Astro Botanicals Installation Instructions

Product Description

Astro Botanicals are large inflatable fabric sculptures with a continuously running fan and color changing LED lights. Each sculpture is made of nylon Ripstop fabric that is fire retardant and UV resistant. The fan has a 20 foot grounded power cord.

Safety Guidelines

Attention: Adult supervision is required at all times. Inflatable sculptures can be moved by people or wind and can cause damage or injury. 

Hazard: Proper care to anchor and monitor the sculptures is mandatory. Custom sandbags are provided and must be used.

Warning: Grounded outlets only. Do not set up in wet or windy conditions.

Caution: These sculptures attract attention and are very interactive. Do not leave them unattended. They are made of fabric and are a potential suffocation hazard. They are strong but must be treated gently. Do not lean, climb or jump on them or they may pop. They are durable but can be pulled down by a child. If the fan is blocked or a zipper opened, they will deflate.

Care: The sculptures are like a tent but should be treated like a wedding dress and kept as clean as possible. If they get wet for any reason, they must be re-inflated in a dry place for several hours until truly dry. If they are put away wet, they may become mildewed and stained. Spot clean with soap and water. Do not use detergent or put in a washing machine. If it’s extremely dusty, washing with a garden hose and running it in the sun until dry is best.

General Set Up and Take Down

Set it up only in a controlled environment. It must be a large clean space, clear of anything that will scratch or stain the fabric. Do not allow dirt to be vacuumed into the fan. Follow the specific instructions and videos for best techniques for each type of sculpture. If needed, use a ground cloth for set up and take down. Secure the power cord with heavy duty tape or covers if necessary. Do not lift or store the sculpture with sandbags inside. The sculptures can be deflated in place and covered up temporarily if needed. When taking it down, be sure to collapse the sculpture and put it in the bag correctly to keep it clean and prepare for the next set up.

Sandbag Details

The sculptures are free standing but require sandbags to be attached to the base. Each inflatable sculpture comes with 1 to 7 empty sandbags. Each sandbag has a black heavy-duty outer bag and an inner white fabric tube which is designed to hold the ideal weight of 10 pounds of sand. Play sand costs about $5 for 50 pounds at hardware stores. Fill the tubes with only 15 inches of sand, to the line at one third of their 45″ length. Tie a relatively loose knot in the end of the tube, leaving room for the sand to move around. Do not tie it super tight, so it’s easy to untie when needed. Put the tube into the heavy-duty bag and zip it.

Commercial sandbags under 20 pounds can be used if you attach the empty Astro sandbags to the sculpture and place a commercial sandbag on top.
 

Lights

The lights have 11 settings. There is a small button on the connector where the lights meet the power cord. 10 rainbow fade settings with 2, 4 or 6 colors visible at a time: fast 1,2,3, medium 4,5,6 and slow 7,8,9. Plus #10 extra slow with 2 colors at a time. Plus #11 just white light.

Questions? Call 415-323-3215 or email at [email protected]

 

Specific Instructions for each type of Astro Botanical sculpture 2023

 

Dragon Lotus- 8’ tall x 8’ wide – 10 pounds – 3 sandbags.

If necessary, place a small ground cloth or rug where the sculpture will be set up. Carefully empty the sculpture out of the bag, taking care not to drop the fan. Orient the sculpture so that the fan is facing the desired direction.

Place three sandbags where they will sit under the sculpture. Attach the buckles of the underside of the sculpture to the sandbags, starting with the one underneath the fan, then the two that are opposite it, at the other end of the base zipper. A total of 9 buckles should be connected. Sandbags should be zipper side up.

Check that the fan is not blocked. Hold the fabric to keep the fan clear. Plug it in. It will inflate in about one minute.

To deflate, unplug the sculpture and push down on the top of it. Crush it very loosely and gently, pushing the air out the fan. Lift up the edge and unbuckle the sandbags and continue to compress the sculpture. Do not roll it up tightly like a tent. Cushion the fan with the fabric. Return the sculpture to its carrying bag, loosely looping the power cord. If necessary, clean the power cord and the foot. Tie the cord closed with a slip knot.

 

Magnolia Starship- 10’ tall x 8’ wide – 12 pounds – 3 Sandbags

Ideally, place a 5 or 7 foot rug where the sculpture will sit, and if it’s outdoors, on top of a ground cloth. Put 3 sandbags in the center of the rug. Carefully empty the sculpture out of the bag, taking care not to drop the fan. Close all four of the open zippers on the feet. Orient the sculpture so that the fan is facing the desired direction.

Hold the fabric to keep the fan clear. Make sure it’s not pointing into dirt. Plug it in. It will inflate in about one and a half minutes. It will not stand up until it is almost completely inflated. Stand it up correctly. Check that the tops are not tangled.

Crawl under the sculpture.

Install sandbags into three of the feet, but not into the foot with the fan. Place the sandbag next to the zipper. Open the zipper part way and block the hole with the bag, slide the bag in and close the zipper. Each zipper pull can be tucked into its fabric sleeve to hide it from children.

To deflate, unplug it and open four of the feet, not the one with the fan, and remove the sandbags. Push down on the top of the sculpture. Crush it very loosely and gently, pushing the air out. Do not roll it up tightly like a tent. Cushion the fan with the fabric. Return the sculpture to its carrying bag, loosely looping the power cord. If necessary, clean the power cord and the feet. Tie the cord closed with a slip knot.

 

Singular Asparagus- 11’, 10’ or 9’ tall x 3’ wide 1 sandbag.

If necessary, place a small ground cloth where the sculpture will be set up. Carefully empty the sculpture out of the bag, taking care not to drop the fan. Orient the sculpture so that the fan is facing the desired direction. The sandbag buckles to the underside of the sculpture, not inside it. Place one sandbag with buckles in the correct location with the label and handles facing up. Attach the buckles carefully so that they are not crossed. Hold the fabric to keep the fan clear. Plug it in. It will inflate in about 30 seconds. Check to see that the sandbag is oriented correctly.

To deflate, unplug it and push down on the top of the sculpture, turning the top inside out. Crush it very loosely and gently, pushing the air out the fan. Do not roll it up tightly like a tent. Detach the buckles. Cushion the fan with the fabric. Return the sculpture to its carrying bag, loosely looping the power cord. If necessary, clean the power cord and the foot. Tie the cord closed with a slip knot.

 

Angelic Asparagus- 15’ tall x 10’ wide – 16 pounds – 3 sandbags.

If necessary, place a 10×10 ground cloth where the sculpture will be set up. Carefully empty the sculpture out of the bag, taking care not to drop the fan. Orient the sculpture so that the fan is facing the desired direction. The sandbags buckle to the underside of the sculpture. Place three sandbags in a triangular arrangement around the sculpture with the zippers facing up. Attach the buckles carefully so that they are not crossed. Or use only one sandbag under the center tree.

Hold the fabric to keep the fan clear. Plug it in. Keep pressure on the large center tree to stop the whole thing from flopping on the ground. It will inflate in about 2 minutes. Check to see that the sandbags are oriented correctly. Remove ground cloth.

To deflate, unplug it and grab the center tree up high, pull it partly down and grab higher. Grab it by the top and push down on the top of the sculpture, turning the top inside out, firmly keeping the pressure on so the smaller trees don’t flop on the ground. Crush it very loosely and gently into itself, pushing the air out the fan. Gather the three small tops and push them into the center. Do not roll it up tightly. Detach the three sandbags. Continue to compress the sculpture.

Cushion the fan with the fabric. Return the sculpture to its carrying bag, loosely looping the power cord. If necessary, clean the power cord and the feet. Tie the cord closed with a slip knot.

 

Cactus Blossom- 13’ tall x 4’ wide – 10 pounds – 3 sandbags, 2 of them with a 4th buckle, male.

If necessary, place a small 5×5 ground cloth where the sculpture will be set up. Connect three sandbags together into one, using their 2 male buckles, so that there are 6 available buckles. Carefully empty the sculpture out of the bag, taking care not to drop the fan. Orient the sculpture so that the fan is facing the desired direction. Attach the 6 buckles from the underside of the sculpture to the 3 sandbags.

Hold the fabric to keep the fan clear. Plug it in. It will inflate in about one and a half minutes. Keep one hand on top of the sculpture and keep it from unrolling too fast. Check to see that the sandbags are oriented correctly and that its standing up straight. If needed, in case of wind, use the tab located 6 feet above the fan to tie to a post, hook or wall.

To deflate, unplug it and grab it up high, gently pull it partly down and grab higher. Grab it by the top and push down on the top of the sculpture, turning the top inside out, firmly keeping the pressure on. Crush it very loosely and gently into itself, pushing the air out the fan. Do not roll it up tightly like a tent. Detach the 6 buckles and cushion the fan with the fabric. If necessary, clean the power cord and the foot. Return the sculpture to its carrying bag, loosely looping the power cord. Tie the bag closed with a slip knot.

 

Star Castle- 13’ tall x 13’ wid – 22 pounds – 5 sandbags

Place a large 15’ x 15’ ground cloth where the sculpture will be set up. Ideally, place a 7 foot circular rug on top. Place sandbags on the center of the rug. Carefully empty the sculpture out of the bag, taking care not to drop the fan. Close all 6 of the open zippers, counting them. Orient the sculpture so that the fan is facing the desired direction. Hold the fabric to keep the fan clear. Plug it in. It will inflate in about three minutes.

It will not stand up until it is almost completely inflated. Check that the tops are not tangled. Stand it up correctly. Install sandbags into at least four of the feet, usually not into the foot with the fan. In high activity zones it may be best to have sandbags in all seven feet. Place a sandbag next to the zipper. Open the zipper part way, block the hole with the bag, slide the bag in and close the zipper. Each zipper pull can be tucked into its fabric sleeve to hide it from children. Tuck the ground cloth under the rug.

To deflate, be sure that there is a ground cloth spread out underneath it. Unplug it and open six of the feet and remove the sandbags. Grab the top of the sculpture, rolling the tops first, crush it very loosely and gently, pushing the air out. Holding it off the ground is best for getting it to deflate. When it is mostly empty, remove the sandbags. Continue to compress the sculpture, leaving its feet till last, all together. Do not roll it up tightly.

Lay the bundled sculpture down and tuck the fan in, cushioning the fan with the fabric.  If necessary, clean the power cord and the feet. Return the sculpture to its carrying bag, loosely looping the power cord. Tie the bag closed with a slip knot.

 

Green Tower- 11’ tall x 3’ wide – 8 pounds – 2 sandbags, 1 of them with a 4th buckle, male.

If necessary, place a small ground cloth where the sculpture will be set up. Connect two sandbags together into one, using the male buckle, so that there are 4 available buckles. Carefully empty the sculpture out of the bag, taking care not to drop the fan. Orient the sculpture so that the fan is facing the desired direction. Attach the 4 buckles from the underside of the sculpture to the 2 sandbags.

Hold the fabric to keep the fan clear. Plug it in. It will inflate in about one and a half minutes. Keep one hand on top of the sculpture and keep it from unrolling too fast. Check to see that the sandbags are oriented correctly and that its standing up straight. If needed, in case of wind, use the tab located 6 feet above the fan to tie to a post, hook or wall.

To deflate, unplug it and grab it up high, gently pull it partly down and grab higher. Grab it by the top and push down on the top of the sculpture, turning the top inside out, firmly keeping the pressure on. Crush it very loosely and gently into itself, pushing the air out the fan. Do not roll it up tightly like a tent. Detach the 4 buckles and cushion the fan with the fabric. If necessary, clean the power cord and the foot. Return the sculpture to its carrying bag, loosely looping the power cord. Tie the bag closed with a slip knot.