Mylar shield experiment

So in this post we're going to be looking at the clone that is about to be dropped into the flower stage come next week, and I've been diligently keeping track of its life as it has struggled with the intensities of heat and temperature fluctuations as we have entered into the summer months. Southern Arizona is no joke when it comes to temperature increases and what may be comfortable for you in your home, you have to remember that the grow tent is its own microclimate and not having adequate air circulation, the lamp that gives your plant energy may also kill your plant if you're not aware of the heat index and temperature fluctuations happening inside. For me, I always use a small fan that blows air directly onto the plant. The reason why the fan is important is because it allows the air to circulate around the stem, which helps the plant in two ways: to get a stronger stem since the fan is acting like wind in the wild, and to pull away heat from the plant. When the temperature is reaching 90° outside in Fahrenheit, I will crack the tent door open to pull out as much air as possible and open up the bottom tent's vents.

But recently with this new clone I have noticed that it was struggling by the heat and many of its roots were severed when I had to transfer it over to a larger bucket, and I was very close of losing it. I knew that if I had moved it away from the lamp it still would have struggled since the lamp was not only warming up the plant, it was also heating up the water reservoir where the roots sit. When the reservoirs temperature increases it causes root rot and it can attract algae and mosquitoes.

My experiment was to offset my reservoir temperature to save the plant. I took a square piece of cardboard and I spray glued a small sheet of mylar. As an alternative, you can use aluminum foil, just be sure that you glue the dull side down so that the shiny side is up. I luckily had some mylar left from a grow a few years ago and have been using it as a small reflector for light. I cut a small hole in the center and a line to the edge of the piece of cardboard, so I can fit the stem around the plant. The cardboard now sits on the reservoir, blocking both the heat and the light from hitting the bucket, which has kept temperatures down. Plants love it when they have cold soil and warm stems and leaves, the reason for this is transpiration. Transpiration is the process of moving water through a plant system, this process works better when you have a difference of temperature. Just like in grade school when you were learning about science you may have heard of the concept that heat rises. Heat rises because it expands due to active molecules that are filled with energy. Molecules that are filled with energy will vibrate more than molecules that don't have as much energy. The air, the stem, the leaf, the tent, all of it gets energy from the heat of the lamp, raising the temperature of the grow area. The cardboard and mylar both reflect and absorb a lot of the energy coming from the lamp, which in turn prevents that energy from touching the reservoir. Naturally the reservoir will keep a cooler temperature, assisting the plant in transpiration. Transpiration is the process that allows the plant to not only regulate its own temperature and move molecules, it also is the process that helps the plant grow and expand. These are some photos of the experiment:

Struggling clone. The discoloration and limpness is due to intense heat

Mylar shield, bottom side

Mylar shield, top side

Mylar shield, set around the stem, sitting on the bucket 

Regardless, any plant material that looks bad, remove it, your plant will thank you in bigger flowers

Experiment successful, the plant is going strong. This is about three weeks after setting the cardboard reflector

This is the temperature under the mylar shield, above it is about ten degrees warmer 

The tent top is cracked open for better air circulation, helping transpiration 

As you can see, the experiment seems to work and now my ugly looking clone has fully grown into a healthy medicine plant.

I've had many crops die because of root rot during my summer months and to be honest the most challenging crops happen to be during the summer due to the heat. Keep in mind the climate in Southern Arizona is not only hot but very dry. Coastal areas, like Southern California, have perfect temperatures and humidity levels to grow crops. All you need to do is look at the orchards from San Diego to the grape vineyards of Napa valley and all of the tea gardens across the west coast. The moisture from the Pacific coupled by the nutrients and wind that are being pushed against the stems of plants, along with warm but comfortable temperatures, there is no other comparison to this most perfect climate for any gardener. If you live anywhere in Southern California, especially near water, it takes very little effort to have an abundant garden. As you move towards the Sonoran desert, where you have basins and ranges, the air becomes very dry and dusty, due to the intensity of the heat and the evaporation rate.

We must always remember and appreciate that the cannabis plant comes from Asia and the Middle East, where there is an abundance of humidity, sunlight, and moderate temperatures that make it the most ideal climate for us to grow our medicine. We must make this artificial climate in our own growth space in order for us to be successful.

-Pinky