Interested in growing in s/h culture

[Tindomul]

The top of my semi-hydro pot is almost always bone dry. How does yours keep wet? Maybe your pot is too small and wicks too much water?

[quiltergal]

Hmmm, weird! My conditions are similar to yours though you are probably a little dryer. I average around 30-40% humidity even with trays, and our summers are usually 90-100+ degrees. I wonder if the fungus came in with the ebay plants you are having a problem with, or if it's an insect and not a fungus. I would think Physan 20 would take care of a fungus PDQ. That's what is making me think it may be something else.

I just went back and re-read your last post. The fungus problem is for the most part on the plants you are treating with the sphag in bag technique? I'm not surprised. The growing conditions are perfect for fungus, especially if the bag is sealed up. I've had fungus grow on the top layer of an African violet that I just tented with a plastic bag. Once I took the bag off the fungus disappeared.

[Ray]

Tindo, et al:

There are two factors in play that affect the "dryness" of the surface of an s/h pot: wicking and evaporation rate. If evaporation outstrips wicking, it's dry, if not, it's wet.

Distance from the reservoir to the surface, not to mention the specific medium used, plays a major role in the wicking, and LOTS of things affect the evaporation - temperature, ambient RH, air movement, and light exposure to name a few.

Even pot diameter and taper of the sidewall can play a roll.

[Tindomul]

Thanks Ray. Its just as I thought.

[Becca]

Tindomul1of9,
I use the s/h pots that I bought from Ray's website and I too have the same issue, the top is always bone dry, but I know that isn't the case below the top layer. Now what stumps me is the top can be bone dry, but I can get fungus on the top layer on a few, it could be an air circulation thing, and the Physan 20 solution seems to work well. And yes most of my problems with fungus are when using the sphag-n-bag technique. I just open the bags, spray the plant with the Physan 20 solution and either leave the bag open or close it. I'll figure out the sphag-n-bag technique one of these days, it is my goal to master reviving plants....I may be setting my self up for failure on that goal though...lol.

[Tindomul]

That stumps me as well. How you can get a fungus if its that dry. Well, that just means your humidity is high around your pot. Unless the fungus likes it dry. Are you sure its a fungus?

[Dorothy]

The greatest part of failure is reaching beyond it and succeeding! Life is all a learning!

[Ray]

Are you sure it's a fungus?

[Becca]

What are my other options of it being? I haven't seen it come back since spraying with the Physan 20 solution, at least it is gone so I won't worry about it until it comes back again, and the next time I will take a picture

[Ray]

Then I guess it must be a fungus.

Something I thought of after my last response: while the surface may look dry, the interior might still be moist enough to support the fungus.