Watering with S/H?
 

Hello, I am new to s/h stuff. I bought a box of Prime Agra. I soaked it, and followed the rules.

But I read on Firstrays, that you water about 1-2 weeks or so. But, I'm confused on this.
I thought you didn't want the reservoir to dry out? Is that true?
As mine dries out FAST, every couple of days or so.

When it is the correct time to water with s/h?
When the reservoir is completely DRY?
Or before it gets dry?

thanks!

well, Ray also says that with S/H, more frequent watering is definitely a plus and doesn't hurt at all. one of the benefits is that you can't over water. so water whenever you need to.

i've been watering about twice a week, and my phal seems to be doing just fine.

I water whenever I think I need to atleast once a week.Plus I spray the top of the medium several times a day.

As plants take up nutrients from the solution, they emit waste products. Likewise, as they respire, similar pollution of the solution in the reservoir occurs.

If you wait for the reservoir to dry between waterings, you are forcing your plants to sit in a septic tank while you wait.

I cannot tell you how quickly things get bad in the chemistry, bu5t the more frequent you water, the better.

Jkelee don't forget to flush the s/h every once in a while.
BTW I water once a week and in summer in the GH I water more often.
Good Luck and have fun

Sheridan :biggrin:

I'll also add that the water every "one of two weeks" was very early in the creation of semi-hydroponics, and we have learned much since then about the waste issues, so have revised our thinking.

is there going to be a revision to the site with new info, ray?

A question for Ray;
One question remains for me each time I read somethings about S/H: do you add fertilyser each time you are watering? If yes, is it at 125 ppm nitrogen or more dilute?

MT - if I ever have any spare time...maybe.

Intruder - I water with 125 ppm N at every watering, and have done so for a bit over 12 years now.

Some great info here, thanks JKelee for your question(s), have wondered myself and Ray a wealth of knowledge...sthanks for sharing.

MT - you shamed me into it. An update was made today.

Thank you Ray for your fast response.

Another question trots me in the brain!

Can we say that the solution in contact with the roots contains really 125 ppm of nitrogen at every moments? A few days after watering, have we a more concentrate solution at the bottom than at the top? Have we a NPK gradient of concentration from bottom to top?

I do not think the solution stays at 125 ppm N Intruder, as the plant is extracting nutrients from the solution (and increasing that of the waste products). Concerning the gradient issue, consider this:

If anything, the nutrient concentration would be greater not at the bottom, but higher in the medium, as that is where the majority of the evaporation occurs. (Proof for that is the fact that the top surface is where we see the precipitation of minerals.)

However, were are talking about a pretty dilute solution to start with, and nature abhors gradients, so as the water evaporates, the solution will try to stay uniform throughout.

All in all, the nutrient concentration is probably less of a concern that the build-up of waste products.

Thank you All on My Original thread question.
I will water before they dry out then.
thank you's!