The Basic Guide to Blumat Irrigation Products: Efficient Watering Made Easy
Welcome, fellow growers! Today, we're diving into Blumat irrigation products. If you've been searching for a way to keep your plants hydrated with an automated system, you're in the right place. We’ll provide a detailed yet straightforward breakdown, making it easy for everyone to understand. This is not directions for install, but rather a guide so you understand what's possible 🌱💧
So What Is It?
An automatic watering system that utilizes ceramic sensors to monitor soil moisture levels. This intelligent system waters your plants precisely when they need it, ensuring optimal hydration without waste. Not only this, but each container of soil will be watered according to it's moisture level. This ensures that several plants on the same system will be all watered according to their own needs.
Think of it like this:
👀 Look at the picture below and see the tube with the porous ceramic tip? That tube is full of water and on the top is a basic valve that you will use to turn the water off at your ideal moisture level.... Once the soil starts to dry down below this level, the ceramic tip will start to leak some water because the soil around it is drier than the moisture inside of it. Once a little water leaches out into the soil, this causes the water level inside the tube to drop which creates vacuum pressure opening up the water line, slowly dripping until the soil deeper down by the sensor tip returns back to the starting moisture level. Once wet enough, the tube fills back with water reducing the pressure and the valve at the top closes. This means that anywhere you put a sensor you can trigger your automated watering!
Why Choose Blumat?
- Leave Your Grow: Needing to leave your grow? Let Tropf water your plants for you while you are gone! These are ideal for the busy lifestyle.
- Consistency: This system delivers consistent moisture to your plants, which is crucial for healthy growth. Beyond that, it can increase your yield by correcting underwatering issues.
- Water Efficiency: It only waters when needed, conserving water and reducing waste.
- Low Maintenance: Once set up, the system requires minimal attention, allowing you to focus on other gardening tasks.
- Scalability: Suitable for any garden size, from a few potted plants to every container in your grow op.
- Proven Popularity: Many other gardeners and growers trust BluMat and can help you get dialed.
- Customer Support: We are real growers and use these products and can help get you going. Call us at 855-877-7645 or shoot an email to support@BuildASoil.com or try a live chat during business hours.
What are the different types and which one should I use?
- Classic: Ideal for individual potted plants, providing precise watering for up to 10 days without refilling. These are not adjustable and more suitable to houseplants.
- Tropf: These are what we all use! This is the product that BuildASoil offers. Perfect for larger setups, offering continuous moisture control with adjustable drippers. Easy to connect to Drip Tape or Drip Rings or anything you want to grow many plants on the same system.
- Digital Moisture Meter: A handy tool for monitoring soil moisture levels, ensuring your plants are always in optimal conditions. This allows you to accurately target a specific moisture level when setting your irrigation up instead of just guessing that it's the right wetness. Many growers get one Digital Moisture meter and use it in many places while other growers prefer to have one Digital Moisture Meter for every plant to ensure accurate moisture settings.
What are Pre-Marked Sensors?
- Normal Tropf Sensors are designed to be set at your ideal moisture level either using your "Feel" of the soil or using the Digital Moisture Meter. If you would rather have the sensor preset for the ideal moisture for cannabis or any faster growing annual plant, then you can order the "Pre-Marked" sensors.
There are multiple Tropf Sensor Sizes, Which On Should I Get?
- They come in 2 sizes. The shorter 5" and the longer 9"
- We recommend everyone use the 9" as this gives you the most range to bury deep for larger container or shallow for smaller containers, it's up to you.
- NEW for 2024: Pre-Marked Sensors, normally you have to dial each sensor it according to the proper moisture level, but now you can order sensors already pre-set for ease of use.
How Does Blumat Work?
- Ceramic Cone: The core of the system. This cone senses soil moisture levels. When the soil dries out, the cone triggers water flow through the connected tubing.
- Tubing System: Water is transported from a reservoir through tubes connected to the Blumat cones. The system is usually gravity-fed, requiring the water source to be positioned higher than your plants. You can also get a kit to hook up to pressure if you don't want to put your reservoir up high.
- Adjustable Flow: The water flow can be adjusted to meet the specific needs of your plants. This flexibility ensures that each plant receives the right amount of water.
- Pre-Marked Sensors: You can also get pre adjusted sensors to take make it super simple.
- Gravity Reservoir: No electricity! Just a bucket of water.
- Pressure Reservoir: Keep large reservoir on the ground and use our Pump Setup!
What is the Digital Moisture Meter and do I need one?
The digital moisture meter is the same as the 9" Tropf Sensor except with a digital top that actually provides a push button reading in MBARs that tells you the actual moisture level. This read out is handy to precisely calibrate your system. Many growers will have 1 Digital meter next to their 9" sensor in every plant. Others will just use 1 meter because of the cost. It's very simple to use. Technically you don't need one because you can just get the Pre-Marked Sensors from us and they will work well. Eventually, most growers just want to know their numbers to compare to others and have a baseline to make sure all plants are the same or similar.
What is the ideal millibar reading for Cannabis?
- Between 50-150 with 50 being the wettest and 150 being the driest. There will be a natural swing between these levels as the plant drinks and the system catches up via drip.
What is the difference between a Tensiometer and other moisture meters like Ecowitt?
Measurement Principle: Tension vs AD?
- Blumat Tensiometer: Measures soil moisture tension (suction) directly, indicating how hard roots work to extract water.
- Ecowitt AD Meter: Uses electrical conductivity to measure moisture, providing a digital readout of soil water content.
Application:
- Blumat Tensiometer: Ideal for precise irrigation management in agriculture and horticulture.
- Ecowitt AD Meter: Suitable for general soil moisture monitoring in various settings, including home gardens. Most home growers love the Ecowitt for ease of use and wifi capability.
Accuracy and Precision:
- Blumat Tensiometer: Highly accurate for plant-available water, as it measures a direct physical property.
- Ecowitt AD Meter: Offers general moisture levels but can be influenced by soil type and salinity.
What are the drawbacks with Blumat?
- Require a little tinkering to get things just right
- Possible to flood if directions are not followed (Buy Moisture alarm if worried!)
- Blumat Moisture meter does not connect to wifi or app so no remote viewing
- Scalability lacks central control and data logging which is crucial to commercial growing
- Using gravity reservoir you will have to put your water reservoir above the plant level to ensure consistent pressure.
- If you run the system to dry it can cause flooding once set back up. Understanding the basics is crucial.
Setting Up Your Blumat System: Gravity or Pressure?
- Gather Your Equipment: You will need Blumat Tropf Sensors, tubing, and a water reservoir or pressure pump setup. Check out our bundles here
- Place the Cones: Insert the ceramic cones into the soil, positioning them near the plant roots for optimal watering.
- Connect the Tubing: Attach the tubing from your water source to the cones. Ensure the reservoir is elevated to facilitate proper water flow.
- Adjust the Flow: Turn the top of the cone to set your desired moisture level. With a bit of practice, you’ll find the perfect setting for your plants.
Notice: This is just a very basic breakdown to help you understand if you have never heard of BluMats. We are here to help you set these up should you want to order them.
Can I Connect Direct To My Garden Hose or Water Source?
Yes! You can connect directly to your hose or sink. We don't recommend this because if something happens you can have a flood, but many people do it. We prefer to use the pump kit or Gravity Reservoir. With the pump kit you can use a larger reservoir without having to lift the reservoir into the air for more pressure. The pump boosts the pressure for you.
Drip Tape vs. Drip Rings?
Drip Rings and BluSoak Drip Tape: Both extend the watering ability of a Blumat sensor but have different advantages.
Drip Rings:
Streamlined Irrigation, Hassle-Free Installation
Key Features:
- Tropf Sensor Compatibility: 3mm inlet barb connects easily with Blumat sensors.
- No Assembly Required: Plug and play design saves time and reduces labor.
- Nutrient Compatibility: Built-in filter and clog-resistant allow for nutrient feeding without clogging.
- Durable Construction: Made from high-quality virgin resin for durability and longevity.
- Even Distribution: 8 strategically placed drip points deliver water precisely where needed.
Use Cases:
- Containers under 20-30 gallons
- Gravity-fed water supply
- Small-scale, diverse gardens
- Uneven or sloped gardens
Advantages:
- Simple and quick installation.
- 8 Drippers around the ring for Precise water and nutrient delivery
BluSoak Drip Tape:
Function: Emits water evenly along its length, ideal for larger areas.
Use Cases:
- Containers over 20-30 gallons
- Garden beds with high square footage
- Commercial gardens
- Even, level landscapes
Advantages:
- Economical for large-scale gardens.
- Low maintenance with high performance.
Choose based on your garden size, water supply type, and landscape for optimal results.
Advanced Tips for Success
- Regular Checks: Although Blumat systems require low maintenance, periodic checks are advisable to ensure everything is functioning correctly.
- Seasonal Adjustments: In colder regions, make sure to winterize your system to prevent damage from freezing temperatures.
- System Expansion: For larger gardens, consider expanding your Blumat setup. Additional drippers and tubing can be easily integrated into your existing system.
That’s a comprehensive overview of Blumat irrigation products. They’re an excellent solution for any grower looking to simplify their watering routine and maintain healthy plants. Give Blumat a try and experience the benefits of automated, efficient watering! 🌟
What are the alternatives to Blumat?
Stay excited about your gardening journey, and see you in the next post! 🌱🚀
