Tannic water

[SteveKotarski]

I am wondering if anyone has information or thoughts on the topic of tannins in your water, particularly for species that require pure water, such as pleuros and phrags. I've been using rain water, which always seems to end up with a couple of tree leaves, including oak, in it. I'm sure the tannins from the leaves leach out, they give the water an amber/brown tone after a while. It seems to do well for the plants. I wonder how this affects pH. Also does the organic content of my irrigation water improve chelation of unwanted minerals (from well water)?

[Orchid Whisperer]

I can't say for Phrags, but my only Pleurothallid, a Restrepia brachypus, does just fine with my rain water, which sometimes turns pale tan before I have a chance to filter out the leaves & so forth.

I keep some live sphagnum, which also seems to be doing ok with this water.

[ALToronto]

Tannins are acidic; you'll need to test to see how much they're lowering your pH. Your rain water is probably acidic as well.

[Ordphien]

I can only half answer your first question.
So sorry about that. Hopefully someone with more knowledge will jump in.

But... while I do not own any orchids that are as water quality sensitive as the ones you listed, but I do water my orchids with water that contains tannins quite frequently.
I've got a fish tank, with no fish lol, that has quite large pieces of driftwood that leach tannins very heavily. And I use the water from it almost daily.
I've noticed no real difference honestly.
I'm pretty sure a few leaves here and there won't do much.

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[james mickelso]

Shouldn't bother them a bit. The amount in your water isn't enough to worry about.

[Ordphien]

Haha. I took to long typing

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