[OGD] Re: Water Quality
Hi Iris: Thanks for your input. I had the collected rain water tested for EC and it was only 10ppm -much better than our tap water at 200ppm. Our hot water is attached to a water softener, so that nixes the idea of using hot water! A dehumidifier in Calgary is wish -the air here is so dry that when people move here from the east they often get nose bleeds!! The water that I was originally posting about had run off ofmy cedar shake roof and was brownish. I was trying to find out if anyone knew if the tannins from the cedar(which I expect are making the water brown) would harm the orchids. I understand that vanda baskets are made of cedar, so perhaps it is not an issue worth worrying about. Short of asking neighbours to collect their runoff for me, I will have to settle for the brown runoff from my roof I expect. ___ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
[OGD] Re: Water Quality
In a message dated 12/13/04 12:18:18 AM, Sharon Williams writes: Would putting the water through a Brita type filter remove enough of the acid? Short of melting snow or buying water (would much rather put the $ into plants!), this is my best source for 'pure' water. Perhaps my tap water left to sit would be the best alternative, even though it is very hard and the ph needs to be lowered. The household water filters like Brita remove particles, such as dust, pollen, and bacteria (and those copepods that have the ultra-Orthodox in NYC in a tizzy). As far as I know, they do not remove dissolved salts or chemicals. Letting your tapwater sit might improve the pH, due to dissolved air, but it will not remove any dissolved salts. Do you or any of your friends have a dehumidifier in the basement? That is the cheapest easiest source of essentially distilled water. If you live in a private house, install a rainbarrel and store the water during the warmer months. When you absolutely have to use tap water, run it as hot as possible fill up a bucket with hot water, then let it cool. Calcium dissolves better in cold water, so hot water will have less of it. That's why you get boiler scale in your teakettle. Iris I am not fat. I need repotting. ___ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
Re: [OGD] Re: Water Quality
Hello, I recently purchased a counter top R/O system. Very simple, not so expensive. These will remove practically all salts from water, and you can add fertilizer as you wish, without fear of burns. You will have to adjust calcium and magniesium sometimes, but that is as easy as putting some tap into the r/o once in a while. These can be found in aquarium stores around 100-120 euros. Perhaps in the US, here are similar things. If you have under 100 orchids, such a small thing will do just fine. It will make 15 liters per day. :) Best wishes, Marianne - Original Message - From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, December 13, 2004 3:46 PM Subject: [OGD] Re: Water Quality In a message dated 12/13/04 12:18:18 AM, Sharon Williams writes: Would putting the water through a Brita type filter remove enough of the acid? Short of melting snow or buying water (would much rather put the $ into plants!), this is my best source for 'pure' water. Perhaps my tap water left to sit would be the best alternative, even though it is very hard and the ph needs to be lowered.The household water filters like Brita remove particles, such as dust, pollen, and bacteria (and those copepods that have the ultra-Orthodox in NYC in a tizzy). As far as I know, they do not remove dissolved salts or chemicals. Letting your tapwater sit might improve the pH, due to dissolved air, but it will not remove any dissolved salts. Do you or any of your friends have a dehumidifier in the basement? That is the cheapest easiest source of essentially distilled water. If you live in a private house, install a rainbarrel and store the water during the warmer months. When you absolutely have to use tap water, run it as hot as possible fill up a bucket with hot water, then let it cool. Calcium dissolves better in cold water, so hot water will have less of it. That's why you get boiler scale in your teakettle.IrisI am not fat. I need repotting. ___the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD)[EMAIL PROTECTED]http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com ___ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
