This may be too off topic, so mods/admins please move this if you think it’s best, but I’ve been thinking on the concept of aeration in the media from top-watering vs soaking and while I agree that top watering is more beneficial for a dense media (eg. traditional potting soil), the benefits of top watering lessen as the media pore spaces increase in size - specifically when using something like bark/leca/etc. that will retain the same physical structure before and after watering. Sphagnum moss is not included in this assessment since it requires an entirely different watering method.
When you top water bark, the water flows through and flushes and aerates the media in the same step. The more liquid used and the stronger the flow = better results.
When you soak bark, the water fully displaces all (or almost all) of the air in the pot and waste products begin to dissolve/disperse into the water. When you drain, the water and waste products exit and fresh air is pulled (it’s actually pushed) back into the spaces between the bark pieces in the pot = thorough air exchange and media aeration.
Again, this only applies to chunky, well structured medium where gravity can overcome the cohesion properties of water.
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