2018 Grow your own thread

Strudelheim

Well-Known Member
Dehumidification is the key. Without it you have a ruined crop many times. Why folks don't buy an actual decent dehumidifier is beyond me. They spend $400 on some consumer junk and then it ruins thousands of dollars worth of weed. They will spend all kinds of money on other stuff....but leave this all important function weak. To me that is just duh stupid absence of smart sense.
One of the first things purchased in any smart grow should be a commercial dehumidifier.
But isnt 50-60% Ideal? I have seen some very skilled growers running massive shows at 70-80% in bloom, quoting VPD charts with the golden range as the main goal.

I have refused to get a dehuy, as A) high humidity seems to be the best for this tropical plant AA) its more equipment and spending B) more electricity costs (and an even higher bill overall) C) more noise.

And with legalization looming, these high tech small home scale grows aren't going to be able to be paid for. They already aren't justified for many growers. Thats the most sad thing about legalization, I had dreams of a crazy high tech set up with all the bells and whistles and automation, sensors, lights, perfect dialed in temps etc. But I think that is a thing of the past and is not economical with it being a legal product in the future.

So I will just continue venting my exhaust outside whenever my home humidity goes above 50-60%. I have air recirculating throughout the home to re use that warm clean air.
 

gb123

Well-Known Member
But isnt 50-60% Ideal? I have seen some very skilled growers running massive shows at 70-80% in bloom, quoting VPD charts with the golden range as the main goal.

I have refused to get a dehuy, as A) high humidity seems to be the best for this tropical plant AA) its more equipment and spending B) more electricity costs (and an even higher bill overall) C) more noise.

And with legalization looming, these high tech small home scale grows aren't going to be able to be paid for. They already aren't justified for many growers. Thats the most sad thing about legalization, I had dreams of a crazy high tech set up with all the bells and whistles and automation, sensors, lights, perfect dialed in temps etc. But I think that is a thing of the past and is not economical with it being a legal product in the future.

So I will just continue venting my exhaust outside whenever my home humidity goes above 50-60%. I have air recirculating throughout the home to re use that warm clean air.
 

Strudelheim

Well-Known Member
Exactly, those types of setups are thing of the past of the average home grower pretty soon, CO02, DEHUY, AC MINI SPLIT - rich mans toys. People already shut down now in the summer months because temp controls are not worth it.

And I wasn't looking for a hydro shop 101 vid on youtube. I was moreso looking to engage in an indepth discussion with some of the more advanced growers in this community. I might come off as a noob, but I understand the concepts of environments that cannabis needs. I just don't think taking RH to 30% is best for efficiency and for plant growth, but it seems that's what everyone jumps to recommend.
 

The Hippy

Well-Known Member
If you can get away with NO dehumidification that is good for you. Most others get caught in the mold situation. But for me I don't play try and see games with my grow. I keep my humidity in check 24hrs. I'm not risking expensive product to chance. And I'm not going to smoke unseen mold. In some cases unless you rip every bud open...you won't know! The mold forms deep in first. And then when dry it's hard to spot. I just prefer making sure it isn't going to happen at all. Professional growers control humidity...that isn't news to me! If you run up near 70%...good luck. Unless you have a wind storm happening 70% is too high for my liking. some spot in a grow may be able to survive that...but what about the area that are not as open.....stupid to take that chance imo.
As I said...i've heard more guys whine that their weed got mold....and it's no wonder why. Smart guys make sure it doesn't happen twice.
You sound exactly like the guys who end up with mold and end up wondering why. Yes you refuse to buy one. Make sure you never get one and end up owning one lmao. The rest of us will do it the right way.
If for some reason your outside humidity is enough to keep your grow with low Humidity %...your extremely lucky. I don't like to count on luck.
Exactly, those types of setups are thing of the past of the average home grower pretty soon, CO02, DEHUY, AC MINI SPLIT - rich mans toys. People already shut down now in the summer months because temp controls are not worth it.

And I wasn't looking for a hydro shop 101 vid on youtube. I was more so looking to engage in an in depth discussion with some of the more advanced growers in this community. I might come off as a noob, but I understand the concepts of environments that cannabis needs. I just don't think taking RH to 30% is best for efficiency and for plant growth, but it seems that's what everyone jumps to recommend.
With the legal market going to be 10 bucks a gram or more.....small well done grows seem primed to " git er un" imo.
If you can't make a proper setup grow work under those conditions...you need lessons. I could teach folks .....but won't. I see growers make plenty of mistakes but can't help stupid many times. We all gotta do our own thing. I do and don't look back with regrets.
 

Flash63

Well-Known Member
Growing in the summer will require a dehumidifier as far as I am concerned..problem is,it only compounds the heat issue that already exists.In the cooler months my dehumidifier is hardly on at all,I prefer to keep the r/h below 50% in flower and 60% in veg.When the humidity is too high the plant can’t function properly (take up water)and when it’s to low the plant takes a lot of water and salts build up and lockout occurs. Losing a crop to mold really sucks and the conditions are greatly increased when humidity is over 50%..
 

The Hippy

Well-Known Member
Growing in the summer will require a dehumidifier as far as I am concerned..problem is,it only compounds the heat issue that already exists.In the cooler months my dehumidifier is hardly on at all,I prefer to keep the r/h below 50% in flower and 60% in veg.When the humidity is too high the plant can’t function properly (take up water)and when it’s to low the plant takes a lot of water and salts build up and lockout occurs. Losing a crop to mold really sucks and the conditions are greatly increased when humidity is over 50%..
Yup all good points Flash. What it boils down to is there is a magic number and that varies at times. I will ALWAYS stay on the underside of that number for safety. I get great results still..even at staying under 50%
I'm not running the edge to see " when " it's going to happen...... that's just poor planning imo.
Yes the heat is an issue but not much if done correctly. Buy bigger than you need...they run less often.
 

The Hippy

Well-Known Member
Bottom line....................
Buy a commercial oversized dehumidifer and you won't regret it....don't...and see how you feel when you find mold.
It can always be turned down some. Buy small or consumer....crapola...buy it again 2 years from now.
 

Jefferson1977

Well-Known Member
The thing is one of those Quest dehu's starts at like 1400+$ for the one I need. The 70L/d Danby I have was 300$ and if I bought one every 2 years it would take about 9 years to pay for that other one.
 

Strudelheim

Well-Known Member
If you can get away with NO dehumidification that is good for you. Most others get caught in the mold situation. But for me I don't play try and see games with my grow. I keep my humidity in check 24hrs. I'm not risking expensive product to chance. And I'm not going to smoke unseen mold. In some cases unless you rip every bud open...you won't know! The mold forms deep in first. And then when dry it's hard to spot. I just prefer making sure it isn't going to happen at all. Professional growers control humidity...that isn't news to me! If you run up near 70%...good luck. Unless you have a wind storm happening 70% is too high for my liking. some spot in a grow may be able to survive that...but what about the area that are not as open.....stupid to take that chance imo.
As I said...i've heard more guys whine that their weed got mold....and it's no wonder why. Smart guys make sure it doesn't happen twice.
You sound exactly like the guys who end up with mold and end up wondering why. Yes you refuse to buy one. Make sure you never get one and end up owning one lmao. The rest of us will do it the right way.
If for some reason your outside humidity is enough to keep your grow with low Humidity %...your extremely lucky. I don't like to count on luck.


With the legal market going to be 10 bucks a gram or more.....small well done grows seem primed to " git er un" imo.
If you can't make a proper setup grow work under those conditions...you need lessons. I could teach folks .....but won't. I see growers make plenty of mistakes but can't help stupid many times. We all gotta do our own thing. I do and don't look back with regrets.

Well going to 40RH in those final weeks makes sense. Im not saying no to that. The way you train your plants, the spacing between them, the amount of airflow by circulating fans, how much light they get, and the strain all this has an effect on mold issues as well right?

So really I was asking your guys opinion, and please confirm, 50% RH for flowering you find best? and 60% RH for VEG?
 

Flash63

Well-Known Member
Well going to 40RH in those final weeks makes sense. Im not saying no to that. The way you train your plants, the spacing between them, the amount of airflow by circulating fans, how much light they get, and the strain all this has an effect on mold issues as well right?

So really I was asking your guys opinion, and please confirm, 50% RH for flowering you find best? and 60% RH for VEG?
Yes,yes and yes
 

The Hippy

Well-Known Member
The thing is one of those Quest dehu's starts at like 1400+$ for the one I need. The 70L/d Danby I have was 300$ and if I bought one every 2 years it would take about 9 years to pay for that other one.
Commercial dehumidifiers work better and are able to dehumidify quicker due to CFM and compressor sizing. Do as you like but imo the consumer units are trash and not the worth the investment. I've had plenty of them....where are they now....in the dump. The old metal box units were better......I still have a few of those. Personally no $400 dehumidifier is going to cost me a crop or even a bud. I get a man to do a man's job. I read it over and over....mold...mold...and more mold. NOT HERE...EVER! Then they wonder why....duh! WTF!
Never lost even a gram to mold.
If your going to ride the line....you take your chances. I'm not willing to risk my hard work or expenses. You bought that very expensive light and love it I see...why are you balking at $1400....just a cost to outfit your grow correctly.......go get a pro dehumidifer and you won't be sorry. Don't and expect mold....I'll guarantee you. What is your crop worth???
I'd rather ride a bit lower % than find out I fucked up.
 

Strudelheim

Well-Known Member
Are you guys running sealed rooms? I mean mine is open, thats why I can adjust where my intake is from and where my exhaust goes to. I just don't like exhasuting my hot air to outside in the winter as it could heat my home, by pushing it outside, it creates negative pressure in the house, pulling in cold air from outside through any openings etc. So when its -30C outside thats a bummer. Hence I micro manage my climate by controlling my exhaust, as everything can recirculate through my house otherwise when conditions are good. Hence I ask for your personal preference of specific numbers. But it sounds like 50% all around is right on the money, which is also the best for humans. I rather exhaust humid air, and reheat cold air with my natural gas furnace, then pay for a dehuey, and electricity as that route ends up costing more, I pay 100% of my rooms electricity, but only 50% of the house gas bill since its shared (+ Natural Gas is also cheaper and more efficient energy source than electricity)
 

johny sunset

Well-Known Member
I found this podcast pretty interesting https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/cannabis-cultivation-and-science-podcast/id1258365194?mt=2&i=1000415097453


Mold and Mildew are such a problem for many growers. In this podcast, Travis describes how these pathogens work and how to best manage them through environmental controls.

Travis Higginbotham is the new director of Cultivation Support for Fluence. Prior to working at Fluence, he worked at a state of the art environmentally controlled greenhouse covering 50 acres where he was the head of research and development. They grew annual and perennial crops for big box retailers supplying the NE united states. His focus was on rearing beneficial insects, IPM protocols, disease testing, and trialing new genetics from around the world.He recently received his masters horticulture from Virginia Tech. This resulted in equipping irrigation booms with lights for photoperiodic flowering applications to a controlled environment which propagated over 1.2 million perennials from stage 3 tissue culture per year. He also has a bachelors of science from Clemson University.”
 

Canadain Closet Gardener

Well-Known Member
I found this podcast pretty interesting https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/cannabis-cultivation-and-science-podcast/id1258365194?mt=2&i=1000415097453


Mold and Mildew are such a problem for many growers. In this podcast, Travis describes how these pathogens work and how to best manage them through environmental controls.

Travis Higginbotham is the new director of Cultivation Support for Fluence. Prior to working at Fluence, he worked at a state of the art environmentally controlled greenhouse covering 50 acres where he was the head of research and development. They grew annual and perennial crops for big box retailers supplying the NE united states. His focus was on rearing beneficial insects, IPM protocols, disease testing, and trialing new genetics from around the world.He recently received his masters horticulture from Virginia Tech. This resulted in equipping irrigation booms with lights for photoperiodic flowering applications to a controlled environment which propagated over 1.2 million perennials from stage 3 tissue culture per year. He also has a bachelors of science from Clemson University.”
Thank you
Found the talk on Youtube
Cheers
CCG
 
Last edited:
Top