Keeping primeagra intact while flushing

[Ray]

Originally Posted by LadySoren

This person wants to empty out the old probably gross water and give is fresh water at the bottom. In order to do that, one must tip.

If you water properly - fill the pot rapidly to the top and let it drain - the force of the water flowing through the pot does all of the necessary flushing and forces out the old solution from the reservoir.

The key to filling the pot rapidly without dislodging the pellets is to use a good water breaker, to make the watering like a heavy rainfall instead of a jet blast from the hose.

[greenpassion]

Originally Posted by billc

Why are you tipping the plant over? The drainage holes should be emptying the water.

Bill

Yes, the drainage holes do drain the water, but I tip ALL of what ever remains of the 'old' water before I flush with RO water. Then I tip ALL that out, repeat, then fill up to the hole with the nutrient rich water (if it's feeding time).

---------- Post added at 09:41 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:40 AM ----------

This sounds like an idea I will try. Thanks all for your great ideas.

---------- Post added at 09:46 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:41 AM ----------

In response to Ray, I don't have enough pressure to even make my kitchen sink faucet sprayer work. It dribbles out. Thanks to you Ray, I can now make RO water (with a booster pump!) but even there, I keep it in gallon containers, and pour this water over the pots when flushing. I think even if I made a screen to fit over the containers mouth, there would not be the pressure your referring to. Pouring it onto the primagra is my only choice here.

[billc]

Hold your fingers over the holes when filling and then let the water out. Gravity at work!

Bill

[RosieC]

Originally Posted by greenpassion

In response to Ray, I don't have enough pressure to even make my kitchen sink faucet sprayer work. It dribbles out. Thanks to you Ray, I can now make RO water (with a booster pump!) but even there, I keep it in gallon containers, and pour this water over the pots when flushing. I think even if I made a screen to fit over the containers mouth, there would not be the pressure your referring to. Pouring it onto the primagra is my only choice here.

I use a watering can with a narrow, but not too narrow spout. I find pouring it in the pots will flush through quite quickly and with plenty of pressure.

Otherwise as Billc said, block the holes with your fingers, fill the pot then let go and let the water rush out. It will carry water from the bottom of the reservoir with it, not just drain the top. It naturally mixes the water when moving out the holes.

[greenpassion]

In thinking about this issue, I considered some of the suggestions offered, and then realized that I really don't need to worry so much. Nearly all of my phals in my collection have so many air roots up and out of the top of the jars, I wouldn't be able to use any sort of cover anyway. I just get annoyed sometimes when the pellets roll off when I tip them. The Onciduims don't have all that roots mass on the tops, but for some reason the leca stays better. I think the finer roots hold it all in better or something. And yes, I used to plug the holes with my fingers, but not when flushing. When flushing I pour the clean RO water over the top, and when the draining water level reaches the holes, I then tip to get it all out. I repeat this several times. IF the plant is a newbie to S/H, or needs a little prompting to grow new roots down into the leca, then after I've flushed with clear water I plug the holes, and fill to the top with my MSU solution. I wait a minute or so, then let it drain down to the reservoir level. In my mind this 'helps' the shorter new developing roots by giving them food before they're really close enough to the source lower in the pot. Wacko I'm sure. Anyway, these particular ones I temporarily keep on a heat mat until I can see the new root growth thru the glass.

[Orchid Whisperer]

You should be able to find natural quartz pebbles in bags at the hardware store. For example
MS International White Polished Pebbles Small - 40 lb. Bag-LPEBMWHI3POL40 at The Home Depot

They are heavier than your clay aggregate. A single layer of these pebbles on top of the aggregate should hold the clay aggregate in place while rinsing. They are inert and should not interfere with you orchid growing. Like any medium, you should rinse before using.

---------- Post added at 12:38 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:33 PM ----------

You can also use a watering can with a dispersing attachment, or water breaker, as Ray says: http://cdnll.gardenersedge.com/images/200/vp-wc.jpg