International fact sheet
The FloraPulse subscription for commercial growers outside the United States
720 Olive Dr Ste E
Davis CA, 95616
(530) 220-7668
Continuous stem water potential for commercial orchards and vineyards, and what a grower outside the United States receives. Growers in the USA, researchers and sensor-only purchases are described on the product fact sheet.
What it measures
FloraPulse microtensiometers sit in the trunk of a tree or vine and measure stem water potential, the same quantity a pressure chamber measures, every 20 minutes, day and night. Growers see how each block responds to heat, drought and every irrigation, and decide when to water from the plant itself rather than from a weekly reading or a soil estimate.
What one station includes
Two probes in one tree. Two microtensiometers installed in the same tree or vine. One is the working sensor; the other is redundancy and a continuous cross-check.
Cellular datalogger. Solar-powered, with the cellular data plan included. Readings every 20 minutes, uploaded hourly.
Irrigation sensor. A pressure switch on the irrigation line, so every irrigation event appears on the same chart as the tree's response.
Dashboard and phone app. Stem water potential, a fully-watered reference line, and stress bands per block and growth stage, on the web and as an app on your phone.
One station represents one independently irrigated block. Growers usually start with a few stations in contrasting blocks and expand from there.
How the international subscription works
- Year one. The grower buys the station equipment outright and keeps it: the datalogger, solar panel and pressure switch. The first year's fee also includes the probes, cellular data, dashboard and support.
- Every year after. A lower annual service fee per station covers two fresh probes a year, cellular data, the dashboard and support. Probes are replaced each season, with no separate probe invoice.
- On this subscription, unlike our USA service, nothing is leased and nothing has to be shipped back at the end.
- Pricing is per station, in US dollars, quoted by FloraPulse or by a local FloraPulse partner.
Installation and support
- A station installs in about 30 minutes. Bought directly from FloraPulse, the grower's own team installs it, with written and video instructions; a training call before the first installation is available on request. You provide a mallet and a cordless drill. A local partner installs and services the stations it sells.
- Orders of three stations or more include one spare probe for every five stations, rounded up (three to five stations get one), sealed in its water-filled capsule and kept on site. Orders of three stations or more placed directly with FloraPulse include the installation toolkit as well.
- Support, troubleshooting, warranty and probe replacements are handled remotely by the FloraPulse team, or with a local partner where there is one. The terms are in the warranty and support guide.
- Stress bands and irrigation triggers follow the crop, variety and growth stage set for each block, and alert preferences are set per block.
Ordering from outside the USA
Where there is a local FloraPulse partner, the partner quotes, imports and installs the stations on its own terms. The steps below are for orders placed directly with FloraPulse.
- Confirm cellular coverage. The datalogger needs a reliable mobile signal at each installation site. We check coverage at your coordinates before an order is placed; a good first test is whether you can reliably get online from a phone at the installation spot. Where coverage is uncertain, start with one station.
- Formal quote. FloraPulse or the local partner issues a quote with the number of stations and live freight.
- Payment and shipping. Payment is in US dollars, by bank transfer (plus a US$30 bank transfer fee) or by card (plus a 3% card fee). On payment the stations ship by courier with tracking, delivered duty unpaid: import VAT and duties are paid by the grower on arrival.
- Install at leaf-out. Probes go into trees that are leafed out and transpiring, so we plan shipping and customs with time to spare before the season.
Where it is proven
The microtensiometer has been under development for 15 years and is used by commercial growers and research groups on several continents. Almond, wine grape, cherry, olive and other crops are validated against the pressure chamber; the current status of every crop is public in the crop validation database. We sell growers validated crops only.