Sep 15, 2026
How to Read a Stem Water Potential Number
Michael Santiago
What a stem water potential reading measures, why we report it in bars below a fully watered vine, and how that number moved through a Napa heat wave.
Sep 03, 2026
California Crop Stress Index — August 2026
Michael Santiago
August ran cooler than last August across the Sacramento Valley and pulled more water out of the trees anyway. Across 318 California blocks, the plant signal and the weather signal spent most of the month pointing in opposite directions.
Sep 01, 2026
Almond Post-Harvest Irrigation: What Our Sensors Measured
Michael Santiago
Post-harvest is the almond irrigation window the research says to protect. Here is what 21 Sacramento Valley blocks measured through the 2026 harvest.
Aug 18, 2026
What ten new papers say about microtensiometers
Michael Santiago
Cherry, olive, persimmon, peach, mandarin, Scots pine and city street trees. Fourteen months of independent, peer-reviewed results — including the ones that complicate the picture.
May 16, 2026
How Real-Time Plant Data Prevents Heat Wave Crop Damage
Michael Santiago
Heat waves can devastate orchards and vineyards in hours. Real-time stem water potential monitoring catches dangerous stress levels before visible damage appears.
May 04, 2026
Independent researchers validate FloraPulse in white wine grapes (R² = 0.968)
Michael Santiago
A 2024 field study from the Research Centre Laimburg in South Tyrol, Italy, presented at GiESCO 2025, found FloraPulse trunk microtensiometers correlated with pressure-chamber stem water potential at R² = 0.968 across Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay.
May 02, 2026
The Real Cost of the Pressure Bomb
Michael Santiago
The pressure chamber costs more than you think. Beyond the $3,000–$5,000 purchase price, the hidden costs of labor, training, and missed readings add up fast.
Apr 18, 2026
Regulated Deficit Irrigation Guide for Vineyards
Michael Santiago
Regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) is the key to premium wine quality. Learn how to use real-time stem water potential data to manage vine stress precisely during veraison and beyond.
Apr 04, 2026
Why Soil Moisture Sensors Aren’t Telling the Full Story
Michael Santiago
Soil moisture sensors measure water in the ground — but that’s not the same as what your trees actually need. Here’s why plant-based sensors give better irrigation guidance.
Mar 19, 2026
What’s New in FloraPulse: Spring 2026 Dashboard Updates
Michael Santiago
What’s New in FloraPulse: Spring 2026 Dashboard Updates We have been busy this spring building features that our growers asked for. The theme behind every update is the same: give you better information, faster, so you can spend less time staring at screens and more time in the field. Here is a look at what […]