Pot design techniques for water retention in low rain guerrilla grow?

[Exotic Flower]

Pot design techniques for water retention in low rain guerrilla grow?

Hey AFN crew,

Need your expert outdoor and guerrilla experience.
In the tropics, about to start a guerrilla after rainy season.
Main thread is here:
http://www.autoflower.org/threads/tropical-guerilla-test.67219/page-5#post-1905348

There's lots of rain right now, and fields of paddy and reeds nearby.
These are basically like ponds / pools of water.

But... climate data says rain levels for Nov / Dec / Jan are:
Nov: 5-35mm , Dec: 1-5 mm, Jan: 1-5 mm
So very little rainfall at all.
And hot. It's hot here, temps from low of 22 C to high of 32 C during this period.
(Aiming to harvest late Dec to mid Jan.)

Germing mid-October, on balcony two weeks in small cups.
(Prob use insta-transplant pots!) Then outside.
November should be okay with natural rainfall, so vegging should be ok.
But then once into flowering during Dec thru Jan...

I can't plant into the paddy fields, they are literally ponds.
So I want to make pots (small side, maybe 5L to 10L max, small plants).

How can I design my pots so that they will maintain moisture / rain water?
I don't have access to anything fancy like silica water pellet things either.

Soil will be whatever I can find. Prob a bit of local compost mix they sell.
Plus maybe some local soil, dark color but looks heavy / clay-ish.
And add some sand if I add the clay-ish soil to break it down.

Now, I will be able to water manually, but that may not be easy due to location.
Want to try to have as little site visits as possible...

Idea [HASHTAG]#1[/HASHTAG]:

I was thinking of using large plastic water bottles / buckets as pots.
Putting drainage holes on the sides about 1" high.
So that water will collect and store at the bottom 1".
Maybe putting gravel / stones at the bottom 1" layer of the pots.
But will this lead to root rot?

Idea [HASHTAG]#2[/HASHTAG]:

Again, using large plastic water bottles / buckets as pots.
Trying some wick system from the paddy fields...
Sounds like it would work, but ... complicated and prone to mess up.
Also, would make it hard to move the pots if needed.​

As mentioned, using large plastic water bottles / buckets as pots.
Even if clear, I may drop white plastic bags inside pots to hold soil.
And can also drop that all into a larger white plastic bag to hold it.
Will help disguise it -- just look like a trash bag, lots of trash around here...
And the extra layers and white may help keep temps lower,
which means less evaporation of the water in the soil.

What pot techniques can I use to retain water during low rainfall on outdoor guerrilla grow in high heat?

Love ya!!!
MJS

Tagging: @hecno @trailanimal @912GreenSkell @Waira @islandgrower @HemiSync @Sensi Jay @Anglo Automatics @TheMongol @DTOM420 @the green bandit @dankstyle J
+ please tag anyone else who may have such experience!!!

 

[hecno]

I found if you bury your pots in a hole and heavy mulch the top it helps a lot , or up the organic matter in your soil this is what I did in the photo and it cut watering down to once a week . Water retention is what we are after .

 

[Exotic Flower]

I found if you bury your pots in a hole and heavy mulch the top it helps a lot , or up the organic matter in your soil this is what I did in the photo and it cut watering down to once a week . Water retention is what we are after .
View attachment 958347

Thank you @hecno !
Not sure how much I can bury the pots, but I can try to keep the sides from being too exposed.

By the way, what is that lovely LSTed plant you have there?
Looks like a nice hybrid, with sativa foxtails, hehe.

 

[Padawan1972]

Pot design techniques for water retention in low rain guerrilla grow?

Hey AFN crew,

Need your expert outdoor and guerrilla experience.
In the tropics, about to start a guerrilla after rainy season.
Main thread is here:
http://www.autoflower.org/threads/tropical-guerilla-test.67219/page-5#post-1905348

There's lots of rain right now, and fields of paddy and reeds nearby.
These are basically like ponds / pools of water.

But... climate data says rain levels for Nov / Dec / Jan are:
Nov: 5-35mm , Dec: 1-5 mm, Jan: 1-5 mm
So very little rainfall at all.
And hot. It's hot here, temps from low of 22 C to high of 32 C during this period.
(Aiming to harvest late Dec to mid Jan.)

Germing mid-October, on balcony two weeks in small cups.
(Prob use insta-transplant pots!) Then outside.
November should be okay with natural rainfall, so vegging should be ok.
But then once into flowering during Dec thru Jan...

I can't plant into the paddy fields, they are literally ponds.
So I want to make pots (small side, maybe 5L to 10L max, small plants).

How can I design my pots so that they will maintain moisture / rain water?
I don't have access to anything fancy like silica water pellet things either.

Soil will be whatever I can find. Prob a bit of local compost mix they sell.
Plus maybe some local soil, dark color but looks heavy / clay-ish.
And add some sand if I add the clay-ish soil to break it down.

Now, I will be able to water manually, but that may not be easy due to location.
Want to try to have as little site visits as possible...

Idea [HASHTAG]#1[/HASHTAG]:

I was thinking of using large plastic water bottles / buckets as pots.
Putting drainage holes on the sides about 1" high.
So that water will collect and store at the bottom 1".
Maybe putting gravel / stones at the bottom 1" layer of the pots.
But will this lead to root rot?

Idea [HASHTAG]#2[/HASHTAG]:

Again, using large plastic water bottles / buckets as pots.
Trying some wick system from the paddy fields...
Sounds like it would work, but ... complicated and prone to mess up.
Also, would make it hard to move the pots if needed.​

As mentioned, using large plastic water bottles / buckets as pots.
Even if clear, I may drop white plastic bags inside pots to hold soil.
And can also drop that all into a larger white plastic bag to hold it.
Will help disguise it -- just look like a trash bag, lots of trash around here...
And the extra layers and white may help keep temps lower,
which means less evaporation of the water in the soil.

What pot techniques can I use to retain water during low rainfall on outdoor guerrilla grow in high heat?

Love ya!!!
MJS

Tagging: @hecno @trailanimal @912GreenSkell @Waira @islandgrower @HemiSync @Sensi Jay @Anglo Automatics @TheMongol @DTOM420 @the green bandit @dankstyle J
+ please tag anyone else who may have such experience!!!

Can you use water storing crystals?. They hols a good amount of water...just amend into soil. Some pre-bagged soils have them, I wouldnt use those soils , but you can get water storing crystals pretty cheap on amazon/ebay by the pounds.

 

[trailanimal]

Pot design techniques for water retention in low rain guerrilla grow?

Hey AFN crew,

Need your expert outdoor and guerrilla experience.
In the tropics, about to start a guerrilla after rainy season.
Main thread is here:
http://www.autoflower.org/threads/tropical-guerilla-test.67219/page-5#post-1905348

There's lots of rain right now, and fields of paddy and reeds nearby.
These are basically like ponds / pools of water.

But... climate data says rain levels for Nov / Dec / Jan are:
Nov: 5-35mm , Dec: 1-5 mm, Jan: 1-5 mm
So very little rainfall at all.
And hot. It's hot here, temps from low of 22 C to high of 32 C during this period.
(Aiming to harvest late Dec to mid Jan.)

Germing mid-October, on balcony two weeks in small cups.
(Prob use insta-transplant pots!) Then outside.
November should be okay with natural rainfall, so vegging should be ok.
But then once into flowering during Dec thru Jan...

I can't plant into the paddy fields, they are literally ponds.
So I want to make pots (small side, maybe 5L to 10L max, small plants).

How can I design my pots so that they will maintain moisture / rain water?
I don't have access to anything fancy like silica water pellet things either.

Soil will be whatever I can find. Prob a bit of local compost mix they sell.
Plus maybe some local soil, dark color but looks heavy / clay-ish.
And add some sand if I add the clay-ish soil to break it down.

Now, I will be able to water manually, but that may not be easy due to location.
Want to try to have as little site visits as possible...

Idea [HASHTAG]#1[/HASHTAG]:

I was thinking of using large plastic water bottles / buckets as pots.
Putting drainage holes on the sides about 1" high.
So that water will collect and store at the bottom 1".
Maybe putting gravel / stones at the bottom 1" layer of the pots.
But will this lead to root rot?

Idea [HASHTAG]#2[/HASHTAG]:

Again, using large plastic water bottles / buckets as pots.
Trying some wick system from the paddy fields...
Sounds like it would work, but ... complicated and prone to mess up.
Also, would make it hard to move the pots if needed.​

As mentioned, using large plastic water bottles / buckets as pots.
Even if clear, I may drop white plastic bags inside pots to hold soil.
And can also drop that all into a larger white plastic bag to hold it.
Will help disguise it -- just look like a trash bag, lots of trash around here...
And the extra layers and white may help keep temps lower,
which means less evaporation of the water in the soil.

What pot techniques can I use to retain water during low rainfall on outdoor guerrilla grow in high heat?

Love ya!!!
MJS

Tagging: @hecno @trailanimal @912GreenSkell @Waira @islandgrower @HemiSync @Sensi Jay @Anglo Automatics @TheMongol @DTOM420 @the green bandit @dankstyle J
+ please tag anyone else who may have such experience!!!

I'd use plastic buckets, bigger the better for water. Lots of holes in bottom. I'd mulch heavy around bucket to keep moisture in soil beneath bucket. Thick mulch on surface of pot.
When i go to your thread.....says I have to log in......?.........
seems I've been through this before

 

[islandgrower]

I would think some type of miniature sip can work . Or in effect a hempy style bucket. But the suggestion above will work very well the ground does not dry out as far or fast as a container with a healthy plant.

'Carpe diem et fumum veriditas'

 

[Exotic Flower]

Can you use water storing crystals?. They hols a good amount of water...just amend into soil. Some pre-bagged soils have them, I wouldnt use those soils , but you can get water storing crystals pretty cheap on amazon/ebay by the pounds.

Thanks for stopping by and giving feedback!!

Those would be ideal, but ... no idea where to get them here.
Avoiding importing for various reasons, not just big customs duties here...
I'm keeping my eyes open for any local sources, but have my doubts...

 

[Exotic Flower]

I'd use plastic buckets, bigger the better for water. Lots of holes in bottom. I'd mulch heavy around bucket to keep moisture in soil beneath bucket. Thick mulch on surface of pot.

Hi @trailanimal !!

Ok, cool. If Trail and Hecno are saying the same thing, I better take note!
I think if I use buckets, I'll put them in plastic bags on the outside.
Part of that is to disguise an otherwise obvious bucket,
and part of that is to insulate bucket walls against direct sunlight.
Of course, make enough holes in the bag so it doesn't become a swimming pool...

Now have to think how to do mulch here....

When i go to your thread.....says I have to log in......?.........
seems I've been through this before

Hmmm.... not sure what that is about!

 

[G.Leave]

While you are looking for water crystals, also look and see if vermiculite is available(might be easier to find). Other than that a larger medium is a benefit, as well as burying the pots

 

[G.Leave]

I'd use plastic buckets, bigger the better for water. Lots of holes in bottom. I'd mulch heavy around bucket to keep moisture in soil beneath bucket. Thick mulch on surface of pot.
When i go to your thread.....says I have to log in......?.........
seems I've been through this before

All great points