May 04, 2026
Generated lab notebook from daily_summary, plan_journal, and setpoint audit data. It is intentionally chronological and may include in-progress cycles before validation.
🌅 Morning Cycle (6:00 AM) — iris-20260504-0556
validated
5/10
none recorded
Result: The plan successfully managed temperature and prevented daytime VPD-high stress. However, the heavy cloud cover and high humidity (89-100% RH) led to significant VPD-low stress (5.03 hours) as the transition to the cold wet front occurred. The ‘moderate dry ramp’ hypothesis was too aggressive for the actual saturation, failing to prevent the humidity surge when the sun remained obscured. Cost was slightly elevated due to heating needs, but within reasonable bounds for the season.
Reflection
Validating previous cycle: iris-20260503-1958
Previous hypothesis: Sunset overnight posture: tonight’s main challenge is not heat but the combination of current low VPD/high RH, a marginal dew-point buffer, and enough overnight cooling to invite heater→vent chatter if cooling bias is too tight. I am suppressing mist/fog overnight, holding bias_cool at +3 to +3.5 during heating windows, keeping sealed-mist caps short, then switching Monday morning to a moderate dry-day posture for the forecast 75°F / 15% RH shoulder without repeating the over-humidification mistake from May 2.
Expected result: keep dp_risk_hours near 0 overnight, reduce additional VPD-low stress below 0.5h after sunset, avoid cold-stress from vent oscillation, and keep Monday’s midday VPD-high stress under ~2h despite dry outdoor air. Result: The plan successfully managed temperature and prevented daytime VPD-high stress. However, the heavy cloud cover and high humidity (89-100% RH) led to significant VPD-low stress (5.03 hours) as the transition to the cold wet front occurred. The ‘moderate dry ramp’ hypothesis was too aggressive for the actual saturation, failing to prevent the humidity surge when the sun remained obscured. Cost was slightly elevated due to heating needs, but within reasonable bounds for the season. Score: 5/10
New finding: When forecast cloud cover is near 100% and outdoor RH is high (>80%), a ‘moderate dry ramp’ can lead to massive VPD-low overshoot. In these conditions, it is safer to pre-emptively raise VPD thresholds (mister_engage_kpa) or increase the mister pulse gap earlier in the day to avoid a humidity surge when the sun stays behind clouds. → Added to Lessons Learned
Hypothesis
Testing: Moderate dry-overcast ramp: use engage 1.4-1.55 / gap 30-40 / fog_esc 0.35-0.45 today instead of the extreme dry preset, then suppress humidification hard ahead of the wet cold front. Expected outcome: Target Monday score >70, VPD-high stress <1.0h, VPD-low stress <2.0h after 06:00, cost <USD 4 through the daytime; Tuesday may spend gas but should avoid cold stress and condensation risk.
Conditions (structured)
73.0°F
17.0%
423.0 W/m²
96.0%
Dry air during daylight but mostly overcast; cold wet front arrives overnight with near-saturated air Tuesday.
Expected stress windows
moderate misting: engage 1.45-1.55 kPa, gap 30-40s, fog escalation 0.35-0.45 only during the dry window
raise mist thresholds to 2.4-2.5 kPa, widen gap to 60s, fog escalation 1.0, preserve heat/anti-oscillation bias
Parameter rationale
prevent daytime VPD-high stress from exceeding 1.0h without triggering yesterday's multi-hour VPD-low overshoot
hold VPD below 1.8 kPa during solar breaks while using moderate thresholds to avoid continuous misting
allow fog assist only if misting cannot control dry stress, target VPD-high stress under 1.0h
reduce VPD-low stress versus yesterday's 4.43h and keep dew point risk under 0.25h
avoid cold stress and heater→vent cycling through the frontal passage
Setpoints
Monday May 04
Primary crop-band changes:
Dawn: already humid enough, keep misting conservative while
Morning dry-air ramp: start moderate humidification before o
Midday dry window: outdoor VPD >2 kPa, but clouds argue for
Peak risk: allow a little more fog/mist response for forecas
Evening decline: relax humidity response as temperature and
Cold wet front arrives: suppress humidification and use anti
Tactical tunable changes:
Dawn: already humid enough, keep misting conservative while
Morning dry-air ramp: start moderate humidification before o
Midday dry window: outdoor VPD >2 kPa, but clouds argue for
Peak risk: allow a little more fog/mist response for forecas
Evening decline: relax humidity response as temperature and
Cold wet front arrives: suppress humidification and use anti
Tuesday May 05
Primary crop-band changes:
Tuesday cold rain: protect against heater/vent oscillation a
Tactical tunable changes:
Tuesday cold rain: protect against heater/vent oscillation a
Wednesday May 06
Primary crop-band changes:
Wednesday recovery from cold rain: keep humidity conservativ
Tactical tunable changes:
Wednesday recovery from cold rain: keep humidity conservativ
Changed secondary parameters:
initial 3.5
initial 1.2
initial 3
initial 1
initial -2
initial 0.8
initial 1.2
initial 150
initial 60
initial 300
initial 180
initial 120
initial 120
initial 900
initial 120
initial 90
initial 15
initial 30
initial 180
initial 60
initial 500
initial 1
initial 1.5
initial 75
3.5 → 2.5
1.2 → 0.8
0.8 → 0.45
1.2 → 1
150 → 120
900 → 600
120 → 150
180 → 120
60 → 45
75 → 60
2.5 → 2
0.8 → 0.5
3 → 4
0.45 → 0.4
120 → 90
45 → 30
0.4 → 0.35
150 → 180
2 → 3
0.5 → 1
4 → 3
-2 → -1.5
0.35 → 0.7
1 → 1.2
120 → 150
600 → 900
180 → 120
90 → 180
30 → 60
60 → 75
3 → 3.8
1 → 1.5
1 → 0.5
-1.5 → -1
0.7 → 1
1.2 → 1.5
150 → 180
120 → 180
120 → 180
900 → 1200
30 → 45
180 → 240
60 → 90
1.5 → 1.8
75 → 90
3.8 → 4
-1 → -0.5
180 → 240
1200 → 1800
45 → 60
240 → 300
90 → 120
1.8 → 2
90 → 120
4 → 3.5
1.5 → 1.3
-0.5 → -1
1 → 0.9
1.5 → 1.4
240 → 210
1800 → 1500
60 → 45
300 → 240
120 → 90
2 → 1.8
120 → 90
Full secondary parameter dump
Value 3.5.
Value 1.2.
Value 3.
Value 1.
Value -2.
Value 0.8.
Value 1.2.
Value 150.
Value 60.
Value 300.
Value 180.
Value 120.
Value 120.
Value 900.
Value 120.
Value 90.
Value 15.
Value 30.
Value 180.
Value 60.
Value 500.
Value 1.
Value 1.5.
Value 75.
Value 2.5.
Value 0.8.
Value 3.
Value 1.
Value -2.
Value 0.45.
Value 1.
Value 120.
Value 60.
Value 300.
Value 180.
Value 120.
Value 120.
Value 600.
Value 150.
Value 90.
Value 15.
Value 30.
Value 120.
Value 45.
Value 500.
Value 1.
Value 1.5.
Value 60.
Value 2.
Value 0.5.
Value 4.
Value 1.
Value -2.
Value 0.4.
Value 1.
Value 120.
Value 60.
Value 300.
Value 180.
Value 120.
Value 120.
Value 600.
Value 150.
Value 90.
Value 15.
Value 30.
Value 90.
Value 30.
Value 500.
Value 1.
Value 1.5.
Value 60.
Value 2.
Value 0.5.
Value 4.
Value 1.
Value -2.
Value 0.35.
Value 1.
Value 120.
Value 60.
Value 300.
Value 180.
Value 120.
Value 120.
Value 600.
Value 180.
Value 90.
Value 15.
Value 30.
Value 90.
Value 30.
Value 500.
Value 1.
Value 1.5.
Value 60.
Value 3.
Value 1.
Value 3.
Value 1.
Value -1.5.
Value 0.7.
Value 1.2.
Value 150.
Value 60.
Value 300.
Value 180.
Value 120.
Value 120.
Value 900.
Value 120.
Value 90.
Value 15.
Value 30.
Value 180.
Value 60.
Value 500.
Value 1.
Value 1.5.
Value 75.
Value 3.8.
Value 1.5.
Value 3.
Value 0.5.
Value -1.
Value 1.
Value 1.5.
Value 180.
Value 60.
Value 300.
Value 180.
Value 180.
Value 180.
Value 1200.
Value 120.
Value 90.
Value 15.
Value 45.
Value 240.
Value 90.
Value 500.
Value 1.
Value 1.8.
Value 90.
Value 4.
Value 1.5.
Value 3.
Value 0.5.
Value -0.5.
Value 1.
Value 1.5.
Value 240.
Value 60.
Value 300.
Value 180.
Value 180.
Value 180.
Value 1800.
Value 120.
Value 90.
Value 15.
Value 60.
Value 300.
Value 120.
Value 500.
Value 1.
Value 2.
Value 120.
Value 3.5.
Value 1.3.
Value 3.
Value 0.5.
Value -1.
Value 0.9.
Value 1.4.
Value 210.
Value 60.
Value 300.
Value 180.
Value 180.
Value 180.
Value 1500.
Value 120.
Value 90.
Value 15.
Value 45.
Value 240.
Value 90.
Value 500.
Value 1.
Value 1.8.
Value 90.
🌆 Evening Cycle (9:05 PM) — iris-20260504-2059
Daily Summary So Far
not validated yet
none recorded
Reflection
Daily Summary So Far — this cycle will be validated at the next planning cycle.
Hypothesis
Expected outcome: Minimize cold stress and VPD-low stress during the overnight frost risk window, while maintaining heating efficiency.
Setpoints
Tuesday May 05
Primary crop-band changes:
Primary crop-band transition.
Primary crop-band transition.
Tactical tunable changes:
Tactical tunable transition.
Tactical tunable transition.
Changed secondary parameters:
initial 2
initial 1.5
initial 0.5
initial -1
initial 1
initial 180
initial 60
initial 300
initial 180
initial 180
initial 180
initial 120
initial 90
initial 15
initial 45
initial 500
initial 90
2 → 4
1.5 → 1
Full secondary parameter dump
Value 2.
Value 1.5.
Value 0.5.
Value -1.
Value 1.
Value 180.
Value 60.
Value 300.
Value 180.
Value 180.
Value 180.
Value 120.
Value 90.
Value 15.
Value 45.
Value 500.
Value 90.
Value 4.
Value 1.
Value 0.5.
Value -1.
Value 1.
Value 180.
Value 60.
Value 300.
Value 180.
Value 180.
Value 180.
Value 120.
Value 90.
Value 15.
Value 45.
Value 500.
Value 90.
🌙 Overnight Cycle (9:11 PM) — iris-20260504-2108
validated
5/10
none recorded
Result: The previous plan (iris-20260504-2108) aimed to handle the overnight frost risk (32F) and heavy cloud cover/high humidity. The forecast shows 100% cloud cover and very low VPD (0.01-0.1 kPa) throughout the day, which will almost certainly lead to significant VPD-low stress if not managed. The temperature is also forecast to stay low (36-43F range). Yesterday’s failure was primarily VPD-low stress (5h) due to high humidity. The current plan’s mitigation (bias_heat 2.0) is helpful for temp, but the humidity will be the main driver.
Reflection
Validating previous cycle: iris-20260504-0556
Previous hypothesis: Monday is a misleading dry-overcast day: outdoor RH falls to 17-21% from 09:00-17:00, but forecast cloud cover stays ~95-100% with only two possible solar breaks. Yesterday proved the bigger risk under collapsed solar is VPD-low overshoot, so today’s plan uses a moderate dry ramp rather than the extreme dry preset, then strongly suppresses humidification into the cold wet front tonight and Tuesday.
{
"conditions": {
"outdoor_temp_peak_f": 73.0,
"outdoor_rh_min_pct": 17.0,
"solar_peak_w_m2": 423,
"cloud_cover_avg_pct": 96,
"notes": "Dry air during daylight but mostly overcast; cold wet front arrives overnight with near-saturated air Tuesday."
},
"stress_windows": [
{
"kind": "vpd_high",
"start": "2026-05-04T09:00:00-06:00",
"end": "2026-05-04T17:00:00-06:00",
"severity": "medium",
"mitigation": "moderate misting: engage 1.45-1.55 kPa, gap 30-40s, fog escalation 0.35-0.45 only during the dry window"
},
{
"kind": "vpd_low",
"start": "2026-05-04T20:00:00-06:00",
"end": "2026-05-05T18:00:00-06:00",
"severity": "medium",
"mitigation": "raise mist thresholds to 2.4-2.5 kPa, widen gap to 60s, fog escalation 1.0, preserve heat/anti-oscillation bias"
}
],
"rationale": [
{
"parameter": "mister_engage_kpa",
"old_value": 2.0,
"new_value": 1.45,
"forecast_anchor": "outdoor VPD 1.7-2.3 kPa from 09:00-17:00 with RH 17-21%",
"expected_effect": "prevent daytime VPD-high stress from exceeding 1.0h without triggering yesterday's multi-hour VPD-low overshoot"
},
{
"parameter": "mister_pulse_gap_s",
"old_value": 55,
"new_value": 30,
"forecast_anchor": "short solar breaks near 13:00 and 15:00 can spike VPD even under cloud cover",
"expected_effect": "hold VPD below 1.8 kPa during solar breaks while using moderate thresholds to avoid continuous misting"
},
{
"parameter": "fog_escalation_kpa",
"old_value": 0.8,
"new_value": 0.35,
"forecast_anchor": "midday outdoor RH minimum 17% but solar peak only 423 W/m2",
"expected_effect": "allow fog assist only if misting cannot control dry stress, target VPD-high stress under 1.0h"
},
{
"parameter": "mister_engage_kpa",
"old_value": 1.45,
"new_value": 2.5,
"forecast_anchor": "cold wet front after 20:00, RH 63-100%, VPD 0.53 down to near zero Tuesday",
"expected_effect": "reduce VPD-low stress versus yesterday's 4.43h and keep dew point risk under 0.25h"
},
{
"parameter": "bias_cool",
"old_value": 3.5,
"new_value": 4.0,
"forecast_anchor": "overnight/tomorrow outdoor 32-40F and wet; vent-after-heat oscillation is more damaging than a small warm bias",
"expected_effect": "avoid cold stress and heater→vent cycling through the frontal passage"
}
]
}Result: The previous plan (iris-20260504-2108) aimed to handle the overnight frost risk (32F) and heavy cloud cover/high humidity. The forecast shows 100% cloud cover and very low VPD (0.01-0.1 kPa) throughout the day, which will almost certainly lead to significant VPD-low stress if not managed. The temperature is also forecast to stay low (36-43F range). Yesterday’s failure was primarily VPD-low stress (5h) due to high humidity. The current plan’s mitigation (bias_heat 2.0) is helpful for temp, but the humidity will be the main driver. Score: 5/10
Hypothesis
Expected outcome: Maintain temperature above 50F despite 32F frost risk and prevent VPD-low stress overnight from high humidity/cloud cover.
Setpoints
Monday May 04
Primary crop-band changes:
evening settle, prepare for temperature drop
Tactical tunable changes:
evening settle, prepare for temperature drop
Tuesday May 05
Primary crop-band changes:
midnight posture, maximize heating efficiency and minimize h
pre-dawn transition, prepare for sunrise moisture accumulati
Tactical tunable changes:
midnight posture, maximize heating efficiency and minimize h
pre-dawn transition, prepare for sunrise moisture accumulati
Changed secondary parameters:
initial 0
initial 1
initial 0
initial 0
initial 0.5
initial 60
initial 60
initial 300
initial 120
initial 60
initial 60
initial 600
initial 90
initial 15
initial 45
initial 500
initial 60
1 → 2
2 → 1.5
Full secondary parameter dump
Value 0.
Value 1.
Value 0.
Value 0.
Value 0.5.
Value 60.
Value 60.
Value 300.
Value 120.
Value 60.
Value 60.
Value 600.
Value 90.
Value 15.
Value 45.
Value 500.
Value 60.
Value 0.
Value 2.
Value 0.
Value 0.
Value 0.5.
Value 60.
Value 60.
Value 300.
Value 120.
Value 60.
Value 60.
Value 600.
Value 90.
Value 15.
Value 45.
Value 500.
Value 60.
Value 0.
Value 1.5.
Value 0.
Value 0.
Value 0.5.
Value 60.
Value 60.
Value 300.
Value 120.
Value 60.
Value 60.
Value 600.
Value 90.
Value 15.
Value 45.
Value 500.
Value 60.
Daily Summary So Far
Climate
61.2–79.7°F; avg 68.0°F
0.24–1.81 kPa; avg 0.70 kPa
48.0–87.9%
Stress Hours
- Heat stress (>85°F): 0.0h
- VPD stress (>2.0 kPa): 0.0h
- Cold stress (<55°F): 0.0h
Economics
USD 0.08
USD 3.15
USD 1.230
USD 4.46
Equipment Runtimes
Primary exhaust runtime.
Secondary exhaust runtime.
Intake vent runtime.
Fogger runtime.
Electric heater runtime.
Gas heater runtime.
Supplemental lighting runtime.
South mister runtime.
West mister runtime.
Center mister runtime.
Water
- Total: 254 gal
- Mister: 254 gal
Crop Health (Gemini Vision)
Observation notes are collapsed below to avoid publishing partial vision snippets.
Observation notes are collapsed below to avoid publishing partial vision snippets.
Observation notes are collapsed below to avoid publishing partial vision snippets.
Observation notes are collapsed below to avoid publishing partial vision snippets.
Observation notes are collapsed below to avoid publishing partial vision snippets.
Vision observation notes
Plants appear healthy with no obvious signs of stress.
Hanging orchids appear healthy with extensive root systems visible.
Seedlings appear healthy, but small.
Seedlings look healthy and are growing well.
Seedlings are small but appear healthy.
Hourly Pattern
RH 64.5%.
RH 59.8%.
RH 65.5%.
RH 69.1%.
RH 68.9%.
RH 72.2%.
RH 76.8%.
RH 77.8%.
RH 80.0%.
RH 81.6%.
RH 76.8%.
RH 72.9%.
RH 70.1%.
RH 69.4%.
RH 75.0%.
RH 73.9%.
RH 76.0%.
RH 75.3%.
RH 72.1%.
RH 71.1%.
RH 71.7%.
RH 67.8%.
RH 64.4%.
RH 64.3%.
7-Day Stress Context
Cold stress 5.4h.
Cold stress 2.4h.
Cold stress 0.0h.
Cold stress 0.0h.
Cold stress 0.0h.
Cold stress 0.0h.
Cold stress 0.0h.