@Chrispy posted a new topic, subject "New Mexico outdoor grow". It read:

   Hi, I recently moved to New Mexico and was looking for advice on timing my outdoor grow. I moved from the Pacific Northwest which is a lot different. With almost zero humidity here in the high desert then Monsoons in the summer, I'm curious how people grow outdoors here. I'm at almost 7000 feet in the mountains.  
    Thanks!

@plumbdand replied

    I'm in AZ at 5000ft I start my plants indoors in April then move them outside at the beginning of June I grow in a home made greenhouse and a store bought greenhouse. This monsoon season was crazy. I had caterpillars and mold destroy a lot of bud. You're probably in a similar climate but a little colder in the fall I would think.

So @Graysin replied

    Don't start until late March, or April even. The frost will still come and go until then. I know @CoyoteCody is south of me - I'm near the Sandias. @KikiGee is also in NM - I think she's East of here, weather a little more like west Texas than mountain proper. Also @JaneQP is North - not New Mexico but I know she deals with arid mountain weather too.
    
    I don't grow outdoors (yet) but the reality of outdoor growing is you're not gonna be able to manage the humidity. It's going to be hot and dry. You'll be watering heavy to account for the lack of moisture in the air. A greenhouse or even just clear plastic to be able to trap moisture into the environment will probably be a tremendous help.
    
    Personally, I don't trust my neighbors. So I'll be trying a few low-stakes autoflowers but I'm not sure I'm ready to put the labor of love into growing a photoperiod outside just to have her ruined by any number of possible males in a two mile radius.

@JaneQP replied

    @Graysin I've learned in 20 years to never plant before Mother's Day! Stuck in a weird micro climate here. A break in the mountains with gusting winds and a creek behind us that drops the temp.
    
    My neighbors on either sides are cool but I do but not trust anyone that frequents the open space/walking path/park behind us. Let's just say even though legal, it is an uptight neighborhood where cops are called over every little thing instead of just talking to your neighbor. My child had a flat tire and the cops were called because of a junked/abandoned car of course in the middle of a blizzard!
    
    I have vegetable and flower gardens that covered my dried bag seed and first real outdoor grow. This next year they are going the unused side yard.

After which, @CoyoteCody added

    78 here tomorrow, supposed to be a very mild winter here we will see.

So @CoyoteCody replied

    Oh and next season i plan on growing a tree in the backyard, we will see how that goes lmao.

So @Graysin replied

    If it weren't for the nighttime lows I'd still be trying outdoors. 30 now and 21 tomorrow night. yikes.

So @MeEasy replied

    I'm here in NM just moved down into the valley with all the yahoo's but it's still the desert 4sure

To which @Chrispy replied

    I'm in the Cibola National Forest. The days are beautiful mid 40's, but the lows are in the teens. I'm wondering how outdoor growers get through Monsoon season? I can see a greenhouse in my future. I'm thinking a Indica would work here.

After which, @MeEasy added

    Monsoon normally ends about the time the buds are just fattening up (didn't this year) and the air starts to cool. I grew some weed up there around a little town I think Cedro was the name it on the other side of the mountain from Albuquerque but the snow was there to long. I drove and looked all over those mountains and just never could get much out of there a couple plants here n there. That was 30+ years ago when only devils smoked and grew weed you really had to stay hidden back then. I found a game reserve down south of Albuquerque that was damn near a swamp and wow I grew the biggest plants of my life.  
    You mentioned Cibola and it brought back some good memories of playing in the snow up there with my kids.  
    Anyways my point is that if you are up against the mountain on that east side because there's no afternoon sun it stays cold up there til like May since you live up there you could start inside earlier and you can grow in raised beds or pots instead of the frozen ground. You'll definitely fare better than I could having to hide and take care of em from Albuquerque

So @Honeybunny replied

    Hi Chrispy, I am also in New Mexico. The mountains where you seem to have quite a few growing friends in it. There is a FB group, called “Cannabis growers in the East Mountains, Albuquerque.” There is quite a lot of good local advice coming from that group. I am deeper in the more arid desert (I won't say where) but the major problem here is humidity. I am growing only short auto bud varieties so I can keep them in a greenhouse situation but outside. (plus I like the sativas more than indicas and to keep them small you need that ruderalis.) That means covered with a plastic “lid” to keep humidity from evaporating too quickly. I have done this with epiphytes and orchids grown outside in the past. I actually think a greenhouse is a good idea either way, even for tomatoes (which can “hide” the plot). Apparently, people think nothing of going into someone's yard and grabbing a few plants in NM (probably every state) so security should be a major concern also.

Then @Graysin said

    Honeybunny:
    
    > Apparently, people think nothing of going into someone's yard and grabbing a few plants in NM
    
    Yeah, that level of bold stupidity is kind of New Mexico specific.  I grew up here, and get out to go live somewhere else every chance I get.

So @Honeybunny replied

    I think it is everywhere.

So @Myfriendis410 replied

    I'm in between you all and @JaneQP: Colorado Springs. Our house is set at 7,100 feet but chose based on all factors to keep everything indoors. I grew outdoors in SoCal and fought bud rot and pests constantly.
    
    I will say the low RH helps indoor growing as plants adapt to 45% RH and that's low enough to keep WPM off of the plant. I did 2 nice grows last Year, shut it all down in July (too much cannabis lol) and just started up on New Year's Day.
    
    Some kind of cover during monsoon is wise, if in a neighborhood be aware that street lights and neighbor's automatic porch light will affect plants.
    
    It's challenging for sure but rather have low humidity than too high. We've got a grower here in Costa Rica fighting all of those issues.

@JaneQP replied

    I am at ~5400.

@LCOutdoors replied

    Hi, I'm in New Mexico as well. Just further south from you guys. New to the forums and starting my third grow soon. The heat in southern NM has been a bear to deal with in the summer so my water schedule has to be on point. I would assume in the mountains it's a little less stressful?

So @Graysin replied

    I dunno about that. At 5,300 feet we still get insane Summer heat. I'm planning to do maybe one photoperiod and a few autos throughout the summer to give it a shot and I'm expecting a watering every day or twice a day for peak temperatures once late July hits.

After which, @LCOutdoors added

    I hear ya. Summers in this state are brutal. I'm at 3900' and it feels like the devil is creeping up in late July.

So @Chrispy replied

    Thanks for the advice, I'm way up here at 7651 ft. Still having a hard time deciding to grow outdoor or greenhouse. Think I'll try both.

Then @Honeybunny said

    I'm in NM, in the “Further South” part of it.

Then @Chrispy said

    Welcome!

To which @nmgeo replied

    I am in the south too.  
    Welcome

So @LCOutdoors replied

    Hey there! Down in the south myself

Then @Allinru575 said

    I am growing in Cruces as well, curious about your watering schedule right now (right after Mother's Day). I threw a gelato clone outside in a 20 gallon fabric pot. I left some space to top with ocean forest soil when it gets further along. It's been outside for just over a week and is flourishing so far. I was thinking about skipping a watering today and watering in the evening to let my soil dry up. It's moist but not saturated with water (after yesterday's water) it's not at the crazy 100 temps yet so I'm thinking it will be ok to stress it a little. Would love to hear some advice. I have an indoor grow as well and my first was pretty successful but this is my first attempt at outdoor and Cruces has a brutal summer so I'm a little worried. I have a little 50% uv sun shade that should help a lot and my plant gets nice direct morning light.

@LCOutdoors replied

    Ive been kind of watering as needed. My little girls are thriving also in the sun but I started them from seeds. I also let them dry out during the day but I water in the mornings to help (i think at least) with the coming sun. Been watering with nutes for about a month but I also do a water only flush about every week and to saturate the soil real good. Good luck and maybe some pics? Ill post some of mine in a bit

So @nmgeo replied

    Here my outdoor girls…
    
    OutsideGirls0508221920×1440 329 KB
    
    Left is WWa Gold leaf photo in middle just leaned her back 45degrees, Right Gold Leaf (FIMMed just because) also bent back a little.
    
    Mine are in living soil FFHF and Earth dust so I have to keep them wet/damp so water twice a day a least… 5gl pots are just to danged small 4sure on outdoor grows in NM I am planning to transplant the Gold Leafs to 10gl pot. Let the auto finish as is.

@Allinru575 replied

    image1920×2560 990 KB

To which @Allinru575 replied

    She's a little droopy cuz it was the middle of the day and kinda windy. She's a happy camper in the mornings though. The soil is about 40/60 happy frog and ocean forest. The setup is kinda ghetto and initially I was shooting for two plants but the clone I got from a buddy hermied on him when he flipped it to flower and I didn't want to risk it. Gelato isn't really the ideal strain to chuck outside but next year I will run an AK-47 or something more tolerant to heat. I have some liquid nutes I might feed her but I left some room to top her with ocean forest when it's closer to flower. There should be enough Nutrients in the soil.

@nmgeo replied

    Is the Gelato an Auto or Photo?

After which, @Allinru575 added

    It's a photo

So @nmgeo replied

    You have enough in those soils for about 4-6 weeks … as I understand. But with a 20gl it could be even longer.

@Allinru575 replied

    I think I'll be good! If it looks like I need to supplement it I have all kinds of stuff (a line of roots organic) and top dressings if need be. I left a good 4 inches to top with more ocean forest. I also used a blend of mykos and azos to help with nutrient uptake. I'll keep you posted through the process, look forward to seeing your grows as well ladies and gents!

Then @Allinru575 said

    Ole girl decided to flip to flower, I had the plant in a tent too long and the 12ish hour light from outside hit the switch to flower. I took her back inside and I'm finishing off the flower stage. Wish me luck, just going to fiddle with this one and see if I screw it all up lol. It will be a learning experience, decided to take my Pineapple Express and send her outside as a baby. Just transplanted her to a 5 gallon from a solo-ish size cup. The root system was good and I think the weather is cooperating enough to get her acclimated to the new environment. We will see how this shit show goes haha
    
    image1920×2560 808 KB

So @Allinru575 replied

    update: she finished a few days ago indoors and everything went swell. I am popping a white widow and zkittlez next for my indoor aspect. Pineapple express got moved outside when I brought the gelato in, she's doing great outside in a 20 gallon fabric pot. I haven't had anything challenging so far outside _knock on wood_ , I hope all your grows are going well!

So @P_Dawg replied

    End of April beginning of May.

Then @P_Dawg said

    Gettcha some uv resistant growhouse material. That sun directly hitting your plants will stress em quick.  u still get much needed sunlight in


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