Ray, what is the difference/advantage of your semi-H system {as so well
described on your website} and the original {?} Swiss Luwassa setup,
which I am using currently in windowsill and sunroom environment with
not very great success. The only specie which does fairly well are my
Dends. I am sure to have followed all suggestions and have experimented
in many ways on my own, but I am not able to get any good root
development before rot sets in. What are the basic differences between
the two systems?

Henry,

In a nutshell, the difference between my version of semi-hydroponics
and the Luwassa-pot version is in the pot: In a Luwassa pot, there is
no drainage. The reservoir level is monitored using the gauge. It is
also possible to overfill the pot, drowning your plant. In my
single-component S/H pots, the maximum level of the reservoir is
maintained by two holes in the side of the pot, so it cannot be
overfilled.

Proper watering in such a pot is to fill it to the top, then let it
drain down to the level of the holes. That 1) soaks all of the medium
in the pot, 2) flushes fertilizer residues from the medium, and 3)
refreshes the contents of the reservoir so you have a known nutrient
solution in it. Merely "topping it up," as some do, and as is the
typical case with a Luwassa pot, gives you some fresh material and
some of unknown chemistry - material that has had some nutrients
absorbed, liquid lost to evaporation, and had its pH changed by the
plants' respiration processes (the pH swing is amazingly large!).

Keep in mind, however, that your relative success with S/H (or lack
thereof), has little, if anything to do with the pot. I use Luwassa
pots, too. Generally though, I don't, due to price and the fact that
the pots cannot be easily flushed in one step, and can be overfilled.
When I'm watering before going to work at 5:30 in the morning, I don't
have time to carefully monitor the amount of water going into each of
over 1000 pots. Instead, I heavy-handedly soak the living crap out of
everything, knowing the pots will drain to their correct levels as I'm
on my way.
--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies, Books, Artwork, and Lots of Free Info!
..
"henry wolf" wrote in message
.. .
Ray, what is the difference/advantage of your semi-H system {as so
well
described on your website} and the original {?} Swiss Luwassa setup,
which I am using currently in windowsill and sunroom environment
with
not very great success. The only specie which does fairly well are
my
Dends. I am sure to have followed all suggestions and have
experimented
in many ways on my own, but I am not able to get any good root
development before rot sets in. What are the basic differences
between
the two systems?