Blumat auto watering

[overmyhead]

Sweet.

This method of setting up a smaller elevated res looks to be a really good alternative to those not wanting a large heavy reservoir up high. Eliminates the need to build something heavy duty enough to support a large trash can or barrel FULL of water.

Thanks, it's working well and was easy once I came up with the concept. I just checked out your coco grow - that keychain remote for the pump was genius! I use little pumps for lots of stuff and never figured out how to control them away from the plug. Never thought of a switch of any kind!

 

[Hackk]

So rather than reading through all 45 pages, let me get a word of advice...

I SWEAR I am only asking this because a friend of mine has decided to use the blumat system... Once again, I swear its not me, otherwise Id do the reading.

But my question is, he has them in 5" rockwool blocks sitting on top a bed of hygromite. My concern for his setup, is once the roots punch out the bottom of the RW, will the blumats keep the hygromite moist enough to keep a healthy bed of roots at the bottom of the tray?

He's a stubborn guy, and this is his first grow, and when I bring this to his attention that his roots could die, he just says he'll solve that by aiming the blumat at the side of the block or somthing like that... So what do you guys think? have any of you had problems like this?

Oh, and P.S. I've had a box of blumats I bought over a year ago, and Im an idiot for not using them yet. I was gonna use them for my moms, but Im scared to make the switch... The whole "salt build up thing". Am I stupid for being scared?

Thanks guys

 

[Pompey_Monkey]

So rather than reading through all 45 pages, let me get a word of advice...

I SWEAR I am only asking this because a friend of mine has decided to use the blumat system... Once again, I swear its not me, otherwise Id do the reading.

But my question is, he has them in 5" rockwool blocks sitting on top a bed of hygromite. My concern for his setup, is once the roots punch out the bottom of the RW, will the blumats keep the hygromite moist enough to keep a healthy bed of roots at the bottom of the tray?

He's a stubborn guy, and this is his first grow, and when I bring this to his attention that his roots could die, he just says he'll solve that by aiming the blumat at the side of the block or somthing like that... So what do you guys think? have any of you had problems like this?

Oh, and P.S. I've had a box of blumats I bought over a year ago, and Im an idiot for not using them yet. I was gonna use them for my moms, but Im scared to make the switch... The whole "salt build up thing". Am I stupid for being scared?

Thanks guys

It would depend on how much the hygromite leeches water from the rockwool - If it sucks the moisture down, drying the rockwool, then the Blumat sensor will be activated and water will be dispensed... If, however the interface between the two growing mediums doesn't facilitate the transfer of liquid then your mate is, to use the good old English colloquial, buggered!

Blumats were designed, as far as I can see, to be used in one continuous growing medium. Therefore don't be surprised with odd results when used otherwise.

 

[McSnappler]

edited to avoid confusion see later post

 

[Rumpol]

Well that was 44 pagges of very Interesting and informative reading. Huge respect to those who have contributed to this thread!

Hopefully ill have something constructive to report back about these soon.

Peace

 

[supermanlives]

Just a little extra info for this thread - I'm currently experimenting with Blumat for Houseplants on a single mother to see how it gets on. I bought it when I got my proper blumats and it's been sat in the box since, so I thought it was time to give it a whirl.

I'm using the XL Blumat for Houseplants in 3.5L of Coco.

Will report back in a week or so to let you guys know if it works out..

i have wondered how those work as you res aint elevated. i got 2 patio kits

 

[sunnydog]

i have wondered how those work as you res aint elevated. i got 2 patio kits

I think the Jr.s siphon.
The roots suck the water through the cone.



SD

 

[overmyhead]

I'd say peat. Once i dealt with coco, I never wanted another coco product in my space.

Question for any of you that use the blumats in peat, we are all told that when using peat you need to let the medium dry between waterings, I neve questioned it I just listened - doesnt plants thriving in it with blumats sort of disprove that or is there a perfect balance you're able to acheive with them. Thanks!

 

[sunnydog]

Well that was 44 pagges of very Interesting and informative reading. Huge respect to those who have contributed to this thread!

Hopefully ill have something constructive to report back about these soon.

Peace

Your first post.
Cool!

SD

 

[sunnydog]

Just a little extra info for this thread - I'm currently experimenting with Blumat for Houseplants on a single mother to see how it gets on. I bought it when I got my proper blumats and it's been sat in the box since, so I thought it was time to give it a whirl.

I'm using the XL Blumat for Houseplants in 3.5L of Coco.

Will report back in a week or so to let you guys know if it works out..

I believe you can adjust the moisture level by raising or lowering the "res".
I have a bunch of them, just never got around to using them yet.

SD

 

[ur420ducks]

wow just finished reading most of this thread and I have decided to buy some for my indoor coco plants
I am using 10 gal pots of coco and I was wondering which kind I should buy
from what I can tell I should get the blumat maxi but do I need anything to connect them to my res?
just want to make sure I buy the right thing

 

[Dave Coulier]

Question for any of you that use the blumats in peat, we are all told that when using peat you need to let the medium dry between waterings, I neve questioned it I just listened - doesnt plants thriving in it with blumats sort of disprove that or is there a perfect balance you're able to acheive with them. Thanks!

Thats a crock of shit that keeps being perpetuated on mj forums alike. If you let the soil dry out too much, microbe activity will be greatly reduced, roots hairs die, roots become dessicated, and you'll be doing more harm than 'good'.

A nice moisture level throughout the soil is much better for plants than a wet/dry cycle.

Oh and letting peat dry out is a bad idea anyways because its hydrophobic.

 

[dargo]

Im ready to order my blumat tropf's, I have my own tanks already so would this be the right kit to order??

twowests.co.uk/TwoWestsSite/product/TBTK.htm

 

[InlineMax]

I have jumped on the blumat bandwagon thanks to Sunny and this thread. Currently vegging in 2 gal smart pots in canna coco with canna nutes. I have a few questions though.

As far as water temps, I remember reading that they shouldn't matter as long as they aren't extreme. Whats extreme? My larger res is sitting at 78 degrees right now, should I worry? I had a big bout with root rot this summer in my ebb and flow and would not like to repeat it.

In regards to the final flush, are most of you flushing with a wand and giving double the amount of medium in water or are you just giving plain water though the blumats?

-Max

 

[greentrich]

Hey Inline.
As far as res temps, mine was up to 84* yesterday. I know I know, not ideal....but my plants, and their roots are good. I'm working on getting it down, but your 78* should be ok.

Don't know about flush yet, not there.

 

[McSnappler]

edited to avoid confusion

 

[huntingbb]

well, gonna hit a few spots today - hopefully SOMEONE has them in stock, gonna try to get a kit of 12 if possible. God i cant wait, i need to take a vacation (literally) ☺

 

[sunnydog]

I have jumped on the blumat bandwagon thanks to Sunny and this thread. Currently vegging in 2 gal smart pots in canna coco with canna nutes. I have a few questions though.

As far as water temps, I remember reading that they shouldn't matter as long as they aren't extreme. Whats extreme? My larger res is sitting at 78 degrees right now, should I worry? I had a big bout with root rot this summer in my ebb and flow and would not like to repeat it.

In regards to the final flush, are most of you flushing with a wand and giving double the amount of medium in water or are you just giving plain water though the blumats?

-Max

no problem.....

SD

 

[sunnydog]

wow just finished reading most of this thread and I have decided to buy some for my indoor coco plants
I am using 10 gal pots of coco and I was wondering which kind I should buy
from what I can tell I should get the blumat maxi but do I need anything to connect them to my res?
just want to make sure I buy the right thing

I have never used the "maxi" ones.
They sure do look cool, though.
Try both and let us know.
I know two reg. ones would be OK in soil, I don't know about coco, though. Maybe someone else here knows, as many seem to have great results in coco.

Good luck!
SD

 

[Spanishwilly]

wow just finished reading most of this thread and I have decided to buy some for my indoor coco plants
I am using 10 gal pots of coco and I was wondering which kind I should buy
from what I can tell I should get the blumat maxi but do I need anything to connect them to my res?
just want to make sure I buy the right thing

They hook up just like regular size Tropf Blumats. You need their tubing.