Rainbarrels

[mattryan]

I have been searching as many sites as I can, but haven't found an answer to my specific question. I checked my towns ph level and it is really quite high between 8.4-12.6, 164mg/L so it is on the higher end. Now I have them in bark and have been giving them a higher nitrogen fertilizer for the last couple of months. I have had some new leaf and root growth, but nothing too spectacular. I have had a rainbarrel since last year and I am wondering if changing to watering with this water would be more beneficial? Now if I do use the rainwater and it's a little green, should I boil it first, or can just use it the colour that it is with no harm coming to the orchids? It has a screen top so there's not much debri inside the barrel, but I will still strain. Also can fertilizer be added to the rw or should tap water still be used with fertilzation? I really want to give my plants the best possible conditions for maximum growth. Thanks for any help I learn so much everyday about these plants. My husband says I have obsessive/compulsive disorder when it comes to these plants.