how hot is too hot?

[wade ounce]

i missed my watering this morning and decided i'd water late in the afternoon.

once getting there, i noticed that the water in the holding tank was very hot . too hot to keep my hand in there for more than 10 secs or so.

so i decided to postpone until early tomorrow.

 

would anyone have any idea a max sort of temp range for water?

 

there have been times in the past when i haven't been game to water with even luke warm water in fear of causing damage to the plants.

do you think i was being over cautious and could have watered.

 

i have always been curious about that.

 

thanks guys

wade

[Luke Skywalker]

Anything more than 30 degrees could cause some damage, but it depends on how quickly the root zone can cool the soil... You were right to leave it mate. You can get yourself a cheap aquarium thermometer for 4 - 5 bucks at a pet shop or hydro shop, that should let you know how warm it is.

 

20-25 degrees is optimal in a hydro system, and similar rules apply to water applied to the root zones of potted plants in soil too... You want it not too hot, not too cold, but cooler is definitely better than hotter....

 

All of this is IMO.

[wade ounce]

thanks heaps luke.

i wonder how people with outdoor dripper systems go in these high temps.i'm possitive the temps would climb well over 30 in the heat of the day. it would have to have adverse effects wouldn't it.

 

i've got one of those thermomotres. i'll check the water temp at midday tommorrow.

it will be interesting to see.

[Guest Wilderbud]

Bury the hose a few inches and youll have a bit of cool water all the time if you tap the end of it. Dont forget to water in this heat - its perfect growing time right now.

[Spurious]

It always surprises me how well plants can handle heated water. Water so hot it almost burns skin. (wouldn't recommend cannabis though)

 

Some seed species need to be soaked in near boiling water to germinate. (wouldn't recommend cannabis though)

 

In Coral Bay, NW of WA, red hot bore water constantly gushes from an underground aquifer. This oversupply of water pressure is used up by constantly watering lush lawns. The air temp there is quite often in excess of 40C. It's basically coastal desert. The hot subterranean water that gets spread over this lawn is so hot that you cannot stand in it's sprinklers. Your legs and skin will be burnt after only a few seconds.

 

I have on occasion, because of no alternative, watered mullies with hot water that I'd considered borderline detrimental, to have no effect, other that rehydrate successfully, plants desperate for a drink.

 

Obviously reducing risk is always sought as a priority, but cannabis can fortunately handle some unexpected extremes.

Edited December 12, 2003 by Spurious

[wade ounce]

hey thanks spurious. yeah i spose the temps must vary a heap in mulls natural habitat.

i wonder why it is that the sativas seem to handle the heat better than the indicas?or shouldn't they?

[Luke Skywalker]

Yeah, spurious is right, there are extremes that any plant can survive, and indeed a lot of species require this heat to survive and thrive... I still wouldn't recommend watering your plants with hot water tho...Air temps are one thing, plants will always do better if watered in a hot environment than if not watered, but if you can supply cooler water than 30 degrees you'll be fine... Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule, plants are bloody amazing things which defy human understanding at every turn... Which I suppose is part of the reason I love em so much.

 

You been to coral bay Spurious? Nice place eh? Well, the scenery, not necessarily the caravan park they call a town there.... You get to dive at all?

 

As to whether indica's or sativa's would be better surviving in hot conditions, well, to be quite frank, it's hard to tell... some sativa's come from equatorial regions of the world and others have acclimatised to northern lattitudes too... Likewise with Indica's... It's pretty much a process of trial and error, although if you can find an outdoor strain which is bred for growth in conditions similar to your own you should have a bit of a better chance out of the block. It may take a few strains being tested for survival/potency and vigor in your local environment before you find the best one, but there's all the buds inbetween to make up for the extra work if you really want to get the best out of your area...

 

Oh yeah, and drippers are usually placed just under the surface of mulch or similar in hot conditions, and a preference has been shown in some situations for a ring of soaker hose in some outdoor growing situations, although it's really what works in your situation. Make sure you get filters for the drip lines. If you're having trouble with the temps of the water then you should consider insulating the reservoir/tank if possible, even to the point of burying it... If you can't sink it into nearby higher ground, you can build an earthen mound around it which should definitely assist in keeping it cool... once again, local conditions may preclude this, but these are just some suggestions.

[Spurious]

Yeah, you drive thru endless desert for hours, and then pop out at a little saltwater paradise.

 

And yes I've been there numerous times, and done all the diving and fishing the place has to offer. Very nice.

[Luke Skywalker]