Blumat auto watering

[skyview]

I've experienced big differences in Blumat performance in different kinds of pots. I think in a GeoPot or a SmartPot it's better to have the carrot further away from the side. With an AirPot or regular plastic pot, i think it's okay for it to be closer.

 

[rrog]

I agree. My Geopots led me to the same conclusion.

 

[sunnydog]

Hello all......

Hello all......

Something I have noticed is the BOTTOM of the soil is almost always generously moist even when I dial down drier. 3 gal pots.

I harvested, left root balls in place. I turn down one arrow at harvest, I have found if you leave them as is they have a greater tendency to over water when there is no plant. I leave the root balls in for a while to rot, come back in two weeks they pull right out.

At re- plant, I noticed while some of the surfaces of the pots were dry, they were ALL fine at the bottom 1/2-2/3.
Point being, I don't think MAXI Mats are needed for any reasonably sized container. 5-7 gal
I do think the slave drippers do a better job of even distribution, the plants so equipped consistently out-performed most others.

 

[sunnydog]

On soil moisture and composition.......

On soil moisture and composition.......

It has been my experience that a wetter pot is more productive than a drier one.

I use an organic/water only low/minimal-till soil. Its' core is several years old.

Mostly 50/50 pro-mix and home made aspen chip/cannabis waste/kitchen waste + some fishmeal based compost. (this compost tub ends up sprouting HUGE flushes of mushrooms during its' cycle)

It is EXTREMELY porous, yet moisture retentive, with much stem, root, charcoal, roots (never removed), and DE chunks-kitty litter.

In 3-7 gal pots.

YMMV

 

[Bobbo4200]

Having trouble setting my Blumats as directed again... If I don't see them dripping tonight, I am gonna go in the tent tomorrow, hand feed-and try to reset/recalibrate them again. Tanks again guys!

 

[coxnox]

there a few thing really important, the soil must be full wet when yu try to adjust it, the rez have to be enough high to give enough pressure, the lenght of the drip line have to be ajusted to the pot size.

 

[Canniwhatsis]

I don't always see mine dripping. Even after waiting several minuets still no drips. However, if I come back in an hour or so, there it is drip drip drip.

 

[rives]

Having trouble setting my Blumats as directed again... If I don't see them dripping tonight, I am gonna go in the tent tomorrow, hand feed-and try to reset/recalibrate them again. Tanks again guys!

You might detail out your process for us to see if we can help find where your problems may be. Are you purging all of the air out of the caps? I think it was Rrog that came up with the idea of using a syringe to force the air out of where it hides in the caps, and it made an appreciable difference for me in how responsive they were. They still seem to work with air in the cones, but the response gets sluggish.

 

[ak-51]

I think it was Rrog that came up with the idea of using a syringe to force the air out of where it hides in the caps

I don't know how I missed this tip. I'll probably be doing this from now on. Up until now I have been just shaking the caps underwater, which usually dislodges air, but I bet blasting it with a jet of water from a syringe would help more.

 

[rrog]

Works well for me still.

 

[sunnydog]

Having trouble setting my Blumats as directed again... If I don't see them dripping tonight, I am gonna go in the tent tomorrow, hand feed-and try to reset/recalibrate them again. Tanks again guys!

They do not drip constantly, only when needed. They WILL work, the blu-mat army of growers worldwide can't be wrong!

 

[Peacefrog]

If you are hand watering the pot to reset the blumat you need to allow the blumat enough time to soak up the surrounding moisture and expand the ceramic appropriately before adjusting the dial. Otherwise you end up setting the dial to too dry of a setting. This is why you are supposed to soak the blumats for a couple of hours before placing them in the medium. If you have had really dry conditions in the pot you should also check to see that the inner chamber of the blumat is still full of water. When set correctly these things are awesome for low maintenance growing.

 

[ThaMagnificent]

If I'm using organic soil and a few weeks into flower I notice the plants needing some extra feed can I hand water while still using the blumats? The blumats will pick up the extra moisture from the hand water correct?

 

[rives]

If I'm using organic soil and a few weeks into flower I notice the plants needing some extra feed can I hand water while still using the blumats? The blumats will pick up the extra moisture from the hand water correct?

Whoops, wrong button! Yes, the blumats will sense the increased moisture and automatically compensate.

 

[Pseudo]

i just finished my first run with blumats, i used blumat maxis in 5 gallon buckets, i had an extra dripper so i put 2 in one bucket and that plant outperformed an identical clone by at least 50%, maybe the control clone got a lil dry during my dial in, not sure, has anyone else had similar results? love the blumats, thanks sunny

 

[Bobbo4200]

Thank you all for the input. I will hand feed the two ladies hooked up to the Blumats when I first go into the tent tonight, then feed the rest and go back and adjust the Blumats about 40mins later. Thanks again, haPPy toKin'!!

 

[skyview]

Pseudo - Instead of two maxis, you might want to try one regular and one maxi. I think that will make a more even moister throughout the pot.

 

[down2grow]

For those who are using the Kent system barbed tee's. What are you using to punch into the 1/2" line?

 

[greenmatter]

For those who are using the Kent system barbed tee's. What are you using to punch into the 1/2" line?

what sized T are you using?

i used the 1/8" off the supply line and the "punch" they sell at home depot for drip systems worked great. i DON'T think it would work for anything smaller than the 1/8" though

 

[Pseudo]

ill try that skyview, thanks