Those are leaves, brah.

Might be Cannabis from the look of 'em.


Sorry, Just hadda do dat.
Mostly because I don't have a useful answer.

I will say that those tiny globes at the leaf tip are interesting.
They do look like eggs.
If so, I'd put that leaf in a jar and see what hatches.

And I have read that bottled water has too much added sodium to be used for plants.

I do know that trying to read the PH of distilled water with a digital meter is wasted effort.
Without some free ions or even just trace salts the PH readings are meaningless.
Technically, pure water has no PH.
So, we usually add nutes before we try to take a reading.

You say that you use Hydrated lime, CAOH, to raise PH.
Needing to raise PH is unusual.
How much do you generally need per gallon?

Wish I could be more help.
At least I'm bumping the thread until someone who knows comes along, yah?

Aloha,
Weezard