Adding water to established plants

[marylandmike]

I've been adding water to until t drips from holes. Should I be filling the pot and letting it drain down to the holes.

[Orchid Whisperer]

I'm assuming you have a Phalaenopsis?

If it is potted in bark chips, take it to the sink, water copiously through the bark, let it drain. Don't put it back in the decorative pot it was sold in (not good for the roots). If you have a decorative container that is larger and leaves some air space around the plastic pot, that is OK.

Water again only when that bark is nearly dry, usually when the roots have turned from green to silvery or gray. This will usually mean watering once or twice a week for most of us.

If it is in sphagnum moss, water only when you see the silver or gray color on the roots. This is usually much less often than for plants grown in bark. I recommend growing in bark instead of moss to preserve healthy roots.

[marylandmike]

I'm sorry I'm doing semi-hydroponic

[Orchid Whisperer]

My bad . . I didn't check which forum you posted to.

[Ray]

Yes. Every watering should include rapidly filling the pot to the top, and letting it drain. Doing so flushes the medium, saturates it, and refreshes the reservoir contents.

Merely "topping it up" as you have been doing is a great way to accelerate the concentrating of fertilizer residues and plant wastes in the medium, which will lead to poisoning the roots.

[estación seca]

When I have time, I like to pick up a S/H pot, hold it with the heel of one thumb covering the holes, and fill with new solution. I examine the plant a little, let drain and put back.

[marylandmike]

Thanks, for the heads up. I started semi-hydroponic last April, using MSU fertilizer. Recently added KelpMax, once a month. I poured plain water through the pots a couple of times, then flooded the pots with the fertilized water. Is this enough to clean get rid of the plant wastes? I also have algae growing in couple pots

[estación seca]

You only need to fill them up completely once, with the fertilizer or kelp solution. Then let them drain. Don't let the reservoir run dry. If you have time, the plants seem to like being watered every day.

The algal growth is not a problem. I have a lot of that, too.