Dumb Luck

Hey I am a newbie, first post, been reading for a while though and checking out pics.

Here's my story and my questions (seriously this is newbie dumb luck and I just don't want to mess it up now that I might actually get something smokeable):

In spring, I planted some seeds in ceramic pot on my porch. For soil I used some compost and mixed soil, the same stuff I used for my veggie garden (I figured, why not?)

The seeds germinated, I sexed them and came out with 2 females (really, just dumb luck b/c I didn't "do" much). During the summer I fertalized a little with Dynamite All Purpose Time-Released Fertalizer (18Nitro-6Phosphate-8Soluble Potash).

I was getting great summer sun on the porch and the plants have flourished.

Currently, I am looking for all the signs of harvest-readiness with a 100x handheld microscope (trichromes turning redish, hairs turning redish, calaxes swelling) - almost there! BUT it's getting close to harvest time and it's getting cold at night, I suspect the first frost is right around the corner... so I need some advice.

I can leave them on the porch safely and bring them in on cold nights, but the sun has shifted and the daytime sunlight isn't as good any more (maybe 2 hours of good light in the late afternoon).

The question: Should I bring them inside and setup a small room with a light to get the plants safely through to harvest time?

Some pics below - please let me know what you think and thank you!!

as long as is doesnt drop below 32 degree they are fine

Thanks Double0verhead!

I'm in CO with 4 outdoor plants and it's definitely getting colder here, the last 3 nights were upper 30's.... so I'm worried as well.

But they've all done fiine, the hairs turned purple and there's some reddish tint on some of the new growth. I think if your plant is used to lower temps keep it outside. You don't want to try to bring them in, they'll get less light and prob at slightly different times which could affect your final yield.

Just check that overnight low, if it's gonna freeze you should know about it and can bring it in just for the night.

Watch the weather channel daily!!! If the forecast gets any where near freezing (Say below 36 or 38 F) I would bring them in. The reason I recommend 36 or 38 F is that the temp might be a few degrees different from where they take it and you live. A couple hundred feet in elevation can change the temp drastically. Good luck.

this is all real good advice. i would leave them outside unless it is getting down in the 30's, it will save you on your electric bill and having to throw a room together

That's really great to know that they will be OK outside. I have definitely been keeping up with the weather and will take them in if it's going to be lower than 40. I really hope it's only 2 or 3 more weeks until they are ready, I am getting antsy and excited to get the drying process started (but I also don't want to blow it)

you can always cover them with plastic at night it will keep them warm another trick I learn is if they are calling for frost is to water them heavily. the frost will settle on the water notyour plant

By the way. Nice lookin plants.

leftreartire said:

you can always cover them with plastic at night it will keep them warm another trick I learn is if they are calling for frost is to water them heavily. the frost will settle on the water notyour plant

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That's interesting - I might try that. It's not too hard to pull them inside thought. Would the warmth from inside the house start to get it unbalanced? (cool outside during the day, warmer inside at night?)

timsatx1 said:

By the way. Nice lookin plants.

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I hoped someone would tell me if they were hot ladies or skanky looking broads. I appreciate it!

greens i would molest your plants...hot looking ladies! lol

takeingmy gardening experience and applying it here. if you want to bring them inside for the night the temps need to be close as not to shock the plant. so bring it in early in the evening when the house and the air temps are close

leftreartire said:

takeingmy gardening experience and applying it here. if you want to bring them inside for the night the temps need to be close as not to shock the plant. so bring it in early in the evening when the house and the air temps are close

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That makes a lot of sense - I will do that. In the mean time I will keep hoping for unseasonable fall warmth

ablepipeman said:

greens i would molest your plants...hot looking ladies! lol

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hahaha! Awesome - I will be right there with you.

leftreartire said:

you can always cover them with plastic at night it will keep them warm another trick I learn is if they are calling for frost is to water them heavily. the frost will settle on the water notyour plant

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They do that with wine grapes out here in NC when the scare of a frost is looming. Don't know how "effective" it would be since there might be a risk of mold, etc...but they spray the grapes with water mist, or they set up sprinklers to rain on them. the constant water will prevent the frost damage. But easiest would be to get a thin bedsheet. Hell, paint it brown or green or whatever the natural surroundings of the plant are...or just buy one colored like that and cover the plant up. Uncover in the morning and it'll be fine.