Pots suitable for semi-hydro?

[karrolhk]

What do the pots for semi-hydro look like?

1. Should there be an inner pot with holes for water to escape in flushing, and an outer pot without holes to catch the water and with a reservoir?

2. Or, can it be just 1 pot without holes (e.g. a vase)? If so, how to remove/exchange/clean out the water in the reservoir from time to time?

Any explanation with pics would be fantastic.

Thank you.

[camille1585]

You can find all the information regarding S/H here, or Ray's very informative website: Semi-Hydroponics™ Basics › First Rays LLC

An S/H container can be made out of any glass or plastic (including reusing buckets or food containers) recipient with a solid bottom. 2 quarter inch holes are then drilled into the side, usually between 1 and 2 inches from the bottom.

The holes are important, these allow to flush out residues and all the other nasty things that accumulate in the pot and reservoir. As you point out, cleaning/flushing out a vase without holes is nearly impossible.

The first method you mention (standard pot sitting in a dish or outer pot) would in theory be a type of S/H.

[karrolhk]

Thank you. I have checked out Ray's informative articles.

I have a follow-up question... Do you think there's a difference between self-watering pots and a semi-hydroponics setup since both use 2 pots?

This is an example of a self-watering pot:
Orchid Pot - White - 568240

[Ray]

Yes, there is a difference between the THREE designs.

The single pot with two holes in the side to define the upper limit of the reservoir is pretty much "self flushing". Every time you water, you fill the pot rapidly to the top with dilute fertilizer solution. That 1) flushes, and 2) saturates the medium, and 3) refreshes the chemistry of the reservoir.


The 3-component setups (Leni or Luwassa are common trade names), consisting of a mesh inner pot containing the LECA and the plant, an outer pot to create the reservoir, and a gauge to help control the reservoir depth, works similarly from a water-delivery to the plant perspective, but requires removing the inner pot from the outer pot, dumping the old liquid, separately flushing the medium, then reassembly before refilling the reservoir.



The two problems with that design, in my mind, are the ability to overfill the outer pot, drowning the roots, and the hassle of proper watering tends to "lull" people into just topping-up the reservoir without flushing, accelerating the buildup of minerals and wastes.

The "self watering pot" you linked to, similar to just using a container with no drainage holes whatsoever, provides no convenient way to flush the medium, again, leading the grower to just topping-up the reservoir.