Colorado Greenhouse(elevation 7,000+)

What's up GC? Man it has been a while since I have stepped into the growing section.

I recently purchased 5 acres in Colorado and my plans are to erect a small (10x12ish) greenhouse on my property. Colorado winters can be brutal so I will be using the greenhouse from early May until harvest. I am a fairly advanced indoor grower (several successful dwc harvests) but I have never devoted the proper amount of time nor have I had a proper place to attempt an outdoor grow.

I will be using two gravity fed auto drip systems to ensure proper watering while away. I should be able to visit the site over the weekends so the irrigation system is a must. I have two solar powered attic fans that will keep the air flowing as well. The plants will be taken from an indoor mother and will remain inside until they are strong enough to handle the elements. At this point they will be placed in gigantic black bags filled which will be filled with a nice organic mix.

My question to you all is what are some things to expect or to look out for with greenhouse growing? Indoors I have never had to worry about pests and my main issue was always pH(due to hydro medium)

If temps fall into the upper 40's at night outside of the greenhouse should I expect a decent temp inside still? Any advice would be great. I am a noob to this type of growing.

Thanks.

-C

What's up GC? Man it has been a while since I have stepped into the growing section.

I recently purchased 5 acres in Colorado and my plans are to erect a small (10x12ish) greenhouse on my property. Colorado winters can be brutal so I will be using the greenhouse from early May until harvest. I am a fairly advanced indoor grower (several successful dwc harvests) but I have never devoted the proper amount of time nor have I had a proper place to attempt an outdoor grow.

I will be using two gravity fed auto drip systems to ensure proper watering while away. I should be able to visit the site over the weekends so the irrigation system is a must. I have two solar powered attic fans that will keep the air flowing as well. The plants will be taken from an indoor mother and will remain inside until they are strong enough to handle the elements. At this point they will be placed in gigantic black bags filled which will be filled with a nice organic mix.

My question to you all is what are some things to expect or to look out for with greenhouse growing? Indoors I have never had to worry about pests and my main issue was always pH(due to hydro medium)

If temps fall into the upper 40's at night outside of the greenhouse should I expect a decent temp inside still? Any advice would be great. I am a noob to this type of growing.

Thanks.

-C

The temperature of where you're growing is going to be the biggest obstacle. Think of how chilly your house gets at night without the heat running.. and that's a well insulated building. You've got a ventilated GreenHouse. Even without the fans running, it's not going to stay all the much warmer.

It's a little tricky since you don't have access to much power..
A few things I can think of off the top of my head
- Using water at a temp above 74 degrees
- Thermal tape for the drip system.
- Natural Gas heater (requires ventilation)
- Heating pads.. if you can get the power
- Keeping the roots warm can help plants withstand colder temps.
- You'll know it's too cold if your plant starts turning purple. Cold locks out phosphorous. Stunted growth and leaf yellowing..
- Bugs come out in the spring and they'll love the heat at night. If there is a way in, they'll find it.

try to use 8 mm plasic sheeting so its a litle bit thicker, also if you can get some heating pads that would help it out alot,

if you can somehow get a really long power cord from your house to the greenhouse you can go buy a cheap little 25 dollar electric heater set it on a nice temp for the plants , keep venetlation on and your fine..


oh btw my plant went through about 1 month with 40 degree weather its not a big deal . depends on the strain though so if you can get electricity to your greenhouse youll be perfect

You shouldnt use a drip system.

Get a water irrigation timer, and set it to water every few days.

Its important to let the soil dry out.

Strains of Marijuana

That's what I was getting at, I didn't mean drip. I checked out a few DIY's on the forum and I found a timer that runs on rechargeable batteries(solar charged).

-C

Water by hand. Save your money for other needed items that will come up. Automatic watering systems never work well. You must check the soil and determine when to water, not some given interval in hours or days on some equipment schedule.

PW

Water by hand. Save your money for other needed items that will come up. Automatic watering systems never work well. You must check the soil and determine when to water, not some given interval in hours or days on some equipment schedule.

PW

I will be up there on weekends only. Auto watering systems can be constructed for around $30 less the cost of the timer so I am not terribly concerned about being out of the money. I have read several threads in which people have had great success using the auto water technique and it is the only option for me.

It is pretty widely accepted that you water every few days and since I am not dealing with any natural precipitation elements I am sure that a slight over or under watering will not be dire to the crop, esp in the time between I will be away and returning, where I can then make the necessary adjustments based on any changes I have seen from the previous week.

-C

Wouldn't be a bad idea to catch some of that natural precipitation with a rain bucket.
I agree vacant. The gravity drip will work fine. Assuming it doesn't freeze.

Edited by Biotecology, 29 January 2012 - 12:00 PM.

These guy are from CO check out there design's. They are cold weather greenhouse's I think the most efficient and effective part of there desing's for fighting the cold is the storeage of heated water just under the surface of the soil. I also live in CO and about do desing a simaler greenhouse for my aquaponic garden.Greenhouse kits, Geodesic Dome Greenhouse, Greenhouses

I think you will figure the watering out, but how about that elevation?! 7,000 feet is like the Himalayan's almost. You should try out a pure indica like an Afhani, Hindu, Mazar I Sharif or Hash Plant. I've heard that at higher elevations, they will produce copious amounts of resin to protect themselves from more intense UV rays. Make a journal?? Good luck

I think you will figure the watering out, but how about that elevation?! 7,000 feet is like the Himalayan's almost. You should try out a pure indica like an Afhani, Hindu, Mazar I Sharif or Hash Plant. I've heard that at higher elevations, they will produce copious amounts of resin to protect themselves from more intense UV rays. Make a journal?? Good luck

Cooler weather and high altitude strains are a definite for outdoors. 7K ft actually isn't terribly high for CO. Try 10K plus.

-C

its not just from more intense UV rays , when the plants get colder during night time there only defense is producing more trichomes in order to keep them warm :smoke:

You might want to plant in ground and amend the soil or raised bed's bermed with hay or some sort of insulation. You want to keep the roots warm witch the bag's wont help much with plus they do not drain very well or let much air in I learned that the hard way

Hey man whatever hapended to this thread?

Did you ever endup doing it?

Yea, what happened?!

My job got postponed until October so I am stuck in Georgia until then. I just got back from CO. A few weeks ago to check on my land and do a little house hunting. Bummer, but this gives me time to prepare.