[Green75]

Just depends on how much room you have height wise outside....are you legal or illegal

[Rooster]

https://www.amazon.com/Quictent-Zipper-Greenhouse-Portable-Cloche/dp/B01F56LSA4/ref=pd_lpo_86_tr_img_3?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=EXHEY331SMXV5TY4FNHE

Eventually, I'd like to move my plants in here... Six plants in 3 gallon pots. Definitely illegal as fuck, BUT we have a garden in our back yard, so I'll just put the green house back there

[Green75]

Start inside...top and lst for a month...put in at least 10gal. Smart pot when go outside....you want short bushes in there with tons of buds

acclimate the plant for about a week before it's full time in the Sun

[Rooster]

What the best way to go about acclimating? I'm gone from 7:00 AM and get home 6-830. I live in the south east, if that makes any difference

[Green75]

Under a tree a little bit...getting more am sun than pm sun..or next to a medium size bush...just somewhere where it doesn't get direct light all day...every two days more and more light judging reactions.....

Can put out in direct light in early evening just before sunset...every day when you get home...

[Rooster]

sounds like a plan. THANKS!!!

[Green75]

No problem sir..good luck

[gbauto]

Yea, if you don't have access to shade from a tree you may need to provide some artificial shade. That black mesh screen used in greenhouses does a great job until the plants are adjusted to direct light. It wouldn't be that hard to fab up a temporary shade until they get going.

[Rooster]

So I can keep my plants covered in this mesh, and they'll still be able to benefit from sun's rays??

[Jibblerjoe]

Rooster I'm in same boat. Must keep them low key. I use Lst. side vew top view less than waist high,they received 6 hrs direct sunlight. got to love freel weed. Bag seed.

[Rooster]

YOOOOOO, that's so low key though... I wouldnt have given those plants a second look if I just happened to be walking by. Gorgeous plants. Are you using any pots??

[Jibblerjoe]

I started in smallish pots, transplanted once I could tell sex of plants. I dug out holes, filled with potting soil. This river bottom farmland, nearly 100% clay, so when it drys out its rock-hard. For me I was worried if I flowered in pots they would be more noticeable. We also have a garden and many flowers in pots, they help to over look lil plants.

[Jibblerjoe]

The more direct sun they get the better the buds

[Jibblerjoe]

Only when I started them. If you can grow them next to another green plant that is taller, they are very hard to see. Here is a pic of the guard dogs. sadly guy on left has passed away, Rip crackerjack.

[Rooster]

Imma smoke one for crackerjack.

My wife wants to grow berries in the spring. I may be able to hide them next to those

[Jibblerjoe]

When everything is green plants are so difficult to pick out. Come end of summer when leaves begin to change on all plants , you got green weed bushes with these bright ass yellow leaves, you can pluck the leaves as they yellow. that when they are hard to hide. Another tip put fake flowers on the branches, it does work.

[Rooster]

What do yall think?? The clear one or the green one????

[Jibblerjoe]

Never used one. Either looks like they can get the job done. Something that would draw attention for me. Got daily fly overs.

[Rooster]

dang, that's how it was in cali before I moved away. Helicopters constantly flying around. Luckily for me, having a green house or some type of green thumb is part of the suburb starter kit

[Jibblerjoe]

Those are perfect, I thought they were like real backyard greenhouses. Those are all you need to harden plants to the sun. Something that short I could use.

[Jibblerjoe]

Here is a planting hole. I use the tube to get water down ion roots after a good dry spell.

[Jibblerjoe]

My style is backyard hidden garden. Had friends that stood on top of plants didn't know it.

[Rooster]

how far down does that go??

[Jibblerjoe]

About foot and a half, I only used it when things dried out, and water would roll off top of ground, and to get water down to the roots. I had a watering can with sprinkler tore off , I would just dump the whole jug down tube, then on to the next one.

[South Sierra Dude]

This is getting good