Want to try new things.

[redeyed]

Well since I no longer have a indoor set up do to reason beyond my control I'm looking to try some differant things outdoors this year. I'm going to use a green house which I stated in a differant post. I've also been reading about people growing in the trees. I've devised my tree top plan but I'm curious about two things. One is that I'm not a big fan of time release fertilizer but most of my research states that it's the way to go, Any suggestions? Two is should I use some sort of pest prevention or something. With the plants being in th trees I won't be able to inspect daily, I'm leaning towards weekly or bi-weekly. Is there a product for long term protection and such, I know how to repel slugs, rabbits and deer but I don't think that will be a prob in the trees. This will be strictly experimental for this season just to see if it is even worth while in the future. It will not be my only grow so a major yeild would be nice but not necessary. Thanx in advance.

[youngcity]

most insecticides last until the rain washes it off so u should only have to apply after the rain. how do u plan on watering them?

[redeyed]

Well I got two ways I'm going to try since this is all an experiment. One will be to use those auto waters that you stick in the soil with a two liter bottle, I'll cut the bottle so it will collect rain water. Two, I read a thing on useing kitty litter to retain moisture, need to do some more reading on that first though.
I'm only doing this for my own knowledge, I've seen alot of talk about it but nobody seems to know weather it's worth it. It's still way to early to start any of the work where I am but I'll be sure to keep everybody informed as to how it is going.

[bejay]

well dont want to discourage you from trying it, I just never thought it would be worth the trouble to even attempt it, you are looking at alot of work putting plants in trees and maintaining them throughout the grow, just placing the plants where they would still get alot of sun seems difficult without removing some limbs or finding just the right tree.
would hold off on the insecticides until you know that you have a problem and need them hopefuly you wont need any.
as per fertilizers you might be able to go with an organic soil mix that would supply the plant with most of its nutrients for most of the grow.

[foxysox]

Want to try new things. .
lol that sounded a bit sexual there... lol

I have a couple suggestions...

Moisture... you can get moisture retaining crystals at grow shops/garden ctrs/poss. home dePOT

Pests... moth balls for bugs and coffee grounds for chipmunks

Use pulleys to make your life easier

and finally....

POST PICS!!!!

(I think this is a bit safer than a greenhouse, which is kind of obvious in your area, and if you DO decide to go that route, you might consider a removeable greenhouse made of clear plastic just to get you through the vulnerable seedling stage, then get rid of it in June when the weather heats up... or not... if stinky gets some clones going for ya)

[Abattoir Dream]

if you made some kind of cage/fence, you wouldnt need to worry about squirrels n shit, make some sticky traps and check/change them often, to see if you have any pests, the odd spray or two of neem oil around the area should help too, - remember to find a branch strong enough, with all the stuff up there it could easily break.. and that would suck...

i cant see it being too hard... give it a go and keep us posted...

[redeyed]

I have a bit of property so ain't to worried about poeple and stuff. It's all good bejay I know you ain't knocking me. I am definately gonna do an organic soil I've been formulating for the last year or so, basicly various things like coffee grounds, eggshell, Hardwood ash, horse shit, clay, sand, and some leaves and grass clippings. I've had them in a home made hot box in my yard for about 10 months now and check it weekly and turn it over, should be good by march for sure although I will definately need to add some lime as I'm sure the ph will be way off do to the compost.
Foxysox good call with the pulleys, that was my plan all along. I like the moth ball idea, that should be a big help with critters.
Abattoir Dream how much do you know about neem oil, I use to use it when I had my in door setup to contol spider mites and things of that nature, but can I mix it into my soil before planting. Will this have a negative effect on my plants or no.
Keep the suggestions coming and I'll try to work as many of them into this experiment as possible, we can make it a group project:weedpoke: .

[youngcity]

another thing u might consider is the type of spring weather u have. if u get hit with alot of thunder storms with decent winds u might have a problem with it blowing out of the tree.

[stinkyattic]

coffee grounds, eggshell, Hardwood ash, horse shit, clay, sand, and some leaves and grass clippings.. Quite the collection there... get rid of the sand and clay in your mix. Makes your soil heavier without adding significant lightening, if you knwo what I mean..let me rephrase... your dirt's gonna weigh a ton and still have crappy drainage. There ya go... compost heaps get just compost... you mix in the other stuff later... perlite is what you're looking for. Hardwood ash, coffee grounds- affect pH. Eggshells- good Ca source and can neutralize some acid. Leaf litter- good. Grass clippings and horse manure... not so good, they are real nitrogen suckers as they decomp... you will probably be okay since you 've got this all planned out so far ahead.


I've had them in a home made hot box in my yard for about 10 months now .......need to add some lime as I'm sure the ph will be way off do to the compost.. yup! but check the pH before. Get some liquid indicator from Tom at liquid sun, adjust the pH, water your compost again, let it settle again, check it again... you know the deal.


Foxysox good call with the pulleys, that was my plan all along. I like the moth ball idea, that should be a big help with critters..
haha I think foxy might know a thing about growing in southern NE.

neem oil, ..... but can I mix it into my soil before planting.
.Wouldn't do it. Go for bacillus subtilis from a product called serenade, they have it pretty much everywhere, it's a fungicide. Other than that, remember that your outdoor compost is going to have beneficials/predators in it and bug pests won't be as much of a prob as you think... pulleys will let you bring your girls down and you can neem spray them on the ground.

[JackdaWack]

tree house harvest... Fuck yeah!! what a good idea, it would look like a little kids fortnox, haha

[redeyed]

Thanx Stinckyattic, maybe I'll let it rot another year than before I use it. Got any good organic mixes I can stir up. I get most my stuff from Harvest Moon so anything and everything is available. I know what I usually do but this is an experiment so I'm looking to change things up a bit.

[Abattoir Dream]

we had a treehouse before, it would have been good for growing weed too lol, it took about 10 of us three days to make, it had three floors, a hammock and a window, its was the best treehouse ive ever seen, then it got ripped down by a bunch of pricks... so its a good idea doing it on your own land..

sounds like you've got a good plan at the moment, dont forget to add worm castings to your medium, they are super-beneficial, so its worth buying some if you cant 'make' some...:) - good luck...

[Weedhound]

Do post pics!! my big thing would be the sun.....if the sun can get to the plant it seems to me it could be seen by the air. How many plants per tree are you thinking?

[redeyed]

Worm castings check, good call. Pics will come for sure as I start building this frankinstien contraption. As for the plants just one per tree on the east side.