Water when using PrimeAgra

[Becca]

I have another quick question. When watering my plants using the s/h culture, should I just water until the water starts coming out of the side holes or should I fill the entire pot up with water and let the extra drain out of the side holes? TIA

[quiltergal]

Somewhere on Ray's website it says to fill the pot to the top and let it drain out.

[Becca]

Thanks! I missed that part some how!

[dennis]

i fill mine by setting it in a five gallon bucket up to the rim of the pot then pull it out to let it drain works great

[Ray]

Look at it this way: over time, the chemistry of the nutrient solution in the reservoir changes, due to differential absorption by the plant as well as respiration by the plant. If you just "top it up", you don't really know what the final chemistry is, but if you rapidly fill the pot to the top and let it drain, you "push" that old stuff out and refresh the entire pot.

I would avoid dipping the pots in a bucket, letting it fill through the drain holes, as that mixes that unknown solution up in the rest of the medium, although it probably dilutes it enough to not be much of an issue. However, when you drain it back into the bucket, you're now affecting that chemistry, building up the dregs from all of the pots, and sharing a solution bath is a great way to pass plant pathogens from one to the rest.

[Tindomul]

I usually top it off to the top, block the holes with my fingers for a few seconds and then release to drain.

[quiltergal]

I do the same as Tindo. I block the holes with my thumb and fill the pot to the top. I let the solution sit in there for a minute or two and the remove my thumb and let it drain.

[Charles]

Oh, no. I put way too many holes in mine to block them with my fingers. Is there no concern for air movement necessary?

[Tindomul]

I have one where I also put lots of holes for air movement. The phal. I put in there is alive and well, but growing extremely slowly if at all. It could be the extra holes, or the fact that the pot might be too big. I'm not sure.

[Ray]

Tindo, I doubt it has to do with the size of the pot. I typically move phals from 4" to 8" and they thrive.

The only way I can conceive of the extra holes being a problem is if it allows the medium to dry too quickly.