● Gardena AquaBloom Calculator

delivered_per_cycle   = dripper_flow_lph × (runtime_minutes / 60)
delivered_per_day     = delivered_per_cycle × cycles_per_day × number_of_drippers
adjusted_daily_need   = Σ plant_need × (1 + safety_margin)
utilization_percent   = adjusted_daily_need / system_daily_capacity × 100
buffer_or_shortfall   = system_daily_capacity − adjusted_daily_need

cycles_per_day:  12 h → 2   ·   24 h → 1   ·   48 h → 0.5 (avg)   ·   72 h → 0.33 (avg)

These base formulas are correct, but on their own they over-promise. The planner applies three real-world caps on top of them:

• Fixed runtime steps per frequency — the dial does not offer an arbitrary runtime; each frequency has its own fixed set of minute options. AquaBloom: 12 h → 10/15/20 min · 24 h → 5/15/20/30/35 min · 48 h → 10/20/30 min · 72 h → 10/15/20 min. AquaBloom L: 12 h → 5/10/15/20/30 min · 24 h → 5/10/15/20/30/35 min · 48 h → 10/20/30 min (plus Water Now, a fixed ~10 min manual test cycle, not used in planning).
• Max pump runtime per day — AquaBloom: 40 min, AquaBloom L: 60 min. On the 12 h dial that limits each cycle to 20 min (AquaBloom) / 30 min (AquaBloom L).
• Dripper inventory & pump flow — AquaBloom ships 20 × 0.5 l/h (10 l/h max); AquaBloom L ships 20 × 2 l/h + 10 × 0.5 l/h (45 l/h full load).

Those caps are exactly why the practical daily maxima are ≈ 6.7 L/day (20 × 0.5 l/h × 40 min) and 40–45 L/day (up to 45 l/h × 60 min). The dial planner searches all valid frequency × runtime combinations and picks the one that meets every plant's adjusted target with the least oversupply and pump time.

Assumptions

• Nominal dripper flow (0.5 / 2 l/h) is reached — real flow drops with long hose runs, head height and partially clogged drippers.
• The whole system shares one dial program; per-plant tuning happens via the number and type of drippers.
• 48 h / 72 h frequencies are modeled as average daily output (0.5 / 0.33 cycles per day).
• Recommendations use the conservative 40 L/day for AquaBloom L unless you switch to optimistic. Solar charge is assumed sufficient for the planned runtime.

Limitations

• This is a planning aid, not a guarantee — actual output depends on hose length, head height (max 4 m / 2.5 m), suction height (max 1.5 m), water temperature (max 35 °C), dripper mix and installation quality.
• Plant water needs vary strongly with weather, pot size and substrate. The safety margin covers some of this, not all of it.
• Battery/solar performance in shady spots can reduce the usable daily runtime.

Verify manually before leaving the system alone

• Run the system for a few days while you're home and check each pot's moisture.
• Confirm every dripper actually drips (air locks, kinks, height differences).
• On AquaBloom L, count your 2 l/h heads — at least 10 must be in use.
• Check the water reservoir volume lasts between refills at your planned daily output.