Yes? No? Maybe? Certainly not.

[CulpableCaptive]

I have only been a guest to this site for a short time and I have heard mentioned – and read about the skewer method and its advocacy over and over again.
I have yet to read anywhere if anyone can/or has used it with passive-hydroponics (semi-hydroponics).
Although my first orchid purchase took place in 1991 (before '91, they were gifts ), I had never heard of this simplest of ‘moisture meters’ before this site.

I feel slighted, since I don’t think I will ever get to use the ‘SkewerMoistureMeter’ method. Nor will I get the chance to ask for extra chopsticks when I eat out. The skewers I already buy since I use them as supports. I soak them in green or brown dye and their thin-ness makes them disappear in a pot. Anywhoo-

As of two days ago every single one of my orchids has been moved into pots with inert aggregate of one kind or another.
Does anyone know if I would be able to use the skewer method without a potting medium which decomposes?
Regardless of the type of orchid, or other plant for that matter, I have them all planted in inert medium – the medium never dries out like ‘standard’ potting mixes.
It’s a whole different ballgame.

Do you think I could/or should try the skewer method with aggregate or will it not work since it would always come out – at the very least – damp, unless the medium was bone dry, which never happens.
Any thoughts or suggestions?
If any of you think I could ‘fine tune’ my watering schedule/technique with the skewer method please let me know and give me any suggestions you might have as to how I might modify my ‘reading’ of the skewer.
Thanks so much for any recommendations you provide .

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“It is pleasant at times to play the madman.” – Seneca (5 BC – 65 AD)

[patticake]

I have never grown in aggregate, so I'm not sure on that one. If you have other material mixed in such as bark, it should still work. I say if you've grown this long successfully, you don't need skewers!

[tom499]

Skewers are annoying to use in S/H as when you remove them the aggregrates usually move into the empty space, so you have to disturb the media to put them back in.

Although not perfect, I find clear pots the best way to monitor moisture in my S/H pots, although it isnt proof of moisture levels in the centre of the pot.

I would be interested in perhaps a modification of the skewer method, as the level of moisture in S/H is probably the most important factor.

[Hummer344]

I use dyna-roc in my mixes and a couple of years ago I repotted two phals of the same variety, one in my usual mix and one in straight dyna-roc. I use skewers in both and find that that both are accurate as to moisture needs of the plants. Both plants are alive and well today.

[CulpableCaptive]

Originally Posted by patticake

I have never grown in aggregate, so I'm not sure on that one. If you have other material mixed in such as bark, it should still work. I say if you've grown this long successfully, you don't need skewers!

You have a very good point.......

______________________________

“It is pleasant at times to play the madman.” – Seneca (5 BC – 65 AD)

[janet_a]

i drown my s/h pots once a week, and give 'em a few tablespoons of water in the middle of the week to make sure the reservoirs are topped off. otherwise they're on their own.

[CulpableCaptive]

Originally Posted by tom499

Skewers are annoying to use in S/H as when you remove them the aggregrates usually move into the empty space, so you have to disturb the media to put them back in.

Although not perfect, I find clear pots the best way to monitor moisture in my S/H pots, although it isnt proof of moisture levels in the centre of the pot.

I would be interested in perhaps a modification of the skewer method, as the level of moisture in S/H is probably the most important factor.

Although not exclusively, the majority of my ‘pots’ (I use anything which is the proper shape, sturdy and clear) are translucent.

I was thinking more along your line – wondering if there was a way to modify the skewer method in some way.....

Yet ‘tom499’ brings to my attention the disruption in would cause. The skewer would never be able to be put back in the same place twice, since the spaces would be taken up by aggregate as soon as it was removed. I have enough problems trying to get the labels back into the side of the pot when I remove them and THEY are thin and flat.

Now that I think about it (it was late, or early, depending on how you look at it, when I had this thought), if I had to go through what I go through when I try to insert a stake into the aggregate every time I removed the skewer, I’d abandon the project immediately.
Just inserting a stake gives me a panic attack – thinking I’m piercing healthy roots and disturbing the medium – if I had to find a new hole each time I re-inserted the skewer, I definitely wouldn’t use it.

______________________________

“It is pleasant at times to play the madman.” – Seneca (5 BC – 65 AD)

[CulpableCaptive]

Originally Posted by janet_a

i drown my s/h pots once a week, and give 'em a few tablespoons of water in the middle of the week to make sure the reservoirs are topped off. otherwise they're on their own.

It's interesting how things happen.

I asked a question about a skewer and you bring up an unrelated point I have had on my mind for a very long time .

I never know what to do because of the contradictory information out there.
Some say - "Let the reservoir empty before refilling." and others recommend your technique of topping it off. I end up doing both.
If I think the reservoir has been filled too many times in a row, I do a thorough flush and let the reservoir dry out at the last watering .
I guess if you've been topping it off and have not had any problems, it's an OK technique. I find 'topping it off' much easier than trying to remember, "When was the last time I saw water in that reservoir?"

___________________________________

“It is pleasant at times to play the madman.” – Seneca (5 BC – 65 AD)

[janet_a]

i suppose it depends on where the roots are. only the phrag has its roots all the way down in the reservoir; the rest are above it, so i'm concerned with there being water to wick up there.

ray suggested the flood-the-pot method if the reservoir is drying out; at least the LECA gets a good soak that way.