Ha! I love that. I'd start by pruning leaves that are touching the ground. You will see two kinds of growth on a tomato. 1) leaves, 2) stems or suckers. The leaves are pretty obvious, like the leaf on the lower left. It is just a leaf. It has an end point. It is not growing a new stem. The suckers/stems grow out from between where a leaf joins a stem. A sucker is trying to create a new vine, and will set flowers. But in a closed space you don't want too many of them -- maybe 6 or 8 "vines" max in a closed system.

On this plant I'd start by pruning any leaves that touch the ground. Cut them off back at the stem. Then I'd installthe trellis right on top of the current top growth.

You can also clear off any brown or unhealthy leaves. Don't worry about pruning too much, you could take off 1/3 of that plant and still be ok. Post a picture after pruning and we'll see if there are any other clear next steps.

I don't think "topping" this tomato is needed, as it has already developed lots of lead stems, and as an indeterminate variety (that means it will grow forever) you're not going to be able to keep it in the box without aggressive pruning anyway.

You may get a few tomatoes soon! Start checking the older flowers for tiny, bb sized tomatoes in the middle of them.

Here's a quick look at a Bloom set up, planting an unrooted tomato cutting. Click on the IMG file to see.

IMG-7253.mp4

Hey you should get a software update today to version 1.1.23. Below is a full list of improvements, but please use this thread to report on two major things:

1. How did the software update process go? Anything unexpected or "broken?"
2. This version has significant improvements in app/device connectivity. Post update, we'd like to know if EVER your BLOOM app doesn't connect to your BLOOM device. It is expected that it could take up to five seconds to show the connection.

Other updates include:

1，optimized alert logic of PPM and PH;
2, Add hidden Reboot button on the user infor page;
3, optimized the MQTT connection;
4, fixed light schedule bug;
5, updated the leak alert function and logic;
6, optimized the alert logic of the water flow sensor;
7, optimized the resresh of the Token;
8, Add MQTT status on the home page;
9, fixed the back button issue in Quick Plant;
10, fixed days number display issue when changing stage with water change;
11, adjusted the testing value and actual value for pH and PPm;
12, Update to 250 for the high PPM alert;
13, Keep planting for changing stage without water change;
14, fixed Iot command issue.

Keep us posted on how it goes!

It's grow time!

Stretch your pH up and down by adding 50% or more water to your pH up or down. Distilled water recommended. Dilute up to 5 to 1 (water to solution). It will take longer to dose up or down, but you'll be less likley to "ping pong" on the dosing, which uses more solution and causes your PPM to rise.

@I_like_plants yes! That's pretty much the dream of Bloom. By creating recipes that finitely control all variables we can optimize growth tuned to plant type (tomatoes, eggplant, cannabis, cucumbers or Christmas Trees), by variety (beefsteak or cherry tomato) and even get into micro-tuning -- bringing forward specific genetic traits (like controlling for output vs. flavor on tomatoes, or even type of flavor (sweetness or acidity)). And, standing here, we're pioneers with that tech in our hands, looking to create the first rounds of recipes that will then be shared, grown, rated, edited, improved and grown again, in virtual partnership with the plants we're growing. It's going to be a very fun ride.

@spicypeppers123 I love plants at this "toddler" stage. Looks so good!

Yes! By adjusting temperature and light cycle you should be able to "put a plant into hibernation". The other cool part here is that most plants will adapt to just a "full year" of summer -- perennials have adapted to winters, but most like it when it is always summer too, and just keep on growing.

Welcome!

Those look so fun! I read up on them over the weekend and should have a recipe for you soon. They grow best at about 55-60 degrees. It will be a great test for BLOOM to see if we can control to a temperature that low. These plants get pretty big so it will be interesting to see how many grow well in a Bloom all at once. I'm excited for the adventure!

You actually have three seedlings in there! Yes, it is time to cut a few of them out. You want to very carefully cut the stems of two of the seedlings just below the leaves. If you wait a day or two the stems will get longer and make it easier to trim out.

Hey ! Bloom can sure generate some plant mass. Here's what I'd do re pruning.

1. top off the top six inches of plant. Everything but the flowers, and keep it pruned to that level.

2. prune about 50% of the plant mass cluttering up the middle. Mostly, take out leaves and suckers that are all tied up in knot in there. It will feel strange, but your plant doesn't need all those leaves and it won't hurt a thing to remove them.

3. trim the bottom third back to just the stems or main branches.

Right now, all that plant mass is acting like a giant wick and moving i bet a gallon a day of moisture out of your reservoir. Everything will be happy with less plant mass in there. Keep the fruit, but prune back the bigger leaves and suckers. If you don't know what I mean by suckers, I can post something on that as well. Right now the main job is turning those flowers into tomatoes and getting them ripe!

That's getting pretty fun. I have highlighted the leaves I'd remove. The leaves in the middle don't do much for growth (low light) so removing them is beneficial. I'd also cut all the suckers in the middle that don't have room to grow.

Such pretty leaves! Any fruit set yet?

That white one with the black center is so striking!

@spicypeppers123 I love plants at this "toddler" stage. Looks so good!

Tomatoes are aggressive growers. Let us know how the transplant goes. I'd recommend transplanting into dirt (good potting soil) for a few weeks to harden them off before putting them in ground. Good luck!

Wow! thanks for pictures!

@stina_carroll that's gorgeous! Please continue to post for us!

Looking good! Every water change I push the roots back over to the right side of the root blockers (under the root view panel on the left) to keep them from growing down into the reservoir. Other than that, you can let the root mass get as big as you'd like. Bloom comes with a trellis system (inside the accessories box), and I think you are ready to install it and let the plant start growing through. Let us know if you need some direction there.

I tend to use mine on the lawn, but diluted at about 4 to 1 it should be good for houseplants. Since houseplants grow so much more slowly, you do not need the high concentrations of nutrients present in Bloom.