Reverse Osmosis can cause issues

[WashougalWonder]

I am learning over the last 2 years that RO water is not a good idea for our plants. RO is so efficient that it removes good nutrients like calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium, zinc, and many others. Plants become micronutrient defficient.

I now feel that if a person uses RO water they need to replace ALL micronutrients. And because mixes and ferts expect those micronutrients to be present in the water supply, the plants can show many different forms of stress, the most prevelent one causing an appearance of Rust Fungus. Treatment of rust fungus involves expense......... Treatment of RO micronutrient shortages is simple ONCE IDENTIFIED, tap water.

I suspect that distilled water may also cause issues, I don't know if the micronutes follow the water in distillation, I think not tho.

Also noted, is that this really does not show until in flower.

SO thumbs down to RO in my garden and tumbs up to tap water that has evaporated the chloramines.

[Agoblue97]

Thanks for the thread WW. I'm with you on this one after my most recent incident. However, be aware you can and will also see symptoms during veg stage as I did. My thread here in the Plant Problem section can show some of the symptoms of a Micronutrient deficiency.:thumbsup::thumbsup:

[WashougalWonder]

I am sure it can show anytime, but I really noticed it was bad about 3 weeks into flower.

[Weezard]

Leave 'em in dere, no gotta replace 'em!:)



I am learning over the last 2 years that RO water is not a good idea for our plants. RO is so efficient that it removes good nutrients like calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium, zinc, and many others. Plants become micronutrient defficient.

I now feel that if a person uses RO water they need to replace ALL micronutrients.

Yeah that!

And because mixes and ferts expect those micronutrients to be present in the water supply, the plants can show many different forms of stress, the most prevelent one causing an appearance of Rust Fungus. Treatment of rust fungus involves expense......... Treatment of RO micronutrient shortages is simple ONCE IDENTIFIED, tap water.

I suspect that distilled water may also cause issues, I don't know if the micronutes follow the water in distillation, I think not tho.

Also noted, is that this really does not show until in flower.

SO thumbs down to RO in my garden and tumbs up to tap water that has evaporated the chloramines.

You'd think common sense would suffice about too pure water.
You are quite correct.
Distilled water is actually a tad worse than R/O.

I did a side by side with cuttings.
The "fresh outta the tap" water side rooted and flourished.
On the others, the distilled water sucked the life out of them and they shriveled and died.


Let me address that second myth.
Chloramines are compounds. they do not "evaporate".
Organic decomposition will degrade Chloramine to Halomethanes that are also harmless at that concentration.


My tap water contains Chloramine.
If it did not, I would add some to control pathogens.
(Keeps fungus and mold out of my DWC)

The tiny amount used, while toxic to fish, is harmless to cannabis, in fact, it's beneficial.
Same goes for Chlorine gas.

Though Chlorine gas does dissipate on standing the wise grower takes advantage of it and used the water straight from the tap.
(After tweaking the PH, of course.:))

Ordinarily, I just ignore misguided guidance if it does no harm.
However, telling folks to "let their water sit" for whatever reason, is counter productive.
Here's why.

Roots breathe.
Sitting water loses oxygen and goes stagnant.
Stagnant water drowns plants, allows pathogens to flourish, and rots roots.
You want it sparkly fresh from an aerated faucet.:cool:

Been following this advice for years and it has served me very well.:cool:

Other than that, your advice is excellent .:thumbsup:

Aloha,
Weezard

[Lynhal]

I am learning over the last 2 years that RO water is not a good idea for our SO thumbs down to RO in my garden and tumbs up to tap water that has evaporated the chloramines.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, WW! I have been telling in other forums about the pluses in using regular, old tap water for your growing needs and have been shot down more than once. I always stood my ground on this one point.

I am so happy to see there is another educated (through experience) botanist saying what I have been saying for so long. :D

[greg1317]

I am learning over the last 2 years that RO water is not a good idea for our plants. RO is so efficient that it removes good nutrients like calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium, zinc, and many others. Plants become micronutrient defficient.

I now feel that if a person uses RO water they need to replace ALL micronutrients. And because mixes and ferts expect those micronutrients to be present in the water supply, the plants can show many different forms of stress, the most prevelent one causing an appearance of Rust Fungus. Treatment of rust fungus involves expense......... Treatment of RO micronutrient shortages is simple ONCE IDENTIFIED, tap water.

I suspect that distilled water may also cause issues, I don't know if the micronutes follow the water in distillation, I think not tho.

Also noted, is that this really does not show until in flower.

SO thumbs down to RO in my garden and tumbs up to tap water that has evaporated the chloramines.

I disagree with you completely. I've been growing in a greenhouse with Coco and using RO water for years and I have never had a problem. I've also done a couple of grows indoors with it. Coco unlike soil has no nutrients or additives whatsoever just like the RO water. I use a huge line of nutrients to make up for everything that has been taken out of the water. Its all about using the right nutrients. Sure if your growing in soil and using minimal nutes then maybe RO water isnt the route for you. But if you ad everything the plants need yourself then they wont need the stuff that has been taken out of the water. In fact using RO water allows you to control the PPM since the PPM of tap water is much higher than that of RO water. This way you can pack on the nutes in flower and not lockout your plants from having to high of PPM.


my grow log
http://boards.cannabis.com/grow-log/193944-400-watt-hps-bob-marleys-lambs-bread-grow-log.html

[Treez81]

Completely agree with greg...i understand completely where ww is coming from and do value ww's opinions greatly, but i have never had a problem with distilled and neither has my mentor...to each his own

[Weezard]

Completely agree with greg...i understand completely where ww is coming from and do value ww's opinions greatly, but i have never had a problem with distilled and neither has my mentor...to each his own

@ Greg n Tree;

Actually, you all agree.:)

"
I now feel that if a person uses RO water they need to replace ALL micronutrients." - WashougalWonder

See?.

Da 'zard who is wee.

[greg1317]

your right he sort of said that but he was hardly clear on the fact that you could actually use RO water and didnt explain why it would be better to use RO water. If anything i just cleared up why you would want to use RO water.

[tevfik]

This is not different than saying "Watering can cause issues". Everything can cause issues if you don't read the manual first.
Treating Irrigation Water (http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/greenhouse/nursery/guides/ghhdbk/treat.html)
(http://www.ncagr.gov/cyber/kidswrld/plant/nutrient.htm)

[Lynhal]

This is not different than saying "Watering can cause issues". Everything can cause issues if you don't read the manual first.


LMAO@if you don't read the manual first. :postreadrulez:

[Weezard]

your right he sort of said that but he was hardly clear on the fact that you could actually use RO water and didnt explain why it would be better to use RO water. If anything i just cleared up why you would want to use RO water.

Quite right!
There's a lot to be said for starting with a "clean slate".
Always best to minimize the unknown.

Coco nutes, if they are any good, create a perfect balance with distilled or R/O water.
And the ppm. actually means something when you start with 0.
Excellent points for coco and hydro!

I have found however, that low ppm water kills cuttings by drawing mobile nutrients from them through osmotic pressure.
You might want to look into that.:)

Aloha,
Weeze

[greg1317]

Quite right!
There's a lot to be said for starting with a "clean slate".
Always best to minimize the unknown.

Coco nutes, if they are any good, create a perfect balance with distilled or R/O water.
And the ppm. actually means something when you start with 0.
Excellent points for coco and hydro!

I have found however, that low ppm water kills cuttings by drawing mobile nutrients from them through osmotic pressure.
You might want to look into that.:)

Aloha,
Weeze



thats a good point and i agree with you. I always use tap water with my cuttings. The reason being that I don't really add that many nutrients in the beginning. I never really knew the science behind it but I figured out from trial and error that the plants would need the extra nutrients in the early cutting stages without me actually adding them. Never knew it was because of too low of PPM. Thanks for the info. Now i know i'm doing it right.

[greg1317]

!:)




Stagnant water drowns plants, allows pathogens to flourish, and rots roots.
You want it sparkly fresh from an aerated faucet.:cool:

Been following this advice for years and it has served me very well.:cool:

Other than that, your advice is excellent .:thumbsup:




I use great white and the chlorine from fresh tap water kills all the helpful bacteria that i'm trying to add. So thats another reason i use RO water because I am able to add great white without it killing my bacteria. The best route in my case for the early stage is to use a carbon filter to get out the chlorine and not take out all the other good things in the water.

[MadSativa]

yup RO and distilled can caseu problems, however when problems are solved you have better controll over your hydro systems, or soil grows. also salt bulid up and flushing is less of a issue, final flushing can be done in a week in coco everytime, and the same with hydro, and still reach optimum flush in the plant. however I realy think that money spent on a RO filter system could be better spent on a omni water molicule system. making the water and nutrients more availabe to the plant. (I also dont know and have never used much of the omni but I understand that making water an nutrient more available to the plant is better than more filtered water)

[WashougalWonder]

Weezard, I thank you for your additional information and for correcting me. I appreciate that.

For those of you who dis believe, try growing with just soil, and no nutes...as I do...you will see.

[tevfik]

For those of you who dis believe, try growing with just soil, and no nutes...as I do...you will see.

Yup, I tried. It definitely works perfect for "carnivorous plants". Sphagnum peat moss, distilled water (RO water is OK too), no nutes. They had beautiful, colorful trichomes which were catching insects. And they were flowering very well.
Don't know about the other plants, if they can survive in these conditions. Maybe sticking some bugs on trichomes can supply some energy for them too :D

[Lynhal]

Maybe sticking some bugs on trichomes can supply some energy for them too :D

Hmm, wonder what ladybugs would do if added? ... that is a point I will ponder for a spell. ;)