how much water do u leave in the pot

[daniel]

Originally Posted by Ray

Just because you adjust the irrigation water to a pH of 6, that does not mean it stays that way.

If you consider the selective absorption of nutrient ions by the plant, its emission of wastes, and the impact gas exchange through the roots has on the solution in the pot, I guarantee it's way off from 6 in short order.

Jim's observation on watering frequency matches mine exactly. I even watered a bunch of plants (150 Oncidium Sharry Baby and 150 Phalaenopsis Lemforde White Beauty) daily for 6 months, and compared them to another 300 plants (same ones, same number) that I watered "normally" - 2-3 times a week. The "dailies" were significantly larger than the "normals" after 6 months.

Part of that gain is due to the provision of more nutrient mass, but I'm quite sure that some of it was the frequent "cleansing" and refreshing of the pots.

ray
if the water level is lower and the roots get less wet and are just humid after 3-4 day they will give less toxic wast in the pot ?

[Ray]

Originally Posted by daniel

ray
if the water level is lower and the roots get less wet and are just humid after 3-4 day they will give less toxic wast in the pot ?

Can't say for sure, but the wasts have to go somewhere, so into the medium and any present moisture seems likely.