The easiest and the cheapiest way to grow

PJ Diaz said:

Blumats aren't gravity fed?

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No, they use osmotic pressure. One of the reasons they are very good.

curious2garden said:

No, they use osmotic pressure. One of the reasons they are very good.

https://www.irrigation.equipment/a-guide-to-tropf-blumat-sensors/

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I am admittedly pretty ignorant to the workings of Blumats, however I looked at the link you posted, and they intimated that osmotic pressure is only used to open the valves, but not for flow itself. Further, I see this on that same page, indicating that some form of pressure (including gravity fed pressure) is necessary:

PJ Diaz said:

I am admittedly pretty ignorant to the workings of Blumats, however I looked at the link you posted, and they intimated that osmotic pressure is only used to open the valves, but not for flow itself. Further, I see this on that same page, indicating that some form of pressure (including gravity fed pressure) is necessary:

View attachment 4937309

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Try this part,

"As soil surrounding the cone dries, it pulls on the moisture inside the cone through osmotic pressure. Since this is a sealed environment and the pressure cannot equalize, this pulls on a plastic diaphragm in the top of the Blumat. When the diaphragm is pulled down, it allows an irrigation tube running through the top of the valve of the Blumat to open and emit moisture. It does this very gradually."

That water in that line is used to close the environment to allow osmotic pressure to build.

curious2garden said:

Try this part,

"As soil surrounding the cone dries, it pulls on the moisture inside the cone through osmotic pressure. Since this is a sealed environment and the pressure cannot equalize, this pulls on a plastic diaphragm in the top of the Blumat. When the diaphragm is pulled down, it allows an irrigation tube running through the top of the valve of the Blumat to open and emit moisture. It does this very gradually."

That water in that line is used to close the environment to allow osmotic pressure to build.

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Right, I did read that, but like I said it seems like they are only talking about opening up the valve to allow water to flow, since they later mention having to connect the system to a pressurized line.

They go on to talk about this later, following the installation instructions, but I don't see anything about non-pressurized or non-gravity fed..

They also have this clause when using the tape, which makes it seem like gravity is needed. I guess maybe it does flow a bit through osmosis as well, but perhaps not enough for larger plants?

@PJ Diaz if it was fed by gravity it would over feed and over water. Therefore, as they stated, it feeds by an adjustable osmotic gradient.

The basics of osmosis are liquid flows from an area of higher solute concentration to an area of lower concentration across a semipermeable membrane to maintain equilibrium.

That's what these are doing. You use your valve (that has the water line) to adjust your equilibrium. It's actually quite clever. I have never used Blumats but the artificial kidneys we used work using the same scientific principle.

PJ Diaz said:

Blumats aren't gravity fed?

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Nope. It works on a vacuum not a syphon.

Note that mine were NOT the drippers (the good ones) but simply the ceramic carrot.

I moved the pots up to the second level to take the picture, but had the pots on the bottom level when I was away.

found this online.
"As the soil dries, the ceramic cone delivers water gradually into the surrounding earth - thereby creating a vacuum within the cone which draws water from the nearby container of water. Once the soil is moistened the Blumat will cease flowing water. It waters your plants only as needed."

Boreal Curing said:

Nope. It works on a vacuum not a syphon.

Note that mine were NOT the drippers (the good ones) but simply the ceramic carrot.

I moved the pots up to the second level to take the picture, but had the pots on the bottom level when I was away.

found this online.
"As the soil dries, the ceramic cone delivers water gradually into the surrounding earth - thereby creating a vacuum within the cone which draws water from the nearby container of water. Once the soil is moistened the Blumat will cease flowing water. It waters your plants only as needed."

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Precisely! and that 'vacuum' is the osmotic pressure, great illustration, thank you.

Upon further inspection it appears that their various products act a bit differently, while the classic blumats do not need to be pressurized or rely on gravity, the Tropf-Blumat does seem to need some sort of pressure.

you can use some hi power e27 or e40 led bulbs for light (like these ones, for example, or any brand that you can find) with their plastic domes removed and a combination of prefertilized soil + all in one flowering powder feeding (https://shop.greenhousefeeding.com/keep-it-simple.html), a 4" cooler for extraction and some holes in the lower area for passive intraction. you should also have some kind of fan attached somewhere to move the air inside.

Kerowacked said:

Get a seed, dig a hole.

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Best Answer xD

HocaOyundaa said:

Hello again. You know that i went to holiday and now i m back plant is here. Anyone who has got miracle to bring it to life ? I just gave water as soon as i arrive i mean yesterday but no hope for now. Thanks in advanceView attachment 4975697

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That’s way past saving. Better luck time. Get one of the reusable grocery bags. A good size one. Mix peat moss and perlite 50/50. Add some garden lime. 1/2 cup mixed in.

You need to concentrate on getting light over your next attempt.

HocaOyundaa said:

Hello again. You know that i went to holiday and now i m back plant is here. Anyone who has got miracle to bring it to life ? I just gave water as soon as i arrive i mean yesterday but no hope for now. Thanks in advance

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Tell me you didn't kow that would happen by going on holiday.

Try this since you're not good at watering.

hotrodharley said:

That’s way past saving. Better luck time. Get one of the reusable grocery bags. A good size one. Mix peat moss and perlite 50/50. Add some garden lime. 1/2 cup mixed in.

You need to concentrate on getting light over your next attempt.

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That’s a slick idea for a fabric pot. Pretty sure I have some with broken handles on them.

Boreal Curing said:

Tell me you didn't kow that would happen by going on holiday.

Try this since you're not good at watering.
View attachment 4975767

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Of course I knew

that plant is dead

HocaOyundaa said:

Of course I knew

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lol. I know. Just kidding.

I did the same thing once. That's when I discovered them. Actually, I used a string first.