Marijuana Daily Gardening. Henry Woodward
If you can dedicate one other small space of say four feet across by two deep and two high, you will also be able to create a dedicated space for hanging your harvested bud to dry. This room is the easiest to assemble: all it really requires is a space where you can string several lengths of string like clothes lines, tied securely and with sufficient clearance (a minimum of 18 inches to be safe) to hang stems while they dry. Finally, you will need space to work (a basement work bench is ideal) that is adequately lit and that allows for easy access to stored tools and supplies.
1. Avoid accumulation of dead vegetative matter, particularly in pots as it can breed mould and attract pests.
2. Clean up spills immediately whenever possible.
3. Use vinegar to disinfect all soiled surfaces between grows.
4. Sweep/vacuum regularly.
5. If rodents are present (e.g. if grow room is located in a basement), be sure to set ample traps in the vicinity of the grow.
6. Deal with spider webs. Never allow webs to be set on or near plants.
7. Clean tops of nutrient bottles to seal well after use. Otherwise, gummy remnants will accumulate.
8. Keep buckets used for watering clean. Rinsing should be sufficient day-to-day, but clean occasionally with soap and water (after each grow for instance).
9. Keep work area clean and free of household crap as much as possible so you have an organized work area.
Something way better than clothes will be drying on these lines!
If you are truly challenged in terms of the space you can dedicate to your garden and can only have one room, you will likely want to opt for autoflowering seeds. These will be described in the grow journal below. They are perhaps the best strategy for a daily grow in a truly tiny garden.
Once the space is selected, ensure that you clean the area thoroughly. Avoid the temptation to skip this important step. You want an environment that is as sterile as possible. Sweep and vacuum the area. Remove any dust or cobwebs. Clean all surfaces with vinegar or a diluted bleach solution. Your grow room can be compromised by pests before you even start growing if you neglect a good cleaning. This is something you will want to commit to from time to time in any case. I generally clean my rooms at the end of each grow cycle to stay on top of any problems developing. It might seem tedious, but this is far less work than getting rid of an infestation in the middle of a grow cycle!
Bungee cords are a cheap and effective way to keep polyurethane barriers secured while you work in your garden. Hang from hooks so they can be used to easily tie back tarps.
After cleaning, your grow space must be prepared by tacking up polyurethane that is white on one side and black on the other. Both rooms should be lined on all sides with this wrap. Ceilings and floors need not be wrapped (ceilings are beyond the lights and floors are too high traffic and will need frequent clean up from small spills of water, dirt and plant material). Polyurethane can be bought relatively inexpensively in rolls at a hydroponic store or even garden center. When purchasing materials, the persona of a home cook interested in cultivating their own herbs year-round is a nice, safe identity to assume to avoid arousing any suspicion.
You may have heard that silver Mylar is best for this lining your walls with, since it is highly reflective, but really, it isn’t necessary. The white polyurethane is an excellent light reflector and much sturdier. It is less prone to rip and can be wiped clean with ease, so skip the Mylar. The plastic on these rolls is thick enough that a portion cut to size can be hung as a “wall” in a grow space that has been bisected into two rooms, as mine has. In fact, using polyurethane as a barrier is highly efficient because it can easily be secured and made light-tight with Velcro bought in rolls or tabs. Also, it can easily be rolled, as one would a tarp or tent fly, and secured to the upper extent of a wall or the adjoining ceiling using bungee cords hung from hooks.
When lining your grow room, you will need a staple gun to secure the polyurethane to walls or, in the case of an unfinished space such as a basement, exposed studs. The latter is fine: finished walls are redundant after lining the grow area. One important tip you should consider: to reduce the likelihood of rips, cut up small squares of cardboard to place over the poly when stapling. By stapling through the cardboard, you will secure the plastic in a way that minimizes the chance of a rip if it is tugged or stretched. Replacing polyurethane that has been ripped mid-grow is a time consuming job that is definitely no fun.
1. Best to do this semi-frequently so that you minimize “burning” the nutrients onto the trays.
2. Always use disinfected pots and trays to avoid transferring problems like insects or infections from one generation of plants to the next.
3. It is best to clean outside or in a basement – it can be messy. Keep in mind privacy considerations: avoid conspicuous cleaning of numerous pots and tools that may tip off a nosy neighbour.
4. Dispose of used soil, roots, etc. before starting. Do not “recycle” soil, since soil that has been subjected to more than three months of heavy nutrient use can be depleted and can result in “soil-lock”. Always start with fresh soil in each grow.
5. Use gloves and work clothes as you will be using bleach.
6. Solution: 9 parts hot water, 1 part bleach (quarts).
7. Use scrub brushes and scouring pads.
8. Let stubborn stains soak. Scrub. Soak again. Repeat.
9. Air dry. Pots must, MUST be allowed to dry fully before use. Otherwise bleach residue could harm plants.
10. Once dry, rinse pots well. Ideally, use a hose to save time and effort when sterilizing many pots. Let them air dry again.
11. Sterilized pots and trays can be returned to the grow room to dry to minimize hassle and security concerns.
12. Remember to sterilize stakes also – they can carry infection too!
A cardboard box cut into little squares is an effective way to ensure that staples don't rip polyethylene sheeting. Use these when constructing your grow room and have extras on hand in case repairs are needed.
Next, you will need to make two trips: one to a local hardware store, and a second to a local grow or hydroponics shop; these can be found