Flowering Plants Ltd

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Florimat™  2

Irrigation Recycling System for Containers

Summary
Under English conditions metered over four years The Florimat System has been shown to reduce water demand by over 60%. The system also reduces fertilizer costs, often by 45%. When properly set up, it has been described as “phenomenally efficient” “for containers up to 7.5 litres.”

We have been developing the use of capillary mats in recycling systems since 1995. As general guidelines have emerged, we have learnt that specific tests are essential.

Our products and guidance must help you to grow the best possible crop, with reduced capital and running costs. Your system must be safe in commercial, horticultural and environmental terms where this is required. It must suit your methods of working, and get you from where you are to where you want to be.

Objectives
As with all true capillary irrigation systems, you want the best possible distribution and redistribution of water and fertilizers, compatible with all the other requirements of your cropping system. Any system must work with both low-level and overhead equipment, as may be needed for – for example – fertilizer placement.
Any irrigation water which “misses the target” must be captured, so that it can be re-used. That water must be safe in phytosanitary terms, and chemically suitable.
Where it is appropriate and necessary, most rainwater must be captured. Surplus rainwater must be removed, so that all your range of growing media remains sufficiently aerobic.
The system must be easy to maintain, and sufficiently durable in your operating conditions.

Practical Steps (Please ask for our relevant Technical Pamphlets about simple tests.)

1. Carry out tests, to assess your growing media.
2. Survey the site, to define the layout and prepare a budget for the installation.
3.
 Carry out practical tests to measure the AFP’s which would arise from a given configuration. This takes about 3 hours. We have the necessary equipment, which can be borrowed by customers.
4

.		 Check the effects of water chemistry and reduced leaching on osmotic pressures, fertilizer balances and crop characteristics. We can help you to do the calculations. We have considerable experience of “reading the plant.”
5

.		 Define the costs, effectiveness and benefits of proposed phytosanitary
measures in your circumstances. (We have worked with manufacturers of
peroxygen and acidic products since 1975.)

We have installed recycling systems on flat and on sloping sites, along and across contours. We supply a range of associated systems and equipment.

Equipment

Recycling bed systems are usually built of the following components:

Soft sand or soil for blinding.
Treated timber and pegs to retain the edges of each bed.
Drainage pipe or French drain for water collection along the lower edges.
Pre-cast concrete or plastic path sections with guides for trollies and fixings for irrigation. (These also form the upper edge of each bed.)
EVA long-life membrane for waterproofing.
Florimat 2 capillary matting.
Woven polypropylene – ours has a life of >750,000 kL.
Twinwall drip line along the high edges.
Overhead sprinklers for watering in and for salts control.
Weir boards and discharge pipes for storm waters, sized for calculated flows.
Run-down separators for debris removal.
FPL customers have never needed slow filters for biological digestion.
Transfer pumps.
Dosage systems if required.

We supply all of the above, and back them with services in the form of design, budgets, tests and advice. We can also co-ordinate and supervise installation works.

Working Method

1. Set out levels, and calculate spoil volumes (from grading and drains).
2. Form drains and grade beds. Compact as necessary. British machinery makes this easy. Step 5 can usually be eliminated.
3. Install drains.
4. Install bed edges and pathways.
5. Complete grading and compacting. Blind any rough spots.
6. Lay out membrane; complete drain filling.
7. Install matting. Lay cover over mat and drains. Secure all edges.
8. Fix irrigation to path edges.

Guidance

Professional horticulture involves many complex checks and balances. For your security and peace of mind that you must know how a system is going to work. We have many years’ experience of effective tests, which can help to quantify and to prevent risks.
Please ask for the illustrated pamphlet showing typical installation details.