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Today I've collected about two gallons of rain water for my plants will it do themany good. Whats the best kind if water to use when watering your plants? I've heard that rain water and distilled water work well, but what about tap water, purified water or even spring water(bottled) how do they work out when watering you plants?
i wouldnt use rain water. ive tried that an ive got nothing but bad results. it might be different in your area because im in somewhat of a populated area who likes to burn fireplaces. the best kind of water you can use is plain old city tap water. if you you use distilled water you have to add calmag to it. best bet would use ph tap water.
Aloha DubZeusQuote:
Originally Posted by WWZEUS
Goodonya!
Rainwater is what they expect.:)
Distilled water and some "purified" water will need CalMag.
They are too pure.
Bottled water can have too much sodium.
My tap water is PH 7.2 and seems to cause slime in the hydro tub.
My rainwater can be as acid a lemon juice, PH 3.9
(of course, your milage may vary, our volcano is acting up.):D
Do yourself a favor and invest in a digital PH meter.
If the PH is too high, or low, your plants will be unable to feed.
I also always shake some air into the water just before application.
Roots need oxygen and even rainwater gets "stale" after it sits a while.
The dissolved air and dust is rainwater's advantage over water that lives in a bottle.
So, as long as the PH is in range, there's trace elements, and some dissolved oxygen, you will have to find other things to worry about, ya?:D
'zat answer your question?:)
Weezard
that does answer my question and I am gonna go out right now and get a ph tester. I live in a city with a dense pop. but we've tested the rain water before and It wasn't bad but thats all i remember i dont remember the actually numbers thanks again
watch your plants when using rain water. when i used some rain water corrected to the proper ph my plants drooped like in 6 hours. i did a mild flush and it perked back up
Aloha WWZeus
I've been thinking about what Cigarettes42 said.
I'm pretty sure that fireplace smoke was not the problem.
I'm thinking it's an aeration issue.
As long as the outdoor plants are happy with the rainwater, that is. :)
I'd guess that he has an aerator on his tap and that the rainwater sat around in jugs a lot longer than the tap water before it was used.
Stale water from any source can "drown" your roots.
You could probably use dog drool if you drop it through a mile or two of air first.:D
I got bullied out of "dirtfarming" by some tenacious Fungus Gnats.:mad:
So, I went Bubba-ponic.
Got no water pump/jets to clog, got no timer to fail.
Got a UPS to keep the airpumps and LEDs rolling through a power failure.
Got an automatic water level adjuster.
I just keep tabs on the PH and Nute levels.
I have incredibly healthy girls with very clean feet, growing in 5 Gallon buckets of rainwater.
The roots are 75% submerged but as long as the airpump/airstone team keep the water roiling with air, the girls are very happy.
Me too!
I'm too lazy to worry and usually too ripped to micro-manage my little green dependants.
They can go for 2 weeks or so with no human input.
I still sit with them every day, of course,
but it's no longer mandatory.:D
Sorry to run-on in your thread, :stoned: :)
I'll go quietly,
Weezard
my problem couldn't be an aeration problem cause i always run air through all of my water. however this might be the problem for me since im in a dense environment.
Drinking Rain Water
Intrigueing.Quote:
Originally Posted by cigarettes42
How did you collect the rainwater?
Mine runs off a stone roof which helps to raise the PH,
What did you adjust the PH with?
I use Phosphoric acid and/or lemon juice for down and Bicarb for up.
I just checked one of your older threads about Chlorine, etc.
5 gallon bucket with an airstone , eh?:)
Any other variable that you can think of?
Bat poo?
Actually, a little guano is a good thing.:)
I don't doubt that your plants tanked when they got rainwater, but I'm keen to know why, and really doubt that smoke/pollution is the reason.
Do me a favor and give it some thought.
Hey, Zeus, no wanna hijack your thread.
We can move this if you wish.
Regards,
Weezard
i collected the water with just a few plastic buckets sitting outside for a few hours then poured them into a single bucket then ran a airstone through it. i dont use homemade ph adjusters, i use general hydroponics ph up/down. i dont know why you want to make this thread a dick measuring contest. i never said rain water doesnt work, it just didnt work for me and to monitor when using. i live in ca and you live in hawaii. maybe there is more pollution in ca then hawaii? who knows. all i know is that when it rains, the rain droplets absorb the pollution in the air and when the water goes in the ground the ground filters it out.
O.Quote:
Originally Posted by cigarettes42
K.
<Weeze backs away slowly>
Aloha.