| Reason 5 was: You can concentrate on other | | | | system back on. Within minutes, the cuttings may |
| tasks, knowing the misting system is taking care | | | | overheat (remember reason #1, transpiration?) |
| of your cuttings. We all know that there are | | | | and die. Just letting the system continue to run will |
| many things to do when propagating plants. | | | | assure that the system automatically continues to |
| Tending the compost pile, weed management, | | | | mist the cuttings when the rain stops. |
| building new misting and grow beds, re-potting | | | | For folks who are under watering restrictions or |
| plants that have outgrown their current pot, | | | | are just concerned with conserving water, there |
| potting the cuttings that have rooted, and of | | | | is an option with the digital mist timers to install a |
| course, sticking more cuttings to make new | | | | rain sensor. This sensor is extremely easy to |
| plants. | | | | install. Simply mount the sensor near your misting |
| Being able to concentrate on these tasks can be | | | | timer and connect the wires to the circuit marked |
| accomplished because the misting system will | | | | "sensor". That is it! Two small wires that get |
| follow the program day in and day out without | | | | placed under two small screws. Worried about |
| intervention. Aside from small incremental changes | | | | doing the wiring because you don't want to get |
| that need to be done to accommodate for the | | | | shocked? No worries, the circuit is low voltage, |
| lengthening and shortening of the days as the | | | | unlike your house wiring, which means it is much |
| season progresses, the system virtually runs | | | | safer to work on. |
| itself. | | | | Once the sensor is mounted and wired, the only |
| "But," I hear you say,"what about when it rains? I | | | | thing left is to calibrate it. This simply means |
| will need to turn off the mist so the cuttings don't | | | | making a small adjustment so the sensor turns |
| get too wet, right?". Good question with a very | | | | off the mist timer after a specific amount of rain |
| simple answer. Maybe. | | | | has fallen. You don't want to stop the misting |
| You have a few options to choose from when it | | | | system from operating during a very brief |
| comes to dealing with rain. | | | | shower, but you do want to turn it off during a |
| | | | consistent rain. Most sensors require just a simple |
| 1. You can just let the system run | | | | twist of a plastic sleeve to accomplish this. The |
| 2. You can install a rain sensor Why would you | | | | instructions will explain how to correctly calibrate |
| want to keep letting the system just continue to | | | | the sensor. |
| run? Remember what the reason #5 is; So you | | | | To test your sensor, simply wait for the misting |
| can concentrate on other tasks. Physically turning | | | | system to operate and press the plunger on the |
| the system on and of in the event of rain can | | | | top of the rain sensor. This will interrupt the |
| become labor intensive. You would need to | | | | electrical signal going to the solenoids, effectively |
| constantly pay attention to when the rain starts | | | | shutting the system off temporarily. Releasing the |
| and exactly when it stops. Turning the mist | | | | plunger will allow the system to resume misting. |
| system off during rain is not the critical job, | | | | Adding a rain sensor to your misting system is |
| turning it back on within minutes or the rain ending | | | | just one more way to be sure your system will |
| is. If you get caught up doing something else, and | | | | continue to take care of your cuttings. |
| who doesn't, you may forget to turn the misting | | | | |