does anyone measure the pH in their semi-hydro pots?

[brazilianfernie]

I've been measuring the pH in the pots for a few days and they've been around 8.5's. I read somewhere that optimum pH should be between 5.5-6.5. I just want to get an opinion before I start messing with any pH down solution.

[brazilianfernie]

I have one of my phals in a bark mixture that it was purchased in, it is in a small plastic container inside of a ceramic pot with leca pebbles on the bottom to wick the water up to the plant.
the other phal is in a plastic mesh basket with leca pebbles and that is suspended inside of a ceramic pot which has leca pebbles on the bottom to hold the basket up and also wick the water up to the plant.
does anyone recommend any changes? should I just go with plastic containers inside of a small dish full of water instead?
thanks everyone for taking time to read and respond.

[Ray]

The vast majority of orchids prefer slightly acidic conditions. I try to keep mine in the 5.5-6.5 pH range. 8.5 isn't going to kill them, but they'd be happier lower.

Before resorting to pH adjusters, what is the hardness of your water? What fertilizer do you use? How much, and how often?

For the plant in hydroton: remove the pellets in the outer container so that the mesh basket can sit in a small amount (~1") of solution. Being elevated above the liquid by more pellets reduces the extent of wicking.

For the plant in bark: do not allow any water to stay in the outer container, as that will foster waterlogging of the medium and suffocation of the roots.