Blumats or autopots?

Just found local living soil and I'm looking to go with an automated watering system for a notill/covercrop. Leave comments if you wish. Please only vote if you've tried or saw first hand methods.

I'm running blumats in coco right now. Works like a charm.

Blumats are awesome. Once you get them set just walk away and keep the reservoir filled. Gravity fed so no need for pumps. Blumats and coco.

I vote blumats too. Actually doesn't need to be gravity fed either. Get a water pump and the blumat pressure reducer and set it on the floor somewhere. I have a float valve connected to the bucket from the sink. Never have to think about water at all

For bluemats, how do you set it up for whenever you want to feed the plants/ add nutrients?

TreeFiddy350 said:

For bluemats, how do you set it up for whenever you want to feed the plants/ add nutrients?

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You can top feed via hand water if you need to. When the carrot is wetter than how it's set, it won't drip till it's back to the correct moisture.

Bluemats have me scared because there us no drain nearby and I've read horror stories about runaway carrots

waxman420 said:

Bluemats have me scared because there us no drain nearby and I've read horror stories about runaway carrots

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https://www.rollitup.org/t/blumats-bubbas-lessons-learned.766278/

Here's some tips in the link. I thought there was another thread on icmag, but I can't find it..
It took me about a week to get them "mostly" dialed. Had some runoff a few times, but nothing major. The leaking stories come from those with a gravity feed setup and their reservoir runs too low on water. The lack of pressure from the reservoir makes the water run. It's recommended that you have a 2nd reservoir to pump into the gravity bucket.

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong

Yeah, don't let the reservoir run low. Mine is 60L for 5 plants roughly 1m above ground and I try to keep it at least half full at all times. Also use drip clean.

been using two autopot xls for a few months now and I really like them, give you lots of spares and super easy, just set up and go, the smallest res will last my two gals almost a week mid flower

Would there be a possibility to use both? Or is that just over kill? Bottom feed and top feed on a gravity fed system would be interesting to see what sort of root ball would form. I like autopots because of the Airdome in the base of the pot too

StradaSam95 said:

Would there be a possibility to use both? Or is that just over kill? Bottom feed and top feed on a gravity fed system would be interesting to see what sort of root ball would form. I like autopots because of the Airdome in the base of the pot too

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Overkill. The blumats would keep it moist all the way thru the pot. Does sub-irrigation get the top soil wet too?
Would be cool to see tho

T macc said:

Overkill. The blumats would keep it moist all the way thru the pot. Does sub-irrigation get the top soil wet too?
Would be cool to see tho

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I use a sub-irrigation and it doesn't get the top inch or so we on it's own. I have to top water every once in a while to keep it moistish

Dryxi said:

I use a sub-irrigation and it doesn't get the top inch or so we on it's own. I have to top water every once in a while to keep it moistish

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Pretty much the same with blumats. Without a layer of mulch, the first inch or so is dry if there's no dripper in the area

I run nutes through blumats with no issues. Had some of my best harvests this way.

T macc said:

Does sub-irrigation get the top soil wet too?

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There are a bunch of different designs, especially when you get into the DIY ones. Some of the commercial ones have a cover that goes over the pot is supposed to keep the soil lightly wet to the top. I think in part it would also depend on the medium you are using and the size of the wick(s).

I've been really interested in Blumats, but every time I read something good about them, I read something else bad. I have't been able to figure out if it was operator error with the people that didn't have good experiences with them, or if they have legitimate limitations.

I think if I had a floor drain I would be ok with bluemats.

StradaSam95 said:

been using two autopot xls for a few months now and I really like them, give you lots of spares and super easy, just set up and go, the smallest res will last my two gals almost a week mid flower

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Have u harvested yet ? Any pics?

Blumats are awesome and almost foolproof. There is a huge thread on ICmag with tons of info. They make leak detecting shut off valves if you are concerned about flooding. Its not too hard to come up with solutions for leaks, if that is what you are concerned about. Any kind of automated watering system is better than hand watering.

Blumats. I use them both inside and out