A GOLDIELOCKS OF A MOISTURE ZONE

[Justblazin]

saw this post on another forum and thought it was very good, so i figured id put it up here

"A GOLDIELOCKS OF A MOISTURE ZONE
Hand-watered gardens or those on timers go through fluctuations of moisture levels.
If you water in the morning for example, it is likely your plants are over-watered for the beginning hours of the day.
They are not in optimal growth/metabolism, and likely won’t be for several hours.
Then as moisture levels get optimal toward the middle of the day, your plants begin to grow rapidly.
As the soil dries toward the end of the day, plants slow growth as they work to conserve water supply.
Instead of going through a daily cycle where optimal growth is achieved for only a few hours a day,
Blumat systems keep your soil in the “Goldi-Locks” Zone all the time.
That interprets into bigger plants in shorter periods of time, and increased yields.
When you are moving in/out of the Goldi-Locks zone, you are wasting precious time and opportunity.
Blumats minimize moisture swings, and you will see that this translate into constantly-vigorous growth and flowering."

Here's a good article about the soil moisture level

A plant-centered approach to watering - Greenhouse Canada

Does dry soil promote root growth? Research and greenhouse experience would disagree.

www.greenhousecanada.com

after using these for about a year, i think this post is spot on, plants grow very well with blumats and my plants have never been bigger and healthier

Blumats for the win

 

[H.A.F.]

Just remember that it was written by the dude selling it. Not saying it's bs, just that it is one of any ways. I have happy healthy plants with zero deficiencies hand watering. I use plastic nursery pots, and constant moisture is not good if you guess wrong on how often to juice them.

Every strain, and sometimes pheno's within one strain have different requirements. Every plant is different with the exception of clones, which may not behave like the mom, but will behave like each other. A lot of the people looking for a set it and forget it method are doing it out of necessity.

IMHO if you are growing one strain - from clone - for profit and bulk - then this would be a must have. If you have the time to lift each pot and water as needed you can maintain a better moisture level (whichever one you choose based on pot size and weight) consistently over a mixed tent and get as good or better of an outcome.

 

[Justblazin]

Just remember that it was written by the dude selling it. Not saying it's bs, just that it is one of any ways. I have happy healthy plants with zero deficiencies hand watering. I use plastic nursery pots, and constant moisture is not good if you guess wrong on how often to juice them.

Every strain, and sometimes pheno's within one strain have different requirements. Every plant is different with the exception of clones, which may not behave like the mom, but will behave like each other. A lot of the people looking for a set it and forget it method are doing it out of necessity.

IMHO if you are growing one strain - from clone - for profit and bulk - then this would be a must have. If you have the time to lift each pot and water as needed you can maintain a better moisture level (whichever one you choose based on pot size and weight) consistently over a mixed tent and get as good or better of an outcome.

It was written by a member of icmag that used blumats in his grow, don't think he has any affiliation with the Austrian company that makes blumats. Do you know how blumats work? it senses the moisture level of the soil and waters the plant as the plant uses the water to keep it at whatever moisture level you set it too, so every plant is controlling how much water it gets individually, its not being force fed water on a timer.
And I use water only soil, so it's straight water for me and once and a while I'll hand water Neptune fish and seaweed just for shits and giggles. I also use plastic pots, not a problem for me
I could see how it could be a problem if your adding nutrients to your water, back when I mixed up water for feeding I would alternate feed then straight water as I found I would get salt build up if I didn't and I would have to flush(hate flushing super pain in the ass)
What are you growing in? What nutrients do you use?

 

[H.A.F.]

It was written by a member of icmag that used blumats in his grow, don't think he has any affiliation with the Austrian company that makes blumats. Do you know how blumats work? it senses the moisture level of the soil and waters the plant as the plant uses the water to keep it at whatever moisture level you set it too, so every plant is controlling how much water it gets individually, its not being force fed water on a timer.
And I use water only soil, so it's straight water for me and once and a while I'll hand water Neptune fish and seaweed just for shits and giggles. I also use plastic pots, not a problem for me
I could see how it could be a problem if your adding nutrients to your water, back when I mixed up water for feeding I would alternate feed then straight water as I found I would get salt build up if I didn't and I would have to flush(hate flushing super pain in the ass)
What are you growing in? What nutrients do you use?

I actually use organic top dressings. So part of the hand watering regimen includes feeding then watering it in. Technology gfails - especially when you become dependent on it. I have spare timers and fans because shit happens. LOL

 

[treefarmercharlie]

I actually use organic top dressings. So part of the hand watering regimen includes feeding then watering it in. Technology gfails - especially when you become dependent on it. I have spare timers and fans because shit happens. LOL

It’s not electronic, it waters based on the fluid pressure in the soil. When the pressure drops it pulls on a membrane that lets the water through. That said, they can clog and/or leak. Even with those potential issues I will never go back to hand watering. The only time I hand water is when I feed tea and after I top dress. When I top dress I just spray it down with about 1 liter of water.

 

[Justblazin]

^ what he said
And yep 100% can clog and do, I notice sludge on the dippers so I just wipe them off, but I check on mine every day so I see if ones to dry or ones to wet and I make the adjustments as needed, that's usually after you first hook them up, after a week or so you should have the odd one that was troublesome dialed in with the rest. I know on icmag alot of people used them because they would have to leave them for extended periods of time and they worked great once you knew how to use them.
There's a bunch of tips for using them that should be read before hooking them up to avoid a runaway res. I have come home to water on the floor 3 times in a year, all times were less a litre I'd say(I'm lucky I can check on mine at least once a day) so not to big a deal(pond liner covers bottom of tent).
honestly they have been really handy and I've had minimal problems from them.
But alot of people do have problems with them for various reasons as there's is a bit of a learning curve.also they aren't ideal for every situation

 

[H.A.F.]

^ what he said
And yep 100% can clog and do, I notice sludge on the dippers so I just wipe them off, but I check on mine every day so I see if ones to dry or ones to wet and I make the adjustments as needed, that's usually after you first hook them up, after a week or so you should have the odd one that was troublesome dialed in with the rest. I know on icmag alot of people used them because they would have to leave them for extended periods of time and they worked great once you knew how to use them.
There's a bunch of tips for using them that should be read before hooking them up to avoid a runaway res. I have come home to water on the floor 3 times in a year, all times were less a litre I'd say(I'm lucky I can check on mine at least once a day) so not to big a deal(pond liner covers bottom of tent).
honestly they have been really handy and I've had minimal problems from them.
But alot of people do have problems with them for various reasons as there's is a bit of a learning curve.also they aren't ideal for every situation

I would just plain get bored.

 

[Justblazin]

Another article in support of the Goldilocks of a moisture zone

Measuring the yield of Cannabis sativa as a response to either automated irrigation systems or traditional hand watering methods in a controlled agriculture environment.

NOTE: If you are interested in supporting KIS Organics and seeing more of this research or want help utilizing a data-driven Blumat design in your garden, you can click here for help with a custom Blumat design. Ben Higgins†§ and Tad Hussey† § - Gold Leaf Gardens, Lacey WA † - KIS Organics...

www.kisorganics.com

Points to a 20-29% yield increase on 4/5 strains tested

 

[H.A.F.]

Another article in support of the Goldilocks of a moisture zone

Measuring the yield of Cannabis sativa as a response to either automated irrigation systems or traditional hand watering methods in a controlled agriculture environment.

NOTE: If you are interested in supporting KIS Organics and seeing more of this research or want help utilizing a data-driven Blumat design in your garden, you can click here for help with a custom Blumat design. Ben Higgins†§ and Tad Hussey† § - Gold Leaf Gardens, Lacey WA † - KIS Organics...

www.kisorganics.com

Points to a 20-29% yield increase on 4/5 strains tested

Yes, as to yield. That does not always equate to increased quality. Some other things to consider are that some people grow one plant to get an ounce or two to try it. If you are in plastic pots those cycles of wet and dry can be the only indication you get that one of your little plants isn't drinking. And it's much better to catch something like that the first time it doesn't need water with the rest rather than when the plant starts giving you issues.

Again, I don't think they should dry to the point the plant droops, but you should be able to lift the pot and know they are using what you gave them.

Also - I have the time to do this.

 

[quiescent]

If your Blumats clog with sludge stop putting organics in your res, clean your res more often if you're water only or use drip clean if you're on salts.

Plants aren't less potent with Blumats. Blumats utilize the same principles people calculating dry backs and fiddling with irrigation parameters in rockwool without any calculating or doo-dads that cost hundreds of dollars.

Only downsides are adjusting them at the start/if they dry out and you've gotta start em over again or the very rare flood.

 

[Justblazin]

If your Blumats clog with sludge stop putting organics in your res, clean your res more often if you're water only or use drip clean if you're on salts.

Plants aren't less potent with Blumats. Blumats utilize the same principles people calculating dry backs and fiddling with irrigation parameters in rockwool without any calculating or doo-dads that cost hundreds of dollars.

Only downsides are adjusting them at the start/if they dry out and you've gotta start em over again or the very rare flood.

He comes up with all sorts of reasons of why blumats are no good, none of it based on experience or research,doesn't even know how they work but comes in bashing them..., he just doesn't like them. he also believes organic soil needs a dry out period, which is absolutely bro science
But hey to each there own
And I know hand watering works...did it for over a decade.....these just work way better
It's akin to having your kid tap you on the shoulder and ask for a sip of water anytime he/she feels like it.
Or would you wait till your kid almost has dehydration to give them a drink, of course you wouldn't that's insane, or maybe you could practically drown them so you don't have to give them water for 2 or 3 days, that sounds like a good idea.
Yes hand watering works, just not as good and possibly adding unnecessary stress

 

[quiescent]

There are studies that show most plants produce more resins and terpenes when stressed by drought. I'm not sure if there's a difference between doing it under artificial light vs the sun but I'd assume there is. Might be something to altitude/light intensity there as well.

To be fair I don't think he's wrong. Just the impact might not be as large with cannabis as the plants tested. It might be a trade off between lots of yield and a tad more potency or be negligible/negative.

So much out there that plant scientists don't fully understand, it leaves us common folk to make inferences between their findings.

I'd like to think that in the coming years there will be more cannabis specific research to flesh out theories and extrapolations from other plants.

 

[Justblazin]

There are studies that show most plants produce more resins and terpenes when stressed by drought. I'm not sure if there's a difference between doing it under artificial light vs the sun but I'd assume there is. Might be something to altitude/light intensity there as well.

To be fair I don't think he's wrong. Just the impact might not be as large with cannabis as the plants tested. It might be a trade off between lots of yield and a tad more potency or be negligible/negative.

So much out there that plant scientists don't fully understand, it leaves us common folk to make inferences between their findings.

I'd like to think that in the coming years there will be more cannabis specific research to flesh out theories and extrapolations from other plants.

Well he first came on and told me it was written by the person selling them(wrong), then they won't work with multiple strains cause each plant is different, wrong again they work independently and cater to each plant individually.
Then he comes on and clames they are not going to work cause timers and electrical stuff are unreliable, oh shit wrong again. He has no clue how they even work but come on here telling me how they aren't good and what problems they will produce.

Is there study's on cannabis that show a increase in potency and terps with drought conditions? would be interested to read some

And the study was on cannabis and I don't think the people at kis organics are going to grow inferior bud just to use blumats and you yourself said blumats don't have a decrease in potency
"Plants aren't less potent with Blumats. Blumats utilize the same principles people calculating dry backs and fiddling with irrigation parameters in rockwool without any calculating or doo-dads that cost hundreds of dollars"
Dude has read zero of the articles I posted but constantly comes in here to say how wrong they are....yet doesn't read them or even get a grasp on how a blumat works

 

[H.A.F.]

There are studies that show most plants produce more resins and terpenes when stressed by drought.

If a 'drought' produces terps/resin - which is a natural defense of the plant against harsh conditions - what better way to generate more terps than mild, regularly scheduled, controlled mini-droughts? (i.e. the between waterings days)

So much out there that plant scientists don't fully understand, it leaves us common folk to make inferences between their findings.

But the guy's selling the blumats find studies that support their product -

There are waaaaaaaay too many variables to say "this is the way" and have any semblance of credibility.

 

[H.A.F.]

Well he first came on and told me it was written by the person selling them(wrong)

Nope - the particular study was found by the people selling it. Is there collusion? maybe not, but there are studies that show damn near everything.

There are three types of lies

Lies,
Damn lies,
and Statistics.

 

[H.A.F.]

No great weed has ever come from a rainforest. Or some other place with 365 days of rain per year.

 

[H.A.F.]

@Justblazin - you shelled out money for a system and you like it - leave it at that.

Come at me like I am some uneducated moron and we have issues.

 

[Justblazin]

Nope - the particular study was found by the people selling it. Is there collusion? maybe not, but there are studies that show damn near everything.

There are three types of lies

Lies,
Damn lies,
and Statistics.

The whole write up about the Goldilocks of a moisture zone was a write up by a member of icmag who uses blumats, no conspiracy here
These people sell blumats

A plant-centered approach to watering - Greenhouse Canada

Does dry soil promote root growth? Research and greenhouse experience would disagree.

www.greenhousecanada.com

Cause that's the first article posted
The one I posted the other day was done by kis organics who do sell them

 

[Justblazin]

@Justblazin - you shelled out money for a system and you like it - leave it at that.

Come at me like I am some uneducated moron and we have issues.

Well when you come out spouting wrong info about a product you have no idea how it works ,well....you said it not me

 

[Justblazin]

Here's a study about increasing thc with drought stress

3 Tips for Controlled Drought Stress

Limit water to maximize cannabinoid and terpene levels in cannabis production.

www.cannabisbusinesstimes.com

Funny it is carried out by the same university as the first article I posted