Greetings One and All on this auspicious day of beginnings,
This is more like a teetering on the brink of a Grow Journal, as it's little more than an idea germinated. This idea is a synthesis of my experience, the inspiring writing/grows I've read here and a couple bowls of really tasty weed.
A little backstory might help. Long-time gardener/farmer now back in the city. An Edible Landscaper, by trade, one of my fortes is espalier, or training fruit trees to be fences. My idea is a hybrid of SCRoG and espalier in an attempt to maximize: space, light, electricity and CO2.
Basically this will be a VSCRoG trained flat up a wall w/reflective material on the wall. The plant will be 2-3" away from the wall for air-circulation and so that otherwise "lost" light will be reflected back to the leaves. Beneath and around the plant will be a skirt (white out/reflective inside). The skirt's main goal is to form a Light Canyon to ensure no wasted light. It will also serve to keep CO2 around the plants rather than pooling on the floor.
Usually espalier uses wire between posts, but since this is inside I'll use a trick my great-Aunt taught me. My Family has used this trick for generations because it's cheap, ez and worx like a charm. You start by tying twine in a big, fat loop around the base of the stem. Then you circle your way up w/1 full revolution between each node. As the plant grows you just keep wrapping it round and round. I'll be wrapping my plant clock-wise, but our friends in the S-hemisphere will want to go counter-clockwise. Don't ask me how the Ladies know, but one way is a struggle and the other is smooth and ez. Gaia knows best. For side branches, tie twine loosely to the twine going round the main stem, not the stem itself. This allows for growth. Then you just wrap your way out to the end of the branch and secure to an eyelet. Eyelets are easily moved and safer than nails.
I'll be using a tragically ghetto assortment of lites including: T5, CFL and a couple of those blue things in a clamp-on reflector. It won't make NASA jealous, but hopefully they'll grow some good herb. I'll probably be growing bag-seed, and haven't chosen a medium yet. Options are: 10-gal cloth pot, top-fed DWC set-up a buddy of mine gave me.
Eagerly seeking criticism, ideas, tweax, musings.
This is more like a teetering on the brink of a Grow Journal, as it's little more than an idea germinated. This idea is a synthesis of my experience, the inspiring writing/grows I've read here and a couple bowls of really tasty weed.
A little backstory might help. Long-time gardener/farmer now back in the city. An Edible Landscaper, by trade, one of my fortes is espalier, or training fruit trees to be fences. My idea is a hybrid of SCRoG and espalier in an attempt to maximize: space, light, electricity and CO2.
Basically this will be a VSCRoG trained flat up a wall w/reflective material on the wall. The plant will be 2-3" away from the wall for air-circulation and so that otherwise "lost" light will be reflected back to the leaves. Beneath and around the plant will be a skirt (white out/reflective inside). The skirt's main goal is to form a Light Canyon to ensure no wasted light. It will also serve to keep CO2 around the plants rather than pooling on the floor.
Usually espalier uses wire between posts, but since this is inside I'll use a trick my great-Aunt taught me. My Family has used this trick for generations because it's cheap, ez and worx like a charm. You start by tying twine in a big, fat loop around the base of the stem. Then you circle your way up w/1 full revolution between each node. As the plant grows you just keep wrapping it round and round. I'll be wrapping my plant clock-wise, but our friends in the S-hemisphere will want to go counter-clockwise. Don't ask me how the Ladies know, but one way is a struggle and the other is smooth and ez. Gaia knows best. For side branches, tie twine loosely to the twine going round the main stem, not the stem itself. This allows for growth. Then you just wrap your way out to the end of the branch and secure to an eyelet. Eyelets are easily moved and safer than nails.
I'll be using a tragically ghetto assortment of lites including: T5, CFL and a couple of those blue things in a clamp-on reflector. It won't make NASA jealous, but hopefully they'll grow some good herb. I'll probably be growing bag-seed, and haven't chosen a medium yet. Options are: 10-gal cloth pot, top-fed DWC set-up a buddy of mine gave me.
Eagerly seeking criticism, ideas, tweax, musings.
Good luck Ranger.
Yep, that's a smile LOL!
