Ensure a successful gardening season! Our guide will help you perfectly start your automatic irrigation system in spring.
In this article, we show you how easy it is to get your Boum system ready for operation again in spring.
Overview: Reactivating your Boum System
- When can I put the Boum controller outside again?
- What do I need to consider regarding the controller?
- What do I need to consider regarding the pots?
- What if it gets cold again?
When can I put the Boum controller outside again?
The Boum controller must be stored in a frost-protected place over the winter (here you can find more information about winterizing your Boum system). In spring, the controller can be reinstalled as soon as temperatures no longer drop below freezing. Depending on the location, this may be a bit earlier or later. Perennial plants such as herbs, flowers, small trees, etc., can be planted as early as March. If temperatures during this time still drop below zero degrees, you can initially water your plants manually now and then before reinstalling the controller.
What do I need to consider regarding the controller?
Check battery level
If the Boum controller has lost battery power during its winter dormancy (e.g., if it was switched on), charge it completely using a power source. The Boum 2 controller comes with an adapter for this purpose, which was included with the controller upon delivery. The Boum 3 controller has a built-in USB-C port.
Check Wi-Fi connection
Next, check if the controller is still connected to Wi-Fi. You can see this in the app by clicking on the controller. A few seconds after switching on the controller, the analysis mode (the light) should be displayed in the app.
If you have a new Wi-Fi network, you can reconfigure the controller in the app.
Connect controller to the pots
Now place the controller on the filled water tank and connect it to the pots. Note: Make sure you connect the pots correctly. In this blog you can see how easily the hose can be connected.
Perform a manual pump test
Once you have reconnected all pots to the controller, you can perform a manual pump test to ensure that all hoses are correctly connected and that no water is leaking anywhere. If no water is pumped, this may be due to a clogged/dried-out membrane. This can sometimes happen after winter dormancy and can be easily fixed. In this article, you'll learn how to do that.
Install solar panel
Now reconnect the solar panel to the controller and place it in a sunny spot. The solar panel does not necessarily have to be hung on the tank, but should be hung in the sunniest spot on the balcony or terrace.
What do I need to consider regarding the pots?
Check float valves
You probably left the pots outside over the winter (they are completely frost-proof). However, before commissioning them in spring, make sure that the float valves are still positioned in the reservoir in such a way that they move vertically upwards as the water level rises.
Check wicks
Also, make sure that all wicks are still correctly inserted. For optimal water supply, we recommend replacing the wicks once a year (click here to go to the shop). If the pot is not yet planted, you can easily push out the old wicks and insert the new ones.
For an already filled pot, the wicks can also be replaced without having to remove the plant and soil. A simple guide can be found here.
What if it gets cold again?
If you have already reinstalled the controller and winter returns and temperatures drop below freezing, either cover the controller with an insulating blanket or disconnect it from the rest of the system again to bring it indoors. The app will warn you if it detects temperatures that are too low.
