[SIZE=-0] So, you've heard about flushing, but you wonder why, right? Okay, let's paint a picture of what happens in nature to give us a comparison.
In nature, the rain droplets, (formed high in the atmosphere and highly oxygenated ) collect into droplets heavy enough to start falling earthward, and eventually reach the earth where the plant is growing.
The rain soaks the soil surrounding the soil, and releases the oxygen collected during the water droplet's fall.
[/SIZE][SIZE=-0]Gravity continues to pull the water downward through the soil to the watertable, washing all accumulated plant wastes downward with it and away from the roots.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-0] [/SIZE][SIZE=-0]At the same time, the rain also helps break up and bring down fresh nutrients from the top of the soil. In this way, there is never any build-up of toxic wastes to prevent the normal function of the roots, and they get fresh air, water and nutrients with each rain. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, we have to find a way to bring conditions in line with what is going on out in nature. Inside the pot, the fertilizers and plant wastes have no place to go, and become concentrated in the bottom, which raises the ph to toxic levels. This causes what is known as nutrient lock and the plant can't get any nutes. It's important to flush on a schedule to keep the pH balanced, and remove the wastes excreted by the plant. Expect to need a gallon or two at least for each plant, so bubble the water in advance, and make sure you have enough to do the whole job at once.[/SIZE]