In this article, we show you what you should consider when winterizing your Boum system so that you're ready to go again in spring when you want to start gardening.
Overview: Winterizing your Boum control unit
- What needs to be winterized?
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Winterizing the control unit
- What about the pots and the tank?
- And the plants?
What needs to be winterized?
The majority of the Boum system is winter-hardy and can remain outdoors all year round. This makes winterizing Boum very easy. Only the control unit needs to be placed in a frost-free location over the winter.
Winterizing the control unit
No sub-zero temperatures for the control unit!
When winterizing the control unit, there are a few things to consider to ensure the longevity of the device. The most important point is that the control unit must not be exposed to sub-zero temperatures, as sensitive hydraulic (e.g., flow sensor) and electronic components (e.g., battery) inside can be damaged. Simply disconnect the connection between the control unit and the first pot (in this article you can find out how easy that is) and bring the control unit to a frost-protected place for the winter.
Descaling the control unit
As lime or other tiny particles can accumulate in the control unit over time depending on the water hardness, we recommend descaling the control unit once a year with a commercially available descaler. This is best done immediately when you disconnect the control unit from the pots and bring it indoors before winter anyway. This way, the control unit is ready for use again in spring when you want to start gardening again. In the Boum App, there is a step-by-step guide to descaling the Boum control unit.
And what about the pots and the tank?
The pots and the water tank are frost-resistant and can remain outdoors all winter. Here we only recommend emptying the reservoirs of the pots if possible.
Because plants need almost no water in winter, it is sufficient to water the pots by hand every few weeks over the winter.
The water tank must be winterized empty – otherwise, it can burst due to ice formation. We recommend cleaning the inside of the water tank roughly once a year with a sponge to remove algae deposits and any dirt.
And the plants?
Here it depends on what you have planted in your Boum pots. Native plants usually survive the winter without problems. Exotic plants such as citrus trees or olive trees must be wintered in a frost-protected and bright location. Annual plants such as vegetables or basil are removed from the pot after the season and replanted in spring. In the Boum App, we have a database with over 4000 plants for which you receive specific tips for winterizing.
