diff --git a/backend/README.md b/backend/README.md
index 8e31e11..08f0aef 100644
--- a/backend/README.md
+++ b/backend/README.md
@@ -13,7 +13,8 @@ To run:
 3. Activate the virtual environment: `. .venv/bin/activate`
 4. Install dependencies: `pip install -r requirements.txt`
 5. Run the database: `../db/run.sh` (you must have Docker installed and running).
-6. Create the database schema: `../db/create-schema.sh`
+6.run the server python3 main.py
+7. Create the database schema: `../db/create-schema.sh`
 
 You may want to run `python3 populate.py` to populate sample data.
 
diff --git a/backend/endpoints.py b/backend/endpoints.py
index 0e177a0..b7c091e 100644
--- a/backend/endpoints.py
+++ b/backend/endpoints.py
@@ -157,8 +157,13 @@ def send_bloom():
         return type_check_error
 
     user = get_current_user()
+    content = request.json["content"]
 
-    blooms.add_bloom(sender=user, content=request.json["content"])
+    # Validate bloom length
+    if len(content) > 280:
+        return make_response({"error": "Bloom must be 280 characters or less"}, 400)
+
+    blooms.add_bloom(sender=user, content=content)
 
     return jsonify(
         {
diff --git a/backend/requirements.txt b/backend/requirements.txt
index e03836c..5e11b05 100644
--- a/backend/requirements.txt
+++ b/backend/requirements.txt
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ idna==3.10
 itsdangerous==2.2.0
 Jinja2==3.1.5
 MarkupSafe==3.0.2
-psycopg2==2.9.10
+psycopg2-binary==2.9.10
 pycparser==2.22
 PyJWT==2.10.1
 python-dotenv==1.0.1