Outside Protection

[cman]

Hello

These plants still have another month + in the Pacific northwest fall weather outside. I have a drop cloth to protect it from the rain, but it hasnt experienced any kind of real rainy nights yet. Is there anything better/more I can do to protect them?

Thanks for any suggestions and help

 

[Sudsnbuds]

If you cover with plastic, just make sure everything stays dry, and you need good ventilation and airflow right on the plants.

 

[gman420]

I'm in the Northeast where we have had some cooler rainy days over the last week. I've been covering with a tarp. Mine are on the ground next to my deck so I just drape the tarp over the rail and it protects them from the rain and wind plus they are still getting air flow from under the deck. It's worked so far.

 

[PLreef]

You could use PVC and build a frame that gets covered with plastic. Make it so you can take it on and off as your weather allows. Like a little mobile greenhouse.

 

[ChadWestport]

Oh yeah, I know the PNW. Good suggestions here. I like using plastic from the top of the fence oner the plants to the ground, a lean-to. If you are going to frame something, like @PLeef said, pic from the hardware store is great, easy to cut and all kinds of connectors for corners and Y's. You can build a little hoop house or wind tunnel. Whatever you do, watch the humidity and make sure there is good airflow through there. You run into a heavy potential for molds going this late into the year if you are west of the mountains.

 

[ChadWestport]

Oh yeah, if you do build anything with plastic or a frame, make sure that it is nailed down solid. You don't want it to fly away and crack the plant in half as it exits your yard

 

[JDU]

I'm a PNWster too. I used a $25 roll of greenhouse plastic .06ml over the top 1/2 of a 4x4 tent frame. I shoulda took a fan out too cause this yr WPM was a bumper crop!!! Damn near the only thing that grew outside this year! But they were dry....

 

[SoOrbudgal]

It's a must to have air circulation under the plastic.

 

[Canuck147]

If those were my plants - I would pick them up and put them in the house every night. Looks like they are in pots to me.

 

[AccidentalGardener]

We are indeed expecting some weather in the PNW! Those don't look far enough along to be growing outside till they finish. The sun is already coming from waaay over there and not shining overhead. I don't know where you are, but it's chilly this morning in NW Wa. In another month it'll be dark at 4pm. When its not raining. You might need a plan B. I'm with Canuck. I'd be bringing them indoors.

 

[cman]

Thanks for the tip! Where did u get ur $25 roll of greenhouse plastic from? Everything Ive seen online is extra costly and there seems to be so many different plastic/tarp options.

 

[JDU]

I got it at Home Depot. 10x25ft roll.

 

[cman]

I realized my pics from yesterday sucked so I took more to share. This is the setup currently - a 2ml plastic drop cloth from Lowes is attached to the gutters and hanging over 6ft bamboo stakes.

Thanks for any tips!

 

[cman]

Im in Seattle. 1 has had hairs since the end of August and the other 1 just started showing a few weeks ago. Space is real limited inside - any suggestions on lighting if I do bring it? Only thing more limited than my space is my budget lol

 

[AccidentalGardener]

I hear ya. I'm up in Bham. I grow indoors for a reason. I would not leave them outside. It is going to be too cold - it's already too cold just 100 mi N. Are they autos or photos?

 

[AccidentalGardener]

I may have to bring a couple plants inside from my tent. I'll be putting them in my bathtub with a cheap 600W LED light, but they are autos and don't have special light requirements, other than good light, lol.

 

[AccidentalGardener]

They are so pretty. A lot bigger than they looked. Good luck!

 

[cman]

These are photos and are the rejects from my grow tent that I didnt just want to toss. I did not expect them to get so large n pretty outside either and now Im invested in their survival lol. . . . this might just be the excuse I was lookin for to get a LED light and say fuck a budget

 

[ChadWestport]

I like that the tall bamboo is giving more airspace inside compared to running it from the gutters to the ground. I'd say it still needs a fan or something to cycle the air in there, but good job on the quick fix.

 

[AccidentalGardener]

Yay for f*ck the budget, I always say! Lol. I also sympathize with 'couldn't bear to part with them', which is why my own tent looks like it does. We need to set up a local foster program for clones that were supposed to die, LOL.