The Pacific coast guerrilla growers thread

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Tropf-Blumat

Tropf-Blumat

One gadget I'd like to look into is the Tropf-Blumat, its a ultra-efficent German made irrigation device. This device senses moisture content in the soil, and only opens when the soil has dried enough to need it. This makes it very water thrifty, which helps alot when you are limited on the volume of water you can store onsite.

They cost $6.50 a pop, I'd already have some in hand, but I lost all my info on them until today. I'm going to buy enough to cover most of my plants this year, the rest will probably be irrigated by more homemade contraptions.

Anyways, everyone who is concerned about irrigation should check out this product, I'm not spamming here, I am just very interested in its potential for Guerrilla growers.

 

[CannabisBlunt]

I like the concept behind the Tropf-Blumat, but I have one question. Doesn't cannabis like dry and wet cycles? It seems like this device would water very small amounts very frequently, compared to one watering every 3 days.

Correct me if im wrong, though.

 

[BACKCOUNTRY]

The beauty of the device is that the sensor can be placed a distance from the actual outflow, meaning you have extra control on the potential water that will emit until the moisture reaches the sensor which will shut the valve when the ceramic sensor is moist enough again.

Also, if you read the literature at the manufactuers website, you will see that the device can be ajusted to allow the soil to get drier before watering occurs, meaning you can achive a wet/dry cycle. \
Also, so far, I have seen no reason why the sensor(not the outflow) couldn't be burried deeper in the soil, allowing a deep watering before the sensor drys out, this would also allow the top layer of the soil to dry more before the deeper soil is dry enough to trigger the sensor, allowing more oxygen to penetrate durring the drying cycle.
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On the subject of the wet/dry cycle its self, I am a great believer in it for container growing, especially indoors in a controlled room temperature between 65F-75F, where usage by the plant is minimal, and soil doesn't dry as fast.

But outdoors in the ground we have a different beast. The first difference is that in many places in the USA, summer high temps are typically 10-30 degrees higher(than in a properly ventilated indoor grow), leading to alot more usage of water by the plant, and more sucked from the ground by evaporation. Also the surrounding native soil will suck water at a steady rate from the planting hole, at a much higher rate if the weather is dry and soil moisture is not being replaced by rain.
In the worst case climate I just described(high heat, dry native soil), I believe that a constant supply of water(through a constant drip for example) would not be detremental to the plant, provided it is a small constant amount(gallons a week, not a day), and that the soil in the hole and surrounding the area was well drained(not pure clay).

In other words, I believe you can grow great plants in soil that has a constant moisture content, provided you have the right conditions. I guess I will find out for sure this summer, the irrigation project I am working on right now will provide a good test.

 

[BACKCOUNTRY]

http://www.blumat.at/Weninger_engl/seiten_engl/frameset1_engl.html

Here is a link to the Tropf-Blumat website.

 

[SpoCannabis]

Pacific Coast Unite... Overgrow the World...

 

[RudolfTheRed]

I bet this thread would have more posters if we had more Mexican cartel members on here. They could tell us how they ruin everything by planting 30,000 plants in some national forest.

 

[roughnice420]

As for the "self-watering bucket"--I'm in So Cal, so we get plenty of sunshine and heat. In conjunction with the water crystals (those things are an outdoor savior!), your plants can last unattended for a while. I left them almost a month and they didn't die. These were small plants though, you'd have to step it up if you were growing trees. Maybe those big 15 gallon totes they sell at home depot for setting beer kegs and stuff in? They're like 5 bucks each...

 

[Gantz]

hey BC since using terracotta pots as they are didn't work....ever thought of actually making your own wetpot...as in using a kiln and all that....

 

[CannabisBlunt]

I bet this thread would have more posters if we had more Mexican cartel members on here. They could tell us how they ruin everything by planting 30,000 plants in some national forest.

they would tell us all their secrets on how to maintain 30,000 plants
too bad im only look to grow 10 plants and im still struggling haha

 

[BACKCOUNTRY]

they would tell us all their secrets on how to maintain 30,000 plants
too bad im only look to grow 10 plants and im still struggling haha

I hear ya bro!


Gantz- Yeah, I just don't know anything about kilns and pottery, I barely have enough time for my existing hobbies, LOL!
I think I am stuck on the Tropf-Blumats anyways, have another idea up my sleeve that I'm gonna try as well.


roughnice420- Sounds good, how much were you harvesting off the bucket plants?
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We have been having a pretty dry wet season here so far, I was thinking the soil would be dry enough to start digging holes and filling them. But now that I'm trying to get that under way I may need to hold again, snow is predicted on the valley floor and the mountains in my area by saturday. I guess I'll be waiting a bit longer, heh heh!

 

[BELOW FRIGID]

I grow where it's really hot! Most days are right around 100. You really can't over water them when it's that hot. A little too much would not be as detramental as to little when it gets that hot. I used Zeba last season just incase of my water system going down since I am away from the garden for up to 3 weeks sometimes. I hev had critters chew holes in my drip a lot of times. I am going to bury it all this year. A lot of work but it will be better that loosing all my water and having dead plants.

 

[BACKCOUNTRY]

Yes sir, when its hot and dry, the babies can take lots of water! Whats Zeba?

I woke up to 6" of snow this morning! And I have some driving to do, Yay! LOL! Why can't it just rain?

 

[BELOW FRIGID]

Zeba does the samethig water polymer crystals do but better. Plus it is mad from corn starch so it's almost organic. A lot easier on the enviroment. I think a quart of the stuff will suck up 50 gallons of water. The best part it is easier for the plants to get the water back out of it compared to the polymers. Go to zeba.com and check it out.

 

[Zizu]

Hey Backcountry! Thanks for the link to the German dripper. Those things look like they have loads of potential. I might give them a run. Do you know how they hold up to clogging?

 

[BACKCOUNTRY]

I imagine there is the same potential for clogging with the Blumets as with any drip type equipment. The water used in any small gauge irrigation system should be as clean as possible, clear "field" water strained through tight mesh cloth, or water hauled from a household faucet should be the only water used.
Also, any resivour you use should be bug proof, if for instance you are using a Rough tote or garbage can, be sure to secure the lid with screws, and seal it with caulk.
I'd also advise keeping the resivour as much out of the sun/heat as possible, this will help keep Algae and other stuff from growing in the resivour and later plugging your system. Another good case for taking the time to bury your resivours.

I'd also advise that you check your plots at least every three weeks, to make sure it is functioning properly.

 

[BELOW FRIGID]

Yeah my drippers are always getting clogged. I have plenty per hole so I am not going to loose any of my girls from it, but it's a pain changing them out all the time. I use well water to fill my reservoirs. All kinds of shit in it to clog up your drippers. Going to try and find something that does not clog up this season.

 

[CannabisBlunt]

I've researched tanks a bit, could a garden hose work? With a precise timer it should be able to stop after a few seconds of watering. Hopefully a water reserve will save me a lot of time this summer while I am working.

 

[BACKCOUNTRY]

I put together a demo system last year that used garden hose and garden hose fittings to build the system, the idea was to try and use larger parts and openings to slow down clogging.

The only irrigation system that is totally 100% reliable is probably some kind of self watering planter, the lack of machines and small openings eliminates chances of clogging. The downside is that you are limited on plant size according to the size of the planter.
Cascadia seems to have some ideas up his sleeve concerning selfwatering planters, and I'm starting to think about them too again, perhaps I'll try a couple of those this year too, 2009 is going to be the ultimate irrigation experimantation season for me I think.

 

[Natagonnaworrie]

I'm in SD and here it is Impossible to get water to the plants as needed. The only successful harvest outdoors has been in Jan when there is a little Fall / Winter rain. A buried res and pump are not options for me. I found a few spots that have sprinklers already running there, thats gonna be my next attempt this summer. I might even drop some THUNKS since i have the flowering time. (Does anyone think thats THUNK wouldn't do well here?) Here's a small 2 plant harvest that i had along a roadside with sprinkers in La Jolla last year. ..Leafy, i know.

 

[HookaHittaH]

Nice to see a thread to unite the Left Coast BC. You're always bringing some good ideas to the table. I don't know if I will be going guerrilla style this year or not. I think I'm going to try experimenting with more AF crosses this year. Try my luck at some spring harvests again. Who knows maybe I'll find and acceptable guerrilla grow area to throw some AF's in as well. GL guys, looking forward to spring. We need rain here bad right now though.....