SmokingCrow
Active Member
This is only of interest for those using supersoil and adding plain ol’ water. Apparently its not a good idea to put nutrients through the pipes, as it grows algae and other potential pathogens.
Not having heard of blumats until I’d listened to a podcast where they were discussed and were highly rated by a commercial grower. The soil remains at a constant hydrated level allowing constant nutrient uptake, unlike the roller coaster of saturated and dry of hand watering. (I speak for myself)
For a mere US$ 8.00 I ordered 10 RODE Watering Stakes from Aliexpress (link). The packaging was minimal however none of the ceramic cones were damaged or broken.
In the advertising, it showed a glass below the ceramic cone and implied that it would suck up the water. In my experience, it’s worked better when the water is above the cone and a syphon effect keeps the water flowing. It’s important to make sure that the pipe and cone is filled with water to ensure a syphon is effective. It’s easy just immerse the whole lot in a bucket of water.
To add compost teas, is straight forward, just add the tea to the plants by hand from a watering can.
The photo below shows a ceramic cone in the soil and another new one with the tube wrapped around the body of the cone. I use quart mason jars and the plants that are now 5 weeks old use about an inch of water from the mason jar a day.
Not having heard of blumats until I’d listened to a podcast where they were discussed and were highly rated by a commercial grower. The soil remains at a constant hydrated level allowing constant nutrient uptake, unlike the roller coaster of saturated and dry of hand watering. (I speak for myself)
For a mere US$ 8.00 I ordered 10 RODE Watering Stakes from Aliexpress (link). The packaging was minimal however none of the ceramic cones were damaged or broken.
In the advertising, it showed a glass below the ceramic cone and implied that it would suck up the water. In my experience, it’s worked better when the water is above the cone and a syphon effect keeps the water flowing. It’s important to make sure that the pipe and cone is filled with water to ensure a syphon is effective. It’s easy just immerse the whole lot in a bucket of water.
To add compost teas, is straight forward, just add the tea to the plants by hand from a watering can.
The photo below shows a ceramic cone in the soil and another new one with the tube wrapped around the body of the cone. I use quart mason jars and the plants that are now 5 weeks old use about an inch of water from the mason jar a day.