Automatic watering?

I have always grown indoor, but a friend of mine who is unaware I grow (but someone I trust implicitly) asked if I wanted to join in on a 1-3 plant gorilla grow next season. I really would love to help him, and the idea of increasing my yield next year is tempting, but where I'm already growing what I need (and don't sell), it also seems like a risk where I really don't have a huge benefit (the only plus side I can see is that I could bake more, or stash more away for rainy days).

So I started thinking about ways to minimize maintenance, and really I can fairly easily take care of everything but watering (since water sources are where leo tends to look for plants). The first idea I came up with is a water barrel (I can get perfect ones from 15-66 gallons), bury it near the plant, use flexi tubing to run a wick (or several at different levels) over to the roots. I was also thinking I might be able to build a stealth rainwater collector (it could even be buried as long as it was above the barrel) so it could replenish itself.

Why I am posting is to see if anyone else has come up with any ways of handling automated gorilla watering that might be easier than my above idea. If you're not aware of something better, has anyone setup anything similar to what I described, and if so could you give info on how you set it up, pro's/con's, and maybe some pictures? Apologies if this info is posted already, I couldn't find info in a search, but it seems like something others will have come up with solutions for

Nice thread and hopefully will blow up with alot of guerilla growing/gardening information. I havent used any watering system in a guerilla grow, yet. But i can think of some good ideas, Im sure everyone on this site would like to hear from some veteran guerilla gardeners here.

What about rain lol?

well, yeah, my whole idea includes a stealthy system to collect and store rainwater. However, I live in a fairly dry climate. There is no way a plant is going to thrive in the climate here without additional watering. so far my idea would involve burying a collection tarp above the barrel to funnel water, from a large area, into the tank when it rains. anyway, still looking for ideas or examples of similar implementations!

Is the tarp going to be visible from a helicopter?

no, the barrel and tarp would have to be buried completely (and deep enough to not get dug up or anything. Rain water mostly runs down into the water table (what isn't consumed by roots), so a buried tarp should be effective at collecting rainwater, and should be stealthy. I plan on getting this all setup before winter, so the whole area should have plenty of time to get back to looking natural before we plant. The idea is that we could plant next spring, go back once or twice at most just to check things, and harvest. After water, the only other issue I can see is wildlife eating them, but I have a bit of time to decide how to handle that (leaning toward some sort of camouflage net, or the commercial animal repellent/odor).

that sounds like a good set up

look for collapsible resevoirs. pretty cheap anf fold flat when not in use. they even have a spigot at the bottom to connect a garden hose. put it uphill of your grow then attach a length of hose and connect a low pressure watering timer to the end which can be programmed to flow howver many hours you like. even lets you to decide to water everyday, every other day etc. then running some irrigation hoses to your plants and you got it.

that's not a bad idea... I'm going to have to see what I can find as far as a timer/dripper...

good luck on this man

Automatic grows are great ideas, but the risk of many things, all bad, are very large, as well.

Farmers have a saying, "The best fertilizer is a farmer's footprints."

It means that only regular observation insures the best possible crop.

I suggest you find redundant methods of watering and protection from critters. They can have quite a party if you're gone a month.

If you're in the Coast Range, or Sierra Nevadas, don't count on getting any rain from May through October.

You should really consider some sort of reservoir system that draws off a nearby creek or flume. Gravity is your best friend for this.

At the same time, if this is on government land, you're taking a sizable risk, digging and spreading plastic.

The various forest services really don't appreciate the damage and littering.

A lot of downside, considering you have options.

And partnerships have a way of falling apart, near harvest.

the partnership isn't an issue really. This is someone I have known since we were very young, he doesn't know I already grow indoors, and I produce more than I use already, and never intend to sell, so as far as I'm concerned he could keep it all for himself and it wouldn't change my position at all. Basically I am looking at this as more something we can do together to have fun, and an opportunity to teach a good friend the knowledge and experience I have amassed without breaking the rule of 'tell no one you grow'.

Far as your other post, critters are actually the other issue I haven't fully figured out, them and water are really it. I agree 100% on the best ferts being the farmers shadow, but in this situation for myself it simply isn't worth the risk of regular maintenance. If I can't do it with minimal visiting (so I feel safe about not getting busted), then it's not worth it to me to do at all.

I hear you on the public land issue, and that is primarily why I don't want to tap into nearby water sources. First, that is one of the primary areas leo looks for grows, but more importantly I do not want to leave a footprint in the wilderness. For instance the barrel and tarp would have to be removed once the grow was completed. I don't want a bunch of under earth pipe run that I have to track down to remove, and I'd rather not be as blatant in my theft as to tap into a river (I know it's the same, but collecting rainwater just feels more benign than diverting part of a stream). the environmental impact is also why I told him to limit it to 3 plants or less.

anyway, thanks for the bullet points, but more interested in specifics from people who have done something similar

if you are going to take the risk of growing, you want more than 3 plants, growing more plants wont do anything but help the environment. Also collecting rainwater is ur best option, now just find a simple contraption, like brown or green trash cans with screens on the top to prevent any larvae growth and keep the cans in the shades, uphill and just hand water if you dont wanna divert it from the cans to plants. ur decision

SACReDHeRB said:

if you are going to take the risk of growing, you want more than 3 plants, growing more plants wont do anything but help the environment. Also collecting rainwater is ur best option, now just find a simple contraption, like brown or green trash cans with screens on the top to prevent any larvae growth and keep the cans in the shades, uphill and just hand water if you dont wanna divert it from the cans to plants. ur decision

Click to expand...

yeah, at this point I might try simulating this indoors this winter. And yeah, I agree on the risk. That's my thing, if I think there's any real risk I won't do it. I have an op that is worth it already. I more was interested because it's a good friend, and I could made the difference between success and failure for him. I'd love to be a good friend, as well as jump on the opportunity to pass on the art of growing without exposing my own hobby. Anyway, I still might back out and just show him how to do it without directly being involved, I'm not 100% sure I'll be happy with what I come up with to make this work to my liking.

right on lol!