Maybe you only water a little bit at a time which is better. Still surface roots will not develop as well when watering from the bottom. As you know roots need oxygen. The most oxygen is on the surface of the soil. No water on the surface = not that many surface roots. Not that many surface roots and wet bottom soil = not that much oxygen to the roots. Further more unbalanced ph as in different ph at different zones in the soil = stress. Stress = slower growth. Healthy looking plants does not = maximum yield.

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