Softened water - Orchid Board

Zoey · #1 01-28-2011, 05:19 PM

I have been reading about watering. My water comes through a water softener. I water with purchased bottled water. When I run out I use PUR filtered water. Grow under lights. Many plants have rebloomed. What do you suggest about watering? Any advice is welcome,

WhiteRabbit · #2 01-28-2011, 06:44 PM

Just don't use softened water - any type of drinking water should be fine for most orchids. Tho "hard" and mineral water, along wtih minerals in fertilizer, can lead to a build up of minerals in the media - it is recommended to flush the media well once a month.

tucker85 · #3 01-28-2011, 07:24 PM

Softened water contains too much sodium. I wouldn't use it for orchids.

RosieC · #4 01-29-2011, 05:21 AM

Don't use softened water. The softening process replaces the calcium with sodium and that's not good for your plants.

Filtered water can be OK, but still contains a lot of minerals. For Phals and Dens I use my standard tap water, which is on the hard side. I give a monthly flush with the same water but no fertiliser and they seem to do fine. Some of my other orchids are more sensetive though and I collect rain water for them.

Paul Mc · #5 01-29-2011, 10:11 AM

Ditto, don't use softened water. On a side note, while regular drinking water can work, and as one person noted it can lead to a buildup of minerals and such, I now avoid drinking water all together for the more sensitive orchids. I read somewhere on here that standard tap can slowly kill the roots over a span of time. I don't know how reliable that information is, but thought I'd share.

I now use distilled water with the appropriate fertilizer's added weakly.

Zoey · #6 01-29-2011, 10:54 AM

Thanks to all who responded. Guess I will be buying a lot of distilled water.

Zoey · #7 01-29-2011, 11:04 AM

Thanks. Guess I will be buying a lot of distilled water.

RosieC · #8 01-29-2011, 12:00 PM

Zoey, note that if you use distilled water you have to use matching fertilisers. Many are designed for water with the minerals in, and if used with distilled water raise the PH too much. A rainwater fertiliser I think is also good for distilled and RO water as well.

Paul Mc · #9 01-29-2011, 12:02 PM

I did not know that RosieC. Thank you for that information! We learn something new everyday!

RosieC · #10 01-29-2011, 12:07 PM

Ray would explain it best and I've really picked this up from what I've read from him.

Basically the minerals 'buffer' the PH and a small amount of fertiliser cannot affect the PH as much as they can in purer water without the minerals.

I studied chemistry for the exams we take in the UK at age 18, but my memory of it now is too faint to fully explain/understand it