RO Water

[Nan]

Is RO water the same as distilled water???

[Gin]

Ro. Usually has some mineral content but very little , As far as I know distilled has none . Gin

[Charles]

How do we feel about well water? I have heard different things. Rainwater is undoubtedly best, but how harmful is or is not the well water?

[cb977]

Read this!

[Ross]

OK, now the board's fixed, I'll try again - RO, Distilled, Rainwater - all the same. The issue is: the water is too pure! In a way, it is the "universal solvent" and in its purest form can ruin plants. To use RO or distilled (and 2 a dregree, rainwater) one must buffer the water with added calcium and magnesium which occurs naturally in most well water or other ground and surface water sources. They also may occur to some degree in rain water, depending on where one lives. This is why we tend to use RO or distilled water along with specially formulated fertilizer mixes such as MSU mix for RO water which contains the proper amount of buffering minerals.

[cb977]

Distilled water vs. R.O. water.

[Nan]

Thanks to all for your input! This board is great...especially for a newbie like me! I do have one more question.

I have a very good quality well...but the people who built our house installed a water treatment system. Just today, I was reading a book on orchids, and came accross a portion that said not to used softened water because of the salt used in the process. Yikes! So...I guess I cannot use my tap water.

My question is this...
If I use distilled water, what what fertilizer should I use and how often? I have one Phal and two Alicearas.

Thanks again to all of you. After this, I think I have nearly gleaned enough information to make a run at caring for my orchids...at least a good start.

[Gin]

My post did not show up either . Some people add tap to the Ro. or rain water I use the MSU. Fert for rain or Ro. easier .. No fair Sue... fluff fluff lololol . Gin
To Nan Look for a grocery store with an Ro. unit usually can get it by the gallon there . Check your outside tap usually it is not run thru the water softener unit . Gin

[justatypn]

Your best option would be to take a sample to a lab and have them run the values on your water content. If you add salt to your system, one in which we back in the day had to add bags of salt every so often...not a choice of food for the chids. Distilled would be a great option, I am not so sure you need any special fert with week weakly and a monthly fresh water flush you should not have any problems...just my 2 cents worth.

[Nan]

Thanks Gin. I will check it out!

Is "MSU" short for anything...or is that the whole name of the fertilizer I am looking for? ...and can I probably find it locally...or will I have to order it from an orchid supplies web site?