Tropf Blumat
The Tropf-Blumat is a fully automatic, intelligent dripper that senses how dry the soil is, delivering water only when needed.
Fully automated watering
While many irrigation systems rely on timers and the guesswork of growers to determine when to water and how much, Tropf Blumat sensors do this automatically, maintaining a tight moisture range without allowing a wet-dry cycle. This is hugely beneficial not only to the health of your plants but also to the microbial life in the soil. Blumat Sensors are perfect for organics growers using living soil.
- Automatically waters the soil only when needed.
- Easily to install
- Great value for money
- Perfect for small or large set-ups
- Silent running
- Ideal for using both indoors and outside.
These fully automatic soil watering devices are made in Austria, ‘Tropf-Blumat’ translates to ‘Drip-Blumat’’. Each Tropf-Blumat is both a sensor and a dripper, reacting to the soil moisture content and ensuring plants are watered according to their individual needs without the need for timers. In the USA, the Tropf-Blumat Sensors are commonly called ‘carrots’ due to their shape and colour.
How it works
The Tropf-Blumat is made up of a ceramic cone, upper tube, internal valve and top cap with an adjustable screw. Once set up the sensitive ceramic cone monitors the soil, and as the soil dries, it opens a valve in the Blumat Sensor to allow water to flow through the drip line. The sensor is adjustable, allowing you to set your preferred moisture level for your soil. The sensor drips slowly, and as the soil reaches your set moisture level the Tropf Blumat Sensor automatically stops.
How to use Tropf-Blumat Sensors
At least one Tropf-Blumat is installed in each container, and each sensor is connected to a shared water supply tube. Each Sensor is adjusted by the grower to the individual needs of the plant.
Tropf-Blumat’s are mostly set-up connected to reservoir of water, such as a water butt or tank. Blumat’s only need a low pressure to work effectively, all you need to do is raise your reservoir 1m above the surface of the soil.
If raising the reservoir is not suitable, you can create low pressure in the system using a Blumat pump system.
When using Tropf-Blumat sensors outdoors, you can connect the water supply line directly to a garden tap. All you need is the Blumat Pressure Reducer found here.
Which size Tropf-Blumat Sensor and how many?
One Tropf-Blumat Standard Sensor =
Minimum size pot = 15cm diameter x 15 cm tall (3-4L)
Maximum size pot = 20-25cm diameter up to 25cm tall (8-10L)
For larger size pots with a wider diameter, you can either use more sensors or Blumat Distribution Drippers. These are used to create multiple drip points from one Blumat sensor, making a drip ring that can water larger pots.
Why distribution drippers? Using more sensors is more expensive and a bit more work as you have to dial in more sensors in each pot, but can give some growers peace of mind if they have experienced blockages with other drip systems (usually due to high water hardness). Using distribution drippers is less work and more cost-effective. We generally recommend using distribution drippers, and we have drip kits for different pot sizes that can be found here.
One Tropf-Blumat Maxi Sensor =
Minimum size pot = 15cm diameter x 30 cm tall (5-6L)
Maximum size pot = 20-25cm diameter up to 45cm tall (15-25L)
If you are using pots more than 25cm tall, it is best to use a Tropf-Blumat Maxi Sensor. This avoids the bottom of the pot getting dry which can occur when just using standard sensors in tall pots.
Be aware that with tall pots in warm condition, the surface of the soil may dry faster than the bottom. In cases where you want to avoid this, using both sizes of Tropf-Blumat Sensors in the same pot is ideal. For larger size pots with a wider diameter, you can either use more sensors, or a combination of a Tropf Blumat Sensor with Blumat Distribution Drippers to keep the surface moist, and a Trop-Blumat Maxi Sensor to keep the bottom of the pot moist. This is how we configure our larger pot kits that can be found here.
Other items you may need
- 8mm Supply Tube to connect your water source to your Blumats. (Essential)
- 8mm inline valve, one to turn off the water supply if needed positioned between the first sensor and the reservoir, and one at the end of the line after the last sensor to bleed the system of air or water if required (better than a stop end). (Essential)
- 8mm Fittings such as tee's and elbows for a tidy installation. (Essential)
- Blumat Digital to dial in the moisture level of the soil. (Optional, but highly recommended)
- Blumat Tank Connector (if using a reservoir raised off the floor) and a reservoir.
- Blumat Pressure Reducer (if using outdoors off a garden tap).
- Blumat Pump System (if using a reservoir on the floor, or lower than the pots).
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